Winston Churchill once said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
The problem is, that enthusiasm can be hard to come by, especially when yours has taken a beating. Setbacks and disappointments have a way of knocking you down. We start doubting ourselves and lose sight of who we are. Without confidence, it becomes impossible to try, we give up, ultimately guaranteeing failure.
All is not lost! As every successful person knows, confidence can be reclaimed. . Here I share 7 things successful people know about reclaiming confidence.
They Remind Themselves They Can Do It
Successful people recognize failure is normal. Success does not come with bumps. The important thing when trying to regain confidence is to remember and realize success is still a possibility…or even a probability. This is where you remind yourself of your goal and vision. Changes may need to be made to the plan but the constant reminder they can do it keeps them going.
They Walk Away
While working towards a goal, there comes a time when a break is the best thing you can give yourself. Confidence wavers when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Walk away from the project for a bit. Take time to work on a hobby you love, or even just take a walk, or spend time with friends. This does a lot toward regaining a positive mindset when you’re feeling frustrated.
They Review the Past
Where have you succeeded before? Where have you failed? Everything that’s come before is a teaching moment. What do you know about yourself already from these events? Understanding the “you of yesterday” is where your insights for today come from. Revisit the past, but don’t dwell there. Confidence comes from using this knowledge well.
They Forgive
Hating yourself for some mistake you made isn’t going to get you anywhere and only destroys your confidence. Being able to let go and forgive the past is crucial to future success.
They Remain Aware of Self-Talk
Self-talk can be very destructive to confidence. How do you talk to yourself? Are you patient and understanding, or do you tend toward negativity? Taking charge of those mental put-downs will preserve self-confidence. Using more positive statements will build it up.
They Start Over
The only sure way to fail is to do the same thing, in the same way, repeatedly. Rather than force failure onto yourself and eradicate confidence, revamp the strategy. Ask yourself how you can do things differently this time.
They Don’t Give Up
Persistence pays off. If you fail and stop, you’ll always think of yourself as a failure. When the person gets up and tries again, they build confidence as they go.
In the end, the only way to reclaim your confidence is to put intentional work into recovering it. Recognize the process can sometimes be slow, but success is still within your grasp, even after a setback. Your regained confidence will help lead you there.