Living Your Best Life - Building your confidence.

How confident do you feel at the moment? I believe self confidence is directly related to two main areas.

1/ If you can add what you love to do to your lifestyle. 

2/ If you have great connections with people, who you enjoy spending time with. 

My confidence improved literally overnight, when I attended a number of writing retreats in the Southern Highlands.  I met a group of incredible women writers (we named our group the Wild Writers) I felt an instant connection with them. 

Writing had always been in the back ground of my life but now I had ongoing encouragement and people in my life, who valued this creative calling. Six years later we still meet regularly and cheer each other along, as we work on our individual writing projects. I am also a part of a poetry group who meet monthly. Sharing and critiquing each other's work, with careful kindness, is also a great confidence booster. 

I learn from the strength and capabilities of these women in my life. They show me how to be both assertive and considerate. We all lift each other up which makes more sense them competitive, tall poppy attitudes and hold us all back. 

Something else happened when writing became a clear priority in my life - I stopped caring what it 'looked like' to others, that I write full time on the farm. When you are totally true to your own goals, it seems irrelevant what other people think and the need to explain yourself stops. We are all unique in our own way and this must be celebrated!

My close family and friends know how much I love poetry, nature writing and the photography that goes hand in hand with what I enjoy, on and off the farm. They know I am passionate about breathwork and why this had to be the topic of my first book. I also enjoy hearing about what they love to do and will also offer encouragement, as they explore how to fit this into their lives and they are thriving. 

Now I want to encourage you to move past any mindset blocks that are slowing down your progress towards the life of your dreams. I say mindset blocks with great respect. I understand as women, the reason we are not basking in the lifestyle of our wildest imaginations, is because we juggle great responsibilities. I am simply inviting you to be open to taking small achievable steps towards your personal aspirations. (Maybe listening to a podcast about your lifelong hobby or starting the day with a journal, for 15 minutes, writing about how you would feel with more of what you enjoy in your life.)  

Here are a few prompts to help with your clarity. 

What is the one thing you adore doing? 

When did you last make time for this activity?

Where are other people who also enjoy this area of creativity?

When you are lost in this activity, do you encourage or criticise yourself?

How could you build more confidence, in doing what you enjoy?

How could you add this to your life more regularly? 

Sometimes we expect ourselves to be happier, more at peace and full of confidence. But if the essence of who we are and what we love, is deeply hidden away under 'busyness', our self esteem can suffer. We must ensure we do not feel invisible in our own environments and believe there is a way to express our voice, our own unique way.  

A note on guilt: When we finally make time to do what we love all the SHOULD'S come out of know where. This can spark guilt but I want you to keep making time for this unique happiness sparking habit. Soon the benefits of adding what you love to your life, will out weight the guilt. Your confidence will grow too. I believe this is not just something that just adds a little entertainment to our life. I believe adding what you love is essential for your health, immune system, energy levels and it deepens your connection to yourself and others. Well worth the effort!

LOOK OUT FOR MINDFUL MONDAY TOMORROW!