Believe in yourself
Hi Everyone,
Each month for my yoga classes I try and have a mental focus point whether that is affirmations or setting intentions or both. For the month of November the intention was around how we speak to ourselves and practicing compassion and kindness to ourselves.
The four affirmations that I had for each week were:
I am Enough
I am Worthy
I believe in myself
I am loved
In 2019 I received an award from Network Ireland for regional winner of business woman of the year, the power within award and I made it to the finals. This was one of the proudest moments of my life and I’ll explain why.
I never imagined becoming a yoga teacher or a nutrition and lifestyle coach, Why? I had no confidence in myself, I never thought I was good enough or worthy of such an achievement, this only happened to other people not to someone like me!
Looking back now I didn’t have any confidence or belief in myself or feel I had anything to offer that anyone would be interested in. I didn’t believe I could go back to education to retrain because I didn’t think I was clever enough and I was embarrassed to tell anyone that I hadn’t completed my education!
With encouragement from my family and friends I began a course to train as a yoga teacher because I loved yoga but I did not expect anything to come of it. I couldn't possibly teach, that was for other people! On reflection this was the first step in helping me find value and purpose in life and in myself.
This did not happen over night but over time I started to realise that I am enough, I have something to offer and the best part was I absolutely loved teaching yoga. This gave me the confidence to return to education. In 2019 I qualified as a nutrition and lifestyle coach and I decided to continue learning for a diploma in nutritional therapy, which is an additional 2.5 year course (which I am still doing!).
The more I stepped out of my comfort zone and pushed myself along the more my confidence grew. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have days of no confidence, doubting my judgement and capabilities along with wanting to give it all up but my family, students and clients are what keep me turning up each day along with that little niggle of belief in myself!
Why am I telling you this? I am telling you about all this because the last 18 months have been very difficult for everyone. A lot of us feel unsettled, worried and anxious about what will happen next. Covid has pushed some to make big changes in their lives, while others feel lost in what direction to go or feel they are stuck!
If this is you my advice is, don’t ignore that niggling feeling you may have. Talk about it to your family and friends and surround yourself with the right people who have your best interest at heart. People see you differently than you see yourself. They love and recognise the qualities within you. Don't be afraid to talk about how you are feeling you will be surpised of the response that you get. Just talking it out will help you feel so much better.
If you have dreams write them down, even if they feel far fetched. They might even be but they are your dreams so what does it matter. Writing gives you such clarity and helps to sort things out in your busy head. I have a vision board that I created a few years ago and when I added pictures of my dreams and intentions to it, it seemed crazy but I don't mind saying most of those dreams have come true!
Check yourself on how you are SPEAKING to yourself, this is a big deal! You would not speak to your loved one or best friend in that way. Remember the only person that's listening is you!
Be SUPPORTIVE and KIND to yourself, you have so much to offer! I love the quote from Winne the Pooh “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and, smarter than you think!”
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, you are an amazing person with so much to offer and remember anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
And finally you are ENOUGH, you are WORTHY and no matter what happens you are LOVED and deserved of LOVE.
I had no great big plan, I believe that our paths are laid out in front of us and you decide which path you are going to take. Remember it won’t always be easy but reminding yourself why you are on that path will keep you moving forward.
I hope this helps in some way for you to take that first step in achieving your dreams or making that change that you have always wanted and that you deserve!
