How many of you are familiar with the old saying, "Still waters run deep"? This is a Latin Proverb also written into a fable for Aesop's Fables and basically, "…commonly taken to mean that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature. Formerly it also carried the warning that silent people are dangerous…". (http://www.ask.com/wiki/Still_Waters_Run_Deep_(fable). Now, I am not saying, "Be dangerous" but, we will get into deeper waters when it comes to allowing your talents, gifts, ambitions, and passions to come to the surface and be confident in letting them flow freely.
We can appreciate the beauty of the calmness, serenity, and utter awe in how the sunlight can break through the clouds after a storm over a grey ocean. Yet, like our lives, we can see the island off in the distance and wonder….just what would it be like to be on that island in the middle of such heavenly calmness? We also know of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface of the calm waters with sharks and sea-life that goes on in the underworld. Seldom do we get to see the dolphins and whales give us a glimpse of their domain. But when they do….what a glorious splendor to behold! This is how I would like you to look at your life. You have so much to offer that lies beneath your exterior and there should never be any fear in sharing the marvel, magnificence, and triumphs with the world and those you love!
Confident, successful women will tell you that it is not an easy task to simply go out there and be the best you you can be! We need to be confident in testing the murky as well as the swells and surges as we go through life. Confronting and eliminating some of your deepest fears in this process will not only help you gain in confidence but, will also bring out those hidden strengths you weren't even aware you had! Much like the saying, 'Getting back up on the horse', this is the approach we must take when we have gotten caught in the waves of life, feeling as though you are drowning, and simply don't want to 'go there' again. You must dry yourself off, wash the sand from your eyes and try again.
What are some of the fears we tend to face throughout our lives? Have you given any thought as to your particular fears and why you have them? We have been conditioned, since birth, to fear. The idea is to break out of the molds set forth in our formative years and to face these fears as challenges to overcome not problems to be avoided. If not for our fears, what would we have to work with on our personal and professional success? Give this some thought. If we feared nothing, what motivation would we have to make change or effect change within others? Having the ability to recognize our fears as well as the ability to have a 'plan' when facing those fears, is a quality that everyone should learn to acquire. When we can take the time to think logically about our fears and visualize them, we can learn that they are manifested for one reason or another and we need to desensitize ourselves to them.
So how do we allow ourselves the ability to not only overcome our fears but, let those same types of behaviors shine through as strengths instead of weaknesses? Let it happen and be prepared! Actually, being prepared should come first. When you jump into any body of water, what are your choices….to sink, swim, or float! With our lives we need to have a 'sink, swim, or float' plan so we are prepared for anything that life has to throw at us. Having our plans in place provides us the confidence we need to tackle any challenge.
(For more on how to let YOUR still waters flow, see my book, "The Confident Woman")
We can appreciate the beauty of the calmness, serenity, and utter awe in how the sunlight can break through the clouds after a storm over a grey ocean. Yet, like our lives, we can see the island off in the distance and wonder….just what would it be like to be on that island in the middle of such heavenly calmness? We also know of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface of the calm waters with sharks and sea-life that goes on in the underworld. Seldom do we get to see the dolphins and whales give us a glimpse of their domain. But when they do….what a glorious splendor to behold! This is how I would like you to look at your life. You have so much to offer that lies beneath your exterior and there should never be any fear in sharing the marvel, magnificence, and triumphs with the world and those you love!
Confident, successful women will tell you that it is not an easy task to simply go out there and be the best you you can be! We need to be confident in testing the murky as well as the swells and surges as we go through life. Confronting and eliminating some of your deepest fears in this process will not only help you gain in confidence but, will also bring out those hidden strengths you weren't even aware you had! Much like the saying, 'Getting back up on the horse', this is the approach we must take when we have gotten caught in the waves of life, feeling as though you are drowning, and simply don't want to 'go there' again. You must dry yourself off, wash the sand from your eyes and try again.
What are some of the fears we tend to face throughout our lives? Have you given any thought as to your particular fears and why you have them? We have been conditioned, since birth, to fear. The idea is to break out of the molds set forth in our formative years and to face these fears as challenges to overcome not problems to be avoided. If not for our fears, what would we have to work with on our personal and professional success? Give this some thought. If we feared nothing, what motivation would we have to make change or effect change within others? Having the ability to recognize our fears as well as the ability to have a 'plan' when facing those fears, is a quality that everyone should learn to acquire. When we can take the time to think logically about our fears and visualize them, we can learn that they are manifested for one reason or another and we need to desensitize ourselves to them.
So how do we allow ourselves the ability to not only overcome our fears but, let those same types of behaviors shine through as strengths instead of weaknesses? Let it happen and be prepared! Actually, being prepared should come first. When you jump into any body of water, what are your choices….to sink, swim, or float! With our lives we need to have a 'sink, swim, or float' plan so we are prepared for anything that life has to throw at us. Having our plans in place provides us the confidence we need to tackle any challenge.
(For more on how to let YOUR still waters flow, see my book, "The Confident Woman")