Confidence comes from taking action
If you can do the scary thing that made your palms sweat, you can do anything
When you take action before you’re ready, you begin to grow in confidence. You’re able to look at what you did and feel proud of yourself.
And the more confident you feel, the easier it is to take action.
When I first started coaching back in 2018, I focused on helping social media managers price their services with confidence.
Undercharging, overworking and being under-appreciated was something I had a lot of experience with.
I charged my first social media management client £75 a month to manage two platforms.
That didn’t even cover a week’s rent.
After hustling, burning out and failing to make the money I needed to support myself, I knew I needed to change my prices. I needed to start charging more for the (incredible) results I was getting. I needed to recognise my own value so I could be appropriately compensated for the work I was doing.
Within 6 weeks, I’d increased my prices to £400 per platform.
When I started coaching other social media managers around pricing their services and charging more for their work, I shared with them the exact strategies I’d used to increase my confidence and self worth.
Because feeling confident to ask for what you want and feeling worthy to receive that amount is crucial.
I taught my clients and community about the mindset tools I used to improve my confidence levels – affirmations, journaling, meditation, hypnosis, EFT.
And they all started to feel more confident in themselves.
But that was before they’d done the hard bit.
The biggest shift for each and every client was taking the action. In this case, asking for the amount they wanted to be paid.
Time and time again, I’d hear the same thing: “I quoted my new price and they actually said yes! I can’t believe it. And it also shows me I could charge more in the future.”
You see, you can work on your mindset day in, day out but until you’re actually in the situation you’re working on creating confidence for, there’s only so far you’ll go.
Confidence comes from two places:
Actively working on your mindset each day
Taking action and doing the thing that scares you
Once you’ve done the thing that scares you – asked for a pay rise, quit your job, said no to something you don’t want to do, booked the one way ticket, started the business – you’ll realise you not only survived doing that thing but you thrived from it.
It may not feel like you’re thriving immediately but that decision was a catalyst for change, for transformation, for a new chapter in your life.
That decision has shown you you are capable.
Knowing, seeing and believing you’re capable leads to a boost in confidence.
If you can do the scary thing that made your palms sweat, you can do anything. Can’t you?
In 2012, I booked my first solo trip around the world. 12 months prior to booking the trip, I’d been too scared to leave the house.
In the months leading up to the first flight, I had to repeatedly tell myself I could do it. I could get on the plane.
I had to actively work on increasing my confidence so I wouldn’t bottle it at the gate.
But it wasn’t until the moment I touched down in Bangkok, having survived my first long haul flight, that I truly believed in myself and my ability to go on this big trip.
The confidence came from me saying yes to the fear, from getting on the plane and launching myself out of my comfort zone.
Because confidence comes from taking action.
Next time you’re face to face with a scenario that feels scary but also exciting, take the action. Say yes. Do the thing. And watch as your confidence levels continue to grow.
Journal prompts for more confidence:
What’s stopping me from taking action right now?
If in 10 years time I still haven’t taken this action, how would I feel?
Now that I’ve taken the action that scares me, how do I feel about myself?
What small steps could I take to feel more confident in myself today?
What tiny action could I take today that will lead me closer to my desires?
Rebecca Hawkes is a Confidence & Life Coach. Listen to The Confidence Show podcast here. For help increasing your confidence 1:1, book a session at the Confidence Clinic. Visit Rebecca’s website here and follow her on Twitter here. Enjoying Rebecca’s content but don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription? You can buy her a cocktail to show your support here 🍸