Do You Believe in Yourself?

Who do you spend the most time with? Your first thought might be your parents, a friend, or a colleague. But the answer is yourself. While that may seem obvious, most people rarely consider how much time they spend with themselves. Yet, it matters more than we realize. The beliefs that guide you, your inner dialogue, and how you treat yourself all shape your mindset — and the path you take in life. Just as you can bring out the best or worst in others, you can do the same to yourself. In fact, some people are kinder to strangers than they are to themselves.

Are you your harshest critic or biggest cheerleader?
Do you set low expectations out of self-doubt?
Do you dwell on failures more than achievements?
Do you feel powerless to shape your future?

As author Steve Maraboli said, “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.”

Why Believing in Yourself Matters

Believing in yourself sounds simple — but it’s not always easy. You might fool others, but you can’t fool yourself — and that can either build or break your confidence. You know whether you set high expectations or settle for less. You know if you act with integrity or rely on underhanded tactics to get ahead. You know whether you give your best effort or just enough to get by. You know if you earn your rewards or expect handouts. This isn’t a test someone else is grading. Believing in yourself comes from how you live your life — and you’re the one grading your performance every day.

Here are 10 ways your mindset can either hold you back or propel you forward:

If you believe success isn’t meant for people like you, you may never try.
If you credit luck for your achievements, you’ll hesitate to invest in yourself.
If you dismiss your ideas as foolish, you’ll keep them to yourself.
If you believe you can’t succeed on your own, you’ll resist stepping out of your comfort zone.
If you set the bar low, you’ll never reach your full potential.
If you skip practice and preparation, you’ll lack the confidence to succeed.
If you’re willing to do anything to win, you’ll assume others play dirty too — and that erodes trust.
If you avoid accountability, you’ll miss valuable lessons from your mistakes.
If you never learn to bounce back from small setbacks, bigger challenges will feel insurmountable.
If rewards come without effort, you’ll never experience the satisfaction of earning them.

Make Yourself Proud

Do you spend more time seeking acceptance from others or from yourself? If it’s others, your focus may be misplaced. If you want to believe in yourself, you must prove you’re worthy of it. That means investing in yourself to improve every day; giving your best, not just enough to get by; doing what’s right, not what’s easy; and striving to be a good person — because you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.

By living this way, you prove to yourself that you deserve it.

When someone asks, “Who are you trying to impress? Your answer should always be “myself.” That’s the formula for believing in yourself.