We’ve all heard the saying that confidence is key. However, how many of us can truly call ourselves confident? According one study, 85% of the world’s population are affected by low self esteem. This means that more than half of the globe’s population deem themselves unworthy of love, success, happiness and even wealth! It’s no wonder the rich keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. Self esteem and self worth are directly linked to income, in the sense that you’re more likely to go after opportunities that intimidate you if and when you have an innate trust and appreciation in your self. Confidence is key; not just because it allows us to tap into parts of ourselves that we might be scared of, but also because it projects to the universe that you are ready to conquer it all – ready to face whatever life throws at you.

Personally, I had to learn how to be confident at a very young age. My mother passed away from a brain tumor when I was 10 years old, and ever since that day, a newly found sense of maturity and obligation was invoked within me. I was, now and forevermore, in charge of my own life. And knowing that my decisions were strictly my own forced me to trust in my intuitive judgement. Sometimes, we find confidence in the midst of the most wrecked and tumultuous times in our lives. Other times, we must seek it. And like anything that’s worth finding, it will take time. You don’t just wake up one day and say, “Wow, I’m soooo confident!” No. It’s a process – and one that takes determination and skill. Confidence requires the art of patience; it requires getting a solid understanding of self, and being resilient enough to face the tough times with your head high. As someone who’s been through quite a lot in life, I’m confident that the three tips I give you will fill you with a new and profound self of identity, especially if you lack the confidence you need to conquer your world. Follow these steps wholeheartedly and I promise you that you’ll start feeling more confident over time. So, without further ado, here are my golden steps to helping you find the Godfidence ~ a godly sense of confidence ~ within.

STEP 1: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD.

This one might come off as “superficial”, but I promise you it works, and I’ll tell you why. For those of you who don’t know me in real life, I’m really into Vedic/Jyotish Astrology. Vedic astrology is basically the more in depth and accurate version of Western astrology, and it gives us a snapshot of an individual’s purpose in life, past & present karmas, ambitions, and even potential downfalls – all based on the individual’s planetary placements. In Vedic Astrology, the planet Venus is considered the planet of beauty, wealth, and luxury. Everyone has a particular Venus placement, but what’s important about Venus’ placement in your chart is that it indicates which area of your life needs more…glam. Venus reminds us that we aren’t meant to live like pigs; that beauty and luxury play a significant role in self care and self love. Every time you perform certain rituals such as taking a shower/bath, being creative in any aspect, or even taking some time out to meditate or recite affirmations, you are embracing the planet Venus, and as a result, she blesses you with even more beauty, grace and elegance. Looking good isn’t just about what you’re wearing on the outside, it’s also about how you feel on the inside. This is why it’s pivotal to always be aware of the energy you’re putting into yourself (the music you listen to, the people you surround yourself with, etc), and also out to the Universe. The colors of the clothes you wear are a great place to start reflecting on the energy you emulate every day, but I think what’s even more important is meditating on who you are, and what type of energy you give off. Having a clear understanding of the impression you give others plays a significant role in then changing or adjusting your temperament and/or vitality. Getting compliments from strangers about your soul’s energy is a beautiful feeling, and it plays a significant role in your confidence, I promise you. So again, look good from the inside and out, FEEL even better from the outside and within. Try it!

STEP 2: REFUSE TO TALK NEGATIVELY TO YOURSELF!

