I stood on the edge of the platform and leaned out to grab the trapeze.  The instructor held onto my harness and said “now let go of the safety bar and grab the trapeze with your other hand.”  Every cell in my body screamed “DO NOT LET GO OF THE SAFETY BAR!!”  I replied to my instructor in a shaky voice, “I don’t think I can let go.”

“Yes you can,” he responded with complete confidence.

So I let go, grabbed the trapeze and on his signal I jumped off the platform, swinging on the trapeze attempting (unsuccessfully) to do the routine I had been instructed to do.  As I landed in the safety net my instructor called out that I had failed miserably and that I would have to do it again!  The combination of fear and adrenaline coursing through my body coupled with the amount of physical strength (that I clearly didn’t possess) required for the task made me laugh nervously and say “I don’t think I can do it – it’s too hard.”

Then he leaned toward me, looked me in the eyes and said “You can do this, now go climb up that ladder and do it.”

Body trembling with fear and muscle fatigue, I turned around and climbed up the ladder to the platform.  This time I leaped off the platform and performed the routine as instructed!  Success!  One step closer to joining the circus!!

Have you ever limited yourself because you didn’t have the confidence that you would be successful?  Maybe the fear of being humiliated, looking foolish, getting bad news or being physically injured was so overpowering that your confidence in yourself disappeared faster than candy at a child’s birthday party. Increasing confidence is a big part of what I help my clients with – confidence to change jobs, leave or start a relationship, try something new, pursue their dreams or simply to live their life the way they want to live it.

Lack of confidence is no reason to limit yourself.  Just because you don’t have it doesn’t mean you are doomed to never take the leap into what you want.  Confidence can be arranged.  The trapeze instructor had enough confidence in me to fuel me for my second attempt. My trainer at the gym gives me an exercise that I am convinced I won’t be able to do. She’s so confident that I try it and to my amazement, I am successful.  It’s what I do with my clients – hold unwavering confidence in them until they have cultivated the confidence to do everything they have ever wanted to do.

Whether you are unsure about changing your job, worried about going for your medical test results, or afraid of speaking up for yourself, confidence can be arranged and you have the power to arrange whatever you need.  How’s that for confidence?!