The 4 Doorways to Unshakeable Confidence

~ Arun Wakhlu

Many of us go through life using only a small fraction of the power and capacity that we have. We are like the sun of supreme confidence, overshadowed by the clouds of fear, doubt and unawareness. We often are not in touch with the gifts and resources that life has given us. When we are in touch, we take things too seriously thereby blocking whatever little creativity and confidence we can muster. Confidence is a feeling of being sure of oneself in a situation, assured of ones steady strength and capacity and certain that a desired outcome will happen. It is about being peacefully present to a situation and knowing that the best will emerge. For college going students and young leaders in their first job it would manifest in their capacity to communicate with clarity, to be at ease in interpersonal interactions, to take risks and to proactively make things happen without having to constantly rely on other people. Below we would like to share 4 doorways to foster unshakeable confidence :

Door 1: Connect your unique Gifts to a higher purpose:

We are all differently endowed. There is no human being on earth who does not bring a unique gift with him or her from which s/he can serve. When we are fully ourselves, leveraging the unique gifts that we have, we are naturally confident at what we do. When a person is using their best gifts, there is a natural strength and confidence that emanates from the person. To be authentically oneself gives one a power and presence which can never come from pretending to be someone else. Using our gifts to deliver value to our internal and external customers will enable you to serve better and also gain in learning and confidence. Linking your unique gifts to a higher purpose further enhances the release of energy and higher confidence.Research done by Dan Pink (captured in his 1 |Page

book Drive) indicates that the real motivators of people are Mastery, Autonomy and Purpose. When people have a clear context for their work and they can see the connection between their own unique gifts and personal purpose with the larger purpose of the organization, they will be passionately purposeful and confident. Being confident of the value they are delivering towards a larger purpose, they will also be more confident in interacting with other people. There are many agencies in India who will help you find your natural gifts. Aptitude tests and Personality profiles ensure that if Life has made you a Tulip, you do not try to behave like a Sunflower!

Door 2: Connect, collaborate and co-create:

The greatest fertilizer for enhancing your confidence collaborating and co-creating. is connecting,

All of life is a process of human interaction. As we start interacting with other people, and exchanging our gifts, we begin to build community. Reaching out with our gifts and serving others is a good way of not only building a network but also of creating true wealth. You form a new, emotional relationship with a person or community that inspires and sustains hope. Productive change requires the weaving together of many strands of knowledge, tools, methodologies etc. into a common tapestry and framework. This requires conversation In the fast paced and crowded life of today, make time for a few spaces for generative conversation. Get hold of a learning buddy or mentor or a friendly community in which you can share the steps you are taking to build confidence. It is always good to have a mentor with whom we discuss thing s and get encouragement on the path of change.

Door 3: Use Checklists

Even at the best of times, we sometimes forget what we know we have to do. One drop of ink, however, is more powerful than the most brilliant human memory. A simple checklist can help us remember what we have to do. It can also enable someone new to a task to follow the right steps. As Atul Gawande says in his book The Checklist Manifesto, no matter how expert you may be, well designed checklists can improve outcomes. Checklists can create the dynamic balance between freedom and discipline and also between expert specialization and group collaboration. It is also a simple tool to integrate the knowledge of expert and specialist into the area of your work. A system of regular reminders and checklists focused on clearly defined processes is a great aid to building up your confidence.

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Whether it is to focus your attention on your daily priorities, pack your bags well, or cook that new Chineses receipe, a Checklist is a handy aid. It keeps you peaceful and confident.

Door 4: Being Present to the Now:

When we are continuously, simultaneously, nonjudgmentally and totally present to the happenings in our internal and external environment, we understand that the unchanging substratum of our experience is Awareness. This Awareness transcends all our roles, concerns, issues, cravings, aversions, expectations and demands. It is a space of freedom and peace, of unconditional joy and okayness. This is a liberating and peaceful place from where to work. Remembering Awareness as who we are at our core, comes about through regularly and frequently quiet times... brief and frequent moments bringing our attention to this space of silence, peace and creative intelligence. This is meditation or the practice of mindfulness. Meditation is remembering that I am the infinite awareness beyond all roles, limitations, boundaries and stories. Keep affirming to yourself that you are confident and meditate regularly. Connect to the silent source of peace, power and possibility within .Remember that you are awareness ,which is like the screen in the movie of the life.This keeps you steadfastly anchored in a zone of peaceful confidence.

A few more simple things that you can do to stay anchored in this inner space of Confidence:

Try out things that you have never done before; Make that extra point in the meeting or classroom; Volunteer for projects or tasks that are outside your zone of comfort ; and Remembering your Inner Core, like Swami Vivekananda, take on more than you can chew. This will ensure that you keep growing in capacity and confidence.

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