In my senior year of high school (yes, we did have electric lights and flushable toilets) I was part of a state championship basketball team. This was a big deal. We were a small Catholic school competing with players from the “big cities”. And I made a significant contribution to that victory. My mom saved the press clippings if you need validation of that claim. And I was over 40 years old before I gave that accomplishment much thought. Why is that?
I think a lot us don’t give ourselves enough credit. We don’t think about the good things we accomplish, the way we take care of our families, we way we serve our employers or our customers. Why is that?
Is 99% of the populations suffering from lack of confidence based on what they think they DID NOT accomplish? I know a lot us focus too much on our faults and our challenges. And we are not encouraged and inspired by what we have already REALLY accomplished. We don’t think about our successes.
In his book Let Me Out: Unlock Your Creative Mind and Bring Your Ideas to Life, Peter Himmelman, the founder of Big Muse, a company that teaches creative thinking, leadership skills, and deeper level of communication in all facets of life-personal and professional, talks about MARV (Majorly Afraid of Revealing Vulnerability). This is the human voice that tells us we are not worthy. We are not capable. We are NOT……………you get the idea.
MARV is the bullshit we listen to when the facts say the opposite. You, did pass that test. You, did get that job. You, do have a great family life. You, did do that marathon, You, did write that song. You, did organize that little league team, you did break that glass ceiling at you company. Your life is overwhelmingly filled with positives.
Sometimes I need to pull out that scrapbook from my high school days to see my picture in the paper, to remind myself that along with my tremendous teammates, I am a state champ.
You are a champion. Pause for a little bit and think of all your successes. Then move forward confidently. You do have a history of success. You can accomplish that task.
Congratulations! You’re a winner!
PS: I have interviewed Peter Himmelman more than once on my Business Builders Show. Go to www.c-suiteradio.com to find those encouraging discussions!
Opinions expressed by C-Suite Network contributors are their own.
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