Happy Sunday!
And welcome to today's edition of 'Conscious living with Purnima’. Today we will draw our attention to 'Self-confidence' - explore what it is and assess how we ourselves show up in the world.
Self-confidence is not about airing your expert opinions down people's throat or trying to be like the most popular person in town.
Self-confidence is being aware of your abilities (without feeling the need to make an undue announcement of it) as well as shortcomings and not feeling superior on account of the former or inferior on account of the latter.
It is having the courage to show up as you are.
I came across this quote from Ram Dass last week that I found interesting and profound. It goes:
So, when you ask, “How can I be kind and gentle to myself,” certainly you should examine things like guilt because you’re not working hard enough, all the ‘oughtas’ and ‘shoulds’ you drive yourself on ruthlessly with, all the feelings of not being good enough, or that you oughta be more spiritual or conscious or something more than you are, examine these.
I think just an appreciation for the perfection of the universe, which includes you, that you have a right to exist just the way you are, and that you’re at the absolutely optimum place at this moment, and that if you are fully enlightened you wouldn’t have taken birth in the first place, that this isn’t error, you are not an aberration, you’re not an error or mistake, nobody blew it, realizing that no matter how bizarre you feel from the inside, and appreciating that it is an unfolding process, and your curriculum, this is the best you can do for yourself."
Today I don't have a series of questions for you to ask of yourself, just 2:
1. Can I speak my truth even if it's unpopular? Even if I have just one person or none acknowledging it?
2. Can I talk about my shortcomings, insecurities and vulnerabilities without feeling less because of them?
I know there is no black or white but my question to you is what you choose majority of the time, your most natural response. Pay attention to it this coming week.
And if you find that the answer is yes, then you do have a strong sense of self and if the answer is no, then ask yourself why that is the case and how that's serving you or those around you?
In a world that's becoming increasingly superficial and fake, I know it requires a LOT of courage to be REAL. But we should strive to find that courage because there is beauty in being true to ourselves and allowing ourselves to express that truth, and to me that is self-confidence.
We need more of that in this world, don't you think?
Identified!!! :)
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because in the end those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.”
Theodor Seuss Geisel WRITER, CARTOONIST, ANIMATOR