In Part One, I wrote about the fact that my parents’ belief in me was a building block in living authentically. I learned to trust myself and my instincts because they believed in me. Since then, I know trouble always happens when I don’t listen to my gut. But what happens when you don’t have cheerleaders in your life?
- Find a support circle. Start with friends who you know have your back. I hope you have people who work on projects with you. You may have a church or a non-profit where you volunteer. There may be a group that meets regularly for hobbies or recreational activities. If you have caregivers in your life, they are hopefully the kind who encourage you to experiment with new activities and build your confidence.
- Keep your promises. It is important to keep promises to yourself. Every day, I have a small list of things to do. When I feel accomplished, I am more confident. And if you have a habit of following through for yourself, it’s easier to support the others in your life who have become your friends and supporters.
- It’s a give and take. When friends have problems, be there, even if you don’t know how to solve the problem. Just listen. And if you find you are doing too much giving and the other is not there for you-move on. Never do all the taking or all of the giving.
Sometimes people have to build their own family in order to have a support net, but that family is the one around whom you can’t let your hair down and relax. Being confident and having a support circle are important ingredients for an authentic life.