personal growth – Be as One

How to Build Confidence and Start Living the Life You Actually Want

Published on July 14, 2025 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

Guest post by Julie Morris

You don’t wake up one day suddenly glowing with confidence. It’s more like laying bricks. Small, steady. One awkward action stacked on another. One quiet decision followed by a louder one. Eventually, it stands tall enough for you to see over the fear. And then, things start to move.

Start With the Mindset You Wake Up With

Before your feet hit the floor, your thinking already shapes the rest of the day. That first thought, the tone of it, the way it echoes—it’s not minor. It’s the pilot light. If you can start each morning with growth, you’re not reacting to life, you’re designing it. Maybe it’s journaling, maybe it’s breathwork, or maybe it’s making your bed like a soldier with something to prove. Either way, mindset isn’t woo-woo; it’s the scaffolding. Get it right early, and everything else fits more easily into place.

Turn Habits Into Muscle Memory

Confidence doesn’t ride in on the wings of a TED Talk. It arrives through sweat and repetition. Start small, something tiny that you do every single day: floss, walk a block, drink water before coffee. The trick is to conquer a personal challenge so consistently that your brain forgets how to doubt you. That’s what makes habits magical; they delete the need for willpower. You begin to believe you’re the kind of person who gets things done. And guess what? You are.

Learn to Speak Up and Not Shut Down

Public speaking is just a fear of being seen. But once you stop pretending you’re supposed to be perfect, the panic dims. Turns out, you can reframe anxiety as excitement with a few mental pivots and a steady breath. It doesn’t matter if you’re pitching to a boardroom or introducing yourself in a Zoom call; your voice matters. Use it often. Loud doesn’t mean confident, by the way, clear and grounded wins every time. Own the space you’re in, then expand it.

Find Someone Who’s Done It Before

Mentorship isn’t some LinkedIn buzzword, it’s the lifeline that can shift your trajectory. No one gets brave alone. Having someone ahead of you in the game gives you a mirror, a map, and a reminder that you’re not as lost as you think. The data doesn’t lie, mentoring increases confidence and satisfaction in both directions. And you don’t need a formal arrangement. Sometimes, it’s just one honest conversation with someone who refuses to let you shrink. Go find that person.

Back to School, Forward in Life

There’s power in learning something new, especially when your career needs more than a patch job. Going back to school isn’t just about textbooks; it’s about reclaiming your future. Online programs give you the freedom to work at your own pace, which means your life doesn’t have to stop for your goals. Even better, you can choose from an array of options, whether you want a nursing, business, education, or cybersecurity degree. Credentials don’t guarantee confidence, but they sure as hell help build it. And sometimes, a degree is less about the paper and more about proving to yourself that you’re capable.

Say No So You Can Say Yes

Confidence doesn’t grow in chaos. If you’re always available, always agreeable, you become forgettable, to yourself most of all. You’ve got to start defending your energy like it’s your retirement fund. Boundaries aren’t rude, they’re respectful. Not just to you, but to the people you engage with. You don’t need to explain every no. You just need to mean it.

Get Your Body on Your Side

No, you don’t need to run marathons. But you do need to move like you give a damn about staying alive. Eat things that didn’t come vacuum-sealed in plastic, drink water like it’s a job, and sleep like it’s sacred. Small stuff, right? But the compounding effect is enormous. You’ll notice that exercise and healthy foods elevate confidence in ways a compliment or Instagram like never could. When your body feels strong, your decisions feel solid.

Confidence is not a lightning strike. It’s built in layers, choices, and everyday courage. You don’t need to fix everything at once. Just today. Just one action that leans in the direction of belief. Stack those, brick by uneven brick, and before you know it, you’re living the life you thought belonged to someone else. Except it doesn’t. It belongs to you.

Discover a wealth of resources for personal growth and wellness at Be as One, where you can reclaim your creative drive and achieve real-world wins!

Be sure to visit Julie’s website at juliemorris.org.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

Save

Beat Feelings Of Imposter Syndrome With These Simple Steps

Published on June 27, 2024 by susanwbailey1 Comment

Photo via Pexels

by Julie Morris

You may sometimes feel like you’re not as competent as others perceive you to be, or that your success is just a result of luck. These feelings are signs of imposter syndrome, a psychological pattern that can hold you back from achieving your true potential. Overcoming this self-doubt is crucial to stepping into your capabilities fully and confidently. In this article, courtesy of Be As One, we’ll explore some effective strategies to conquer these feelings and unlock your true potential.

