I know what its like.

To feel small. Like you know nothing. As if you’re not worthy of being present within your circles. I know what its like to feel like you don’t belong, or that you have no business trying to better yourself at whatever you’re trying to become good at. Like you have no right to promote yourself, even when its necessary. When it feels like you’re the only person in the room who doesn’t understand, but you’re too afraid to ask a question. To want to shrink into the walls. To work tirelessly at something and the rewards won’t come. Or to feel guilty for success because you took it from your friend. To doubt whether you could make it work. I’ve talked myself down, telling myself that I don’t deserve it and that this is transient. To not get used to it. To enjoy it while it lasts.

I’m here to remind you of something.

Whatever you want to achieve, however you want to achieve it – you can. It’ll take time, but if you want it, you have the ability to chase it. You have the ability to make it happen. You’re valuable and unique. The things you have to say are important. Your opinions matter. Your ideas are useful and powerful. The world needs more of you. There are times when things are tough. These set backs are simply lessons waiting to be learned. Find the lesson. Reframe it. Learn from it. Remember it. Move on.

It is a myth that you need to be confident to be successful.

We all feel the fear and self doubt, but the successful ones keep on coming back anyway. It is possible to work through a lack of confidence to continue to move yourself forward, by focussing on the work at hand, on helping out others, and on making a difference. You’ll be busy with those and lose sight of your own fear. We are all presented with different opportunities and there is no right or wrong ways. We are all on different parts of the journey. Success, whatever that means to you, isn’t instant. But I’d hate to think that you would give up before you even start.

I promise if you want it, you can make it happen. Don’t stop.

Keep your chin up. Happy Monday.