When’s the last time you truly thought like a six year old? In other words, you had thoughts like: “I’m going to be an astronaut one day” or “When I grow up I’m going to be the prime minister.”
As children, we tend to believe that we truly can do anything we want. However, as you go to school, get a job, and eventually retire, the world’s expectations and beliefs about you shrink your own beliefs.
The things we believed we could accomplish slowly start to disappear and become unfulfilled dreams.
Our dreams of backpacking around the world or doing charity work in the remotest regions of Africa disappear because we begin listening to others and accept that these things won’t happen.
It’s hard not to listen because many of these people’s intentions are good. Yet, we follow the path they suggest based on their beliefs of what is possible. Unfortunately, it can take years, even decades to realise how our dreams were derailed and why.
In reality what you can actually do continues to grow, even as your beliefs (what you think you can do) get in the way of that.
So how do you push past your insecurities and build your own confidence again?
1. Start thinking like a six year old.
Ignore your negative self talk and feedback from others. Six year olds don’t pay attention when someone tells them they might not be a princess and an actress when they grow up. They just keep believing.
2. Be the biggest loser.
The strange thing about our potential is that it often gets hidden. It gets covered up by doubt and by the discouragement we get from others. We often forget our potential exists, and it takes a friend or coach to remind us of it and encourage us to take action.
If you’re looking to make a serious change in your life, use your coach or an accountability friend to work with. They’ll help you tap into your childlike thinking and uncover beliefs, abilities, and hidden talents.
3. Don’t be so scared of failure.
Many times we silence our inner six year old because of the fear of failure. We fear that if we go for what we actually want, we might fail and look stupid.
The best learning moments in life are when we fail. If you never fail, you’ll never make a difference in the world.
Think of the people who you admire the most. How many times do you think they’ve failed in their lives? Probably more than they can remember. These people are successful because they failed early and failed often. They got out there, gave it a try, and learned with each failure.
Failure means you’re making progress. Don’t be so afraid of it.
