I’m sure that many people, like me, have good days and bad days when it comes to self-confidence.  Positive or negative statements regarding my actions whether in the workplace, at home, or in public can bolster or erode my self-confidence.

Depending on circumstance and personality type I may withdraw, challenge, or accept the negative feedback.  Sometimes it will derail whatever I was doing.  If the feedback is accepted I may just alter my outlook and move forward with what I am doing.

If the feedback was positive, I am relieved, enthused and my brain seems to ‘kick-in’ with more ideas and my actions tend to be deliberate and confident.

I wish that I had learned earlier that self-confidence comes from within.  Opinions of others are only their truths.  It is up to us to accept or blow away what other think or say.  When soliciting opinions, I pay the most attention to those I trust and respect and, even then, acknowledge it is coming from a perspective different from mine.

This is not to say I shouldn’t pay attention to these opinions but I need to be careful I don’t take them at face value.  I need to look at what is really being said and look at how it might influence what I am doing.  For me, as an introvert, this means taking a step back and allowing my brain to carefully analyse the information before taking action or reaction. Only then am I in charge of my self-confidence.

Who is in charge of your self-confidence?

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