Identify the Signs of Imposter Syndrome

Recognizing when you are experiencing imposter syndrome is the first step toward overcoming it. You might feel like a fraud, fear that you will not live up to expectations, or believe that your achievements are due to external factors rather than your own merit. These feelings can surface regardless of your actual success or competence. Acknowledging these thoughts as a common phenomenon can help you begin to dismantle their power over you.

Digitize to Organize

Staying organized can significantly ease the mental load that feeds imposter feelings. One practical step is to digitize important documents. By using an online tool to manage PDFs, you can compile multiple documents into a single file. This not only simplifies your information management by allowing you to add, delete, reorder, and rotate pages as needed but also clears physical and mental clutter, helping you focus more on your achievements and less on the chaos around you. This tool can be extremely helpful; check it out when you’re ready to start organizing.

Open Up About Your Feelings

Sharing your thoughts with trusted friends, mentors, or colleagues can be incredibly therapeutic. Vocalizing your feelings helps demystify them and offers a new perspective that often reveals these doubts as common and unfounded. This exchange not only provides reassurance but also strengthens your support network, reminding you that you are not alone in these experiences.

Document Your Successes

Take time to write down your achievements and the specific skills you employed to accomplish them. This practice helps you internalize your successes and recognize the competencies that enabled them. Reflecting on this list and celebrating your wins during moments of doubt can serve as a powerful reminder of your true abilities and an antidote to feelings of fraudulence.

Focus on Your Own Journey

Comparing yourself to others can intensify the feelings associated with imposter syndrome, diminishing your sense of worth and achievement. It’s crucial to shift your focus to your personal growth and progress instead. Every career path is distinct, and by concentrating on your unique journey, you can better appreciate and recognize your milestones and successes. This approach ensures you value your achievements without the distorting lens of comparison.

Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Allow yourself to make mistakes and perceive them as part of the learning process. Each error provides insights into how to improve, which is fundamental for personal and professional growth. Understanding that perfection is unattainable and that errors are natural steps in the journey helps mitigate feelings of being an imposter.

Visualize Your Success

Practicing visualization techniques can bolster your confidence and reduce feelings associated with imposter syndrome. Imagine yourself succeeding in your tasks and roles. This mental rehearsal can prepare you psychologically to perform your best and even enjoy the process.

Seek Professional Help If Needed

If imposter syndrome severely impacts your life, it may be time to consider seeking help from a counselor or therapist. Professional guidance can provide you with tailored strategies and support to effectively overcome these deeply ingrained patterns of self-doubt. Through a structured approach, these experts can help you reclaim your confidence and empower you to face challenges with newfound strength.

Imposter syndrome is a formidable opponent, but with the right strategies, you can overcome it and reach your full potential. By understanding its signs, organizing your tasks, sharing your feelings, and more, you empower yourself to move beyond self-doubt. Remember, each step you take is progress, and every small victory is a triumph over the imposter within.

Be As One offers a variety of resources to help individuals thrive as they navigate life. Have a question for the author? Get in touch today.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Save

The Journey of Personal Growth

Published on November 7, 2022 by susanwbailey1 Comment

I am pleased to present this guest post by Julie Morris, a life and career coach. She blogs regularly at juliemorris.org.

Before you begin your own quest for personal growth and development, you must define what that is for yourself. What is “self-improvement”? This depends on where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Make no mistake: personal growth is just that—personal. Nobody else, not even Tony Robbins or Dr. Phil, can define that for you.

Once you have defined self-improvement goals for yourself, there are several strategies available that can guide you to becoming who you want to be.

Meditation and Prayer

Practicing meditation is an excellent first step toward personal growth. Contrary to popular conception, meditation does not require the lotus position, mantras, incense, candles or other such accouterments. The only purpose of meditation is to empty your mind of distracting thoughts that may be holding you back. An easy and effective way to meditate is to sit in a comfortable chair with the room darkened and focus on some kind of white noise, like a hiss or