Most of us wait to feel confident before we act like it.
This morning we'll try it the other way round, starting with how you're sitting
right now.
Sit up, or stand if you'd rather.
Feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart.
Lift the crown of your head a little, like there's a string pulling it
gently up.
Let your chin level out.
Roll your shoulders up, back, and down.
Let your chest open a bit.
You can close your eyes or keep a soft gaze ahead.
Three strong breaths now.
Big ones.
Breathe in through your nose, filling all the way up.
And breathe out through your mouth, firm and steady, like you're blowing out a
candle across the room.
Second one.
Breathe in...
and feel your ribs widen.
And out...
strong and clear.
Last one.
Breathe as in, tall as you can get...
And out.
Stay tall as the air leaves.
Now I'll say a few words, and you say them after me.
Out loud is best, even in a whisper.
In your head is fine too.
I am confident.
I trust myself.
I can do hard things.
I am ready for today.
Notice what happened in your body when you said them.
Maybe a small lift.
Or maybe a little voice saying, yeah, right.
Honestly, that voice turns up for most people.
It's allowed to be here.
It just doesn't get the final word this morning.
Now think back to a time you were brave.
It doesn't have to be dramatic.
Maybe you spoke up when in a meeting your heart was pounding.
Maybe you went somewhere new on or your own, when said no it would've
been so much easier to say yes.
Small counts.
Pick the first one that shows up.
Go back there for a moment.
Where were you standing?
What did your hands feel right like, before you did it?
You were probably nervous.
Most brave things feel that way from the inside, and from the outside nobody
could tell.
You did it anyway.
That person is still you.
Same hands, same voice, just a bit more practice now.
Breathe in...
and let that feeling from back then fill your chest now.
Breathe out...
and let it settle into your shoulders and your spine.
Nerves and confidence can live in the same body.
You've already proven that once, and you can again.
If your mind jumps ahead to today's to-do list, that's normal.
Just bring it back to that memory, and to your posture.
Let's say them again.
This time slower, and a little lower in your voice, like you mean it.
I...
am...
confident.
I...
trust...
myself.
I...
can do...
hard things.
That's the voice you can bring with you.
You don't need to be loud.
Steady works better anyway, and people tend to lean in and listen to it.
If you shook a little on the words, that's fine.
Confident people shake sometimes too.
Just sit tall here for a few breaths.
Let the words keep echoing on their own.
You don't need to push anything.
Notice the floor under your feet, and the air moving in and out, and
how steady you already are.
Okay.
Let's get you moving.
Wiggle your fingers.
Press your feet into the floor.
Roll your shoulders back one more time.
Open your eyes, and notice how you're holding yourself right now.
Keep that for posture your first conversation today,
whether it's the barista or someone at work.
Before you speak,
take one slow and breath
let your shoulders settle.
Then just say the thing.
See how it goes.