What to
Do with Confidence When You Have It
Now that you have all the confidence, what should
you do with it? Keep refuelling it!
Confidence is not a constant; it fluctuates according
to your success/failure ratio. We all have defeats and failures which
occasionally and temporarily lower our level of confidence. If you
accept the fact that you will not be outstanding in everything you
attempt, you will not be devastated when your best is not good enough.
Confidence is Contagious.
You will find that your confidence has a contagious quality. It will
spread through out your sphere of influence. The Bible provides some
interesting examples of "confidence contagion."
For instance, how many giant-killers were in Saul's army? None. When
Goliath defied the armies of God, they quaked with fear (1Samuel
17:11). David, who came to bring food to his brothers,
sized up the situation, went out in faith, and killed the giant. After
David the giant-killer became king, how many giant-killers rose in
Israel? Quite a few. They were almost a common commodity in the army
under David's leadership. Take a look at
1 Chronicles 20:4-8.
Why do you suppose there were no giant-killers in
Saul's army? Surely one reason is that Saul himself was not a giant-killer.
However, under David's leadership they were numerous, because David
was a giant-killer. This illustrates a tremendous principle of leadership,
a principle which runs through out the Bible- it takes one to make
one! When you develop confidence, those around you- friends,
family, and associates -will increase in their own confidence levels.
Confidence breeds confidence.
Appreciate and Affirm
others. Everyone needs to be affirmed both as a person
and as a coworker. It's easy to give a generic compliment such as
"You're great to work with." But a comment that really means
something to a person is specific and mentions a certain quality:
"I appreciate your efficiency in relational skills, and this
is very important to the success of the group." We don't help
others by passing on empty compliments or avoiding the necessary task
of sharing needed constructive criticism. Unfortunately too often
we're stingy with honest praise. Build your coworkers and others up
and encourage them by verbalizing their worth and value in front of
others. Remember, praise in public and criticize in private.
Confidence can provide
the momentum you need to be the person God meant you
to be. It can not substitute for character, or skill, or knowledge,
but it enhances these qualities so that you can be a person who makes
a difference. When you have knowledge of skill and the momentum that
confidence brings, then things begin to happen in your relationships.
The largest locomotive in the New York Central system,
while standing still, can be prevented from moving by a single one-inch
block of wood placed in front of each of the eight drive wheels! The
same locomotive, moving at 100 miles per hour can crash through a
wall of steel-reinforced concrete five feet thick. The only difference
is momentum. Confidence gives you the
momentum that makes the difference.
You remember the childhood story about the train
engine that did because he thought he could. Some of the larger engines
were defeated when they saw the hill. The little engine made it, but
not because he had more power or more skills. The little engine made
it because he thought he could; he had more confidence. Many times
we feel like little insignificant engines. But if we hone our skills
and talents, then add a good dose of confidence, we can climb hills
and overcome obstacles and barriers that could have stopped us dead
in our tracks. Why pull off the track and stop when we can conquer
those mountains with the momentum of confidence in our engines?
Be encouraged.
>>Letter # 36 (21.12.2003)
