Is a lack of self confidence holding back your career?

This post came out from The New Paper (19 April 2016)
Title - Is a lack of self confidence holding back your career?

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Understand the cause of fear
2. Keep fear in the dark
3. Stay positive
4. Be self reliant
5. Demonstrate commitment to your vision

On Understand the cause of fear

• First, one needs to believe wholeheartedly that the fear he or she faces is caused by his or her mind, instead of looking for an external cause.
• Doing so would not only be futile but result in more disappointment and frustration. Turn inward and be responsible for your own emotions. The conditions you face are a reflection of your inner thoughts.

On Keep fear in the dark

• Instead of giving fear less attention, we tend to do the opposite. We talk about what we fear most, complain to family and friends and even write about it. This is because humans find comfort when they know they are not alone. 
• Limit or eliminate the attention you give to fear. Focus on the desired outcome you want instead. Imagine your family congratulating you on your success.

On Stay positive

• The more we focus on the desired outcome, the more motivated we become, and the more we will seek bigger challenges that reward us with better opportunities and prospects.
• Be positive and genuine, and cultivate friendships with sincere people. 

On Be self reliant

• When facing work or personal challenges, it is sometimes too easy to ask someone for advice to solve your problems. Instead of seeking second opinions, quiet the turbulence within yourself. Learn to ask yourself different questions and have patience the answers or desired outcome will come to you.
• Nobody should know you better than yourself. We must reclaim the power that we already have within us and learn to be still.

On Demonstrate commitment to your vision

• During good or bad times, this means being able to hold on to your vision until it materialise. How long it takes to reach the end point is the true test if we are indeed loyal to what we want. Changing course or giving up halfway means that our commitment is not strong. 
• To succeed, we must imagine ourselves achieving the desired outcome. We need to hold on to this image until we attain our goals. It is important to gain clarity on our goals before we embark on ways to achieve it. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big