A thought
by Seth Godin, (2010-10-13) from his book, Graceful
(Kindle Locations 331-332). New Word City, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
I wonder
if confidence is experiencing success in advance? I’m sure more people do the other. Somehow we have learned how to experience anxiety
more than confidence. Society would
rather teach us that. it seems to come
so natural except if you are a child.
Children
many times believe they can do anything but adults start putting anxiety into
their lives. They know that life is scary
and should be feared except those adults who believe, who have confidence.
Bill
Hybels is a very effective, innovative Pastor of a church in Chicago that is making a
difference in the world. His dad who was
a very successful business man saw in Bill a thrill-seeking temperament from an
early age and he knew that if he didn’t do something to channel all that energy
in a positive direction, Bill would likely wind up wrecking his life. Bill said in his book, The Power of a Whisper, “before I was even ten, he sent me off alone on a cross-country
train bound for Aspen, Colorado.” Bill
said, “The real goal…was learning how to navigate the big blue world around
me. And navigate it I would.”
Again
at sixteen, his father came to him and said, “I think you ought to see even
more of the world.” It was during the school year, but his dad said, "Obviously, you must never allow school to interfere with your education." And he sent him,
again alone, for eight weeks straight from Scandinavia to the Middle East. That was a life changing trip for Bill.
Now
I’m not saying that we should do that but I am saying that we should do all we
can to build confidence not anxiety. And
confidence starts with some risks.
I was put up on a stage at 5. It was not a very successful first time but
it led to more and more. It led to my
being very confident in front of people.
I did the same with both of my kids and my son and daughter-in-law put our oldest granddaughter on stage at 3 and just last week at six performed in the musical Music Man for four
performances. She was great. She did it with great confidence.
Anxiety
is not the way to really live. Sunday
a 22 year old rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out three times but in the 11th
inning hit a walk-off home run to win the game.
He didn’t let the strike outs dictate his confidence. They weren’t failures; they were just a part
of the game.
So what
anxiety is holding you back from being a success?
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