Begin with your insecurities
Let the feeling of embarrassment be in charge
Speak as if you haven’t felt stupid, ugly, or insignificant
When that can no longer be maintained, go deeper
Get in touch with your pain
Let your fears run the show
Act as if you haven’t experienced failure, worthlessness, self-loathing, and worse
If that becomes difficult to uphold, don’t stop
Tap into those torturous voices
The ones that say you’re not worth it, you can’t do it, stop trying
Hide anxiety with excuses and fear with hate
Do it until you are completely convinced of its uselessness
When it doesn’t work
And it won’t
When you’re tired of hiding, of making believe
Then you might try a new place to start
Begin with your strengths
Let the things you do well be in charge
Act as if you believe in your natural gifts, your unique genius
As that begins to grow, go deeper
Get in touch with your values
Operate from the those things you care about the most
Speak as though they matter, that they are worth trying to achieve
As it develops within you, as the confidence develops, don’t stop
Tap into the belief you have in yourself
Those parts of you that have always known and struggled to say
Replace anxiety with action that is more sustainable and fear with hope that is more powerful
Do it until you begin to convince yourself of your own power
And when it works
And it will
When you feel the freedom of knowing your power
Understand, you’ve had it from the beginning
