If I were facing a challenge and was unsure I could be successful, I would research the subject to educate and familiarize myself with the topic. Doing this would not only help me to see the challenge as one that others have navigated successfully, but also allow me to feel more prepared as a result of my effort. I would also speak to myself positively, without making excuses or adopting a victim mindset. This is a balance that has been hard for me to achieve in the past, because the moment I engage in positive self-talk, I often feel as if I am pitying myself, or letting myself off the hook for something I am lacking in. It is important to use positive self-talk as a tool of encouragement, so we do not need validation from others to feel worthy or capable, and it is a skill worth practicing. The last thing I would do is work to build my confidence by accomplishing numerous small tasks that are somehow relevant to my challenge. Taking incremental steps is a great way to instill the belief that you are capable of what you put effort into, and that only by applying yourself can you complete any task, of any size. For me, it is a constant effort to see myself as capable and good enough, but I have very little reason for this mindset, in reality. We are what we do, and I need to remind myself that any time in my life where I have been faced with adversity, I have made the effort to overcome it and grow from it. That is who I am. Regardless of the result, I can say I have always tried, and remembering this truth will help to build the self-efficacy skills necessary to accomplish my goals.
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