Do You Believe?

In the annals of time, few people have accomplished great feats without believing in themselves, their abilities, and their objectives. Why? Because without conviction, without self-confidence, we are likely to falter. It doesn't really matter if we are attempting to accomplish something on a grand scale or something that no one but us will notice. Believing in ourselves is a must.

An often-told example is that of Jim Carrey, the comedian/actor. In 1983, he wrote himself a check for $10 million. About a decade later, he slipped that check into a pocket of his recently-deceased father. Carrey explained that he did so because his success was both his and his father's dream. But it was more than a dream. At that time, Carrey could have cashed that check. He had become a success on many levels, including financially. His drive and determination were matched only by his belief in himself.

Of course believing in yourself is helpful only when you believe that the objective is achievable in the first place. For instance, many people did not think that someone could run a sub-four-minute mile -- at least not until Roger Bannister did it in 1954. Then, knowing that it could be accomplished, several others succeeded in doing so almost immediately afterward.

Quite often the only thing that can truly hold us back is our own beliefs -- whether it's that we can't achieve an objective or that it can't be achieved at all. Don't let this happen to you. Believe in yourself. Believe in your objectives. Believe that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Tip: Include in your calendar a daily reminder to affirm that you can accomplish your goals and that you are worthy of doing so. Don't let a day go by without building more belief in yourself.