I cannot emphasize this enough! Let those negative voices in your head GO! Kiss them goodbye and allow yourself to be in a constant state of positive thinking and bliss. New research suggests that the average person will typically have more than 6,000 thoughts in a single day! That shows you how powerful our brains are! Imagine if most of those thoughts are filled with criticism, self-doubt and hatred… you will age like sour milk! Youthfulness is all about your state of being. It’s about how you THINK. Some people are in their 60s radiating the energy of a 20-year old because they think with excitement and zeal. They look forward to the future with positivity and glee. You will hardly ever meet a miserable person who ages with charm, not unless they’re doing botox and even that’s fake. According to plastic surgeon Dr. David H. Song of the University of Chicago Medical Center, frowning requires 9 muscles while smiling requires 12. This means you’re working more muscles when you smile and tightening up your face, which then gives you that radiant glow. And what can make you feel better than a delightful, uplifted face? Nothing, I’d argue. So take the time out to think positive thoughts and even force yourself to smile. I guarantee you that it will increase your serotonin levels while simultaneously communicating to the world that you are an optimistic and enlightened being who can take criticism and still channel a beautiful, radiant energy.

STEP 3: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CONFIDENT PEOPLE.

You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. This is proven. Keeping this in mind, it’s important to pay close attention to those who you give your sacred energy to. If you surround yourself with people who are always miserable and negative, guess what that says about you? That you are miserable and negative yourself. It’s crucial for you to selectively decide who is worth your time and attention. Being around people who uplift you and motivate you to be the best version of yourself is the ultimate way to grow your confidence. Why? Because people who are confident and uplifting will ignite a sense of introspection and assurance in yourself. One of the greatest things about myself isn’t my accomplishments, it’s the amazing circle of people I call my friends. I don’t have too many of them, but I’ll take quality over quantity any day! I used to be really popular when I was young, but when things hit the fence, NONE of those friends were there to inspire me or even challenge me to get better. This is when I learned first hand that an open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse. All those people I called my friends were just leaching off of my supreme, Godlike energy, and as a result, I ended up getting so drained and depleted that I spent years in mental health institutions – desperately trying to recover from my lack of discernment. You must surround yourself with people who are filled with Godfidence – a godly sense of confidence. Now that I know thyself, it’s easier for me to cut off people who I know aren’t worth my time. But this isn’t an easy fleet. You must be willing to cut off dead ends and be bold/courageous enough to start afresh if the people in your life are draining you rather than filling your cup. This is perhaps the most important “how to” of this article. Having the strength to see yourself as confident is a deep and personal task, but being surrounded by winners makes it an undertaking worth conquering.

So, there you have it. 1) Look good feel good, 2) completely REFUSE to talk negatively to yourself, and 3) surround yourself with confident, honest, and driven people. These tips will allow you to reflect on who you are on the INSIDE, while simultaneously changing your situation on the outside. As someone who struggled with confidence as a young adult, I’m mesmerized by how these three little adjustments have changed my life for the better, forever. I’m now able to walk into any given room and trust that I will be alright, because my Godfidence assures me that I deserve to be in whichever space I occupy. As a result, my sense of value has increased because as they say, your network is your net worth! I hope that you practice self love and truly knowing and trusting thyself, because only through that can you really say that you’re a confident being. I’ll leave you with a bonus tip: learn how to take criticism. Not only does criticism allow us to get a sense of how others perceive us, it also allows us to grow. Growth happens outside of the comfort zone. Nobody wants to hear that they’re not perfect, but I promise you, paying attention to what those around you have to say will play a pivotal role in allowing to find retrospection in what you’re doing wrong in life, which will inevitably increase your quality of life in the process. Life is a beach, we’re just playing in the sand. So make the most out of this experience by striving to be the most elegant, confident and persevering version of yourself! With these tips at hand, I guarantee you that you will be on to a bigger and brighter future; not only for yourself, but for everyone you come into contact with. You WILL shine as bright as heaven, not because you were born with confidence, but because you manifested your Godfidence actively and withstanding all the ups and downs in life. I want you to look back at your life when you’re 90 something and proudly proclaim, “Wow, I’m PHENOMENAL”, but it all starts with these tips I’ve written out just for you. Trust me, a little faith in yourself will go a longgggg way.

I love you so much. And I wish you all the confidence in the world! Go out there and be as fierce as a tiger. Thanks for reading my blog.

Sincerely,

Stacy M. Rahaka.