EP 451: How to Develop Self Confidence

As we practice mindfulness and develop the skills to be present, accepting, compassionate, and curious, we cultivate a keen level of self awareness. Self awareness allows us to self-regulate. It’s not that we’re aware of some secret mechanism to regulate our bodies and nervous systems. It’s more about perspective. In today’s episode, I use the example of a Rottweiler. A full grown Rottweiler is a big and scary dog. In fact, trained the right way, it could quite literally kill an adult human with little trouble. A Rottweiler puppy is made of the same stuff and, without any major transformation, will grow into the same potentially dangerous dog as the adult. But it’s a puppy! So I could just pick it up and nuzzle and kiss it. There is no danger whatsoever. Our emotions are the same way! Rage arising from anger can hijack your day and cause weeks of trouble for you. But the emotions that led to the anger and rage were, at one point, little puppies of emotions. And if you could see them when they were so small, like a puppy, you could very easily avoid the hijack. But wait! There’s more!!! As we grow into this skill, we become self confident. This is because we know that with the awareness we will be able to handle whatever situation comes our way. Would you like to be more self confident?