Meet Jenny … she’s a single mum, aged 40, started running 5 weeks ago and she plans to run a half marathon next weekend. If you are thinking to yourself “Is she crazy?” “Can she really do that?” “Is that even possible?” “Wow she must be seriously fit” or “I could never do that” then this post is for you.
What if you could be confident simply by believing in yourself? Confidence is simply belief. YOUR belief that you can do it. Belief that you will do it. Belief that you are big enough, strong enough, old enough, young enough, smart enough, brave enough. Belief is all you need. The most important person to believe in you IS you.
Sometimes it’s enough to start to believe. To start to dream. The more people you tell about your dream, the more people will start to believe in you and your dream. The more others believe in you, the more you believe in you. The most important person is you. If you don’t believe you can do it, you’re probably right.
I was reminded of this last week when Jenny joined our Thursday morning run (one of the reasons I love my business is the flexibility – I get to run on a midweek morning!) It was her first time out with the club. When she was introduced to my group, I was told that she’s running the Chislehurst half marathon next week. I will be the tail runner or ‘sweeper’ at the event. In other words, I’ll be running behind or alongside the last runner. I’m really excited about this role because I love encouraging people to ‘keep going’ and ‘you can do this’. When you’re one of the last runners in a half marathon and you’re struggling, and wondering if you can do it, you need somebody like me; somebody who believes in you when your belief is faltering. Somebody full of positive energy and enthusiasm; when your energy is wavering. Somebody who is confident you CAN do this, when your confidence is stuttering.
I chatted to Jenny and asked her about her training. She surprised me … she’s only been running 5 weeks. Yes, 5 weeks. She decided she needed to get fitter, saw a local half marathon was happening, entered the race and started to train. Nobody told her she couldn’t do it. Nobody told her, it can’t be done. She believed she could do it, so she did. Jenny came out again with us yesterday morning to do a 6 mile route – plus she ran to the start and home again, so 8 miles in total, the furthest she’s ever run. I was impressed.
It really brought home to me that the most important person to believe in you IS you. She believes she can do it and so do I. Her belief is her confidence.
What about you? What is the one thing you would like to believe you can do?
Here’s how – start telling people “I am going to …” The more your brain hears those positive statements, the more you will believe that you can and you will. The more people introduce you as “This is Sherry, she’s setting up her own TV show”, the more you start to believe. The more your confidence will grow.
When I did my first marathon, the mantra I told myself over and over again “I can, I will, I am”.
Quite simply, the most important person to believe in you IS you!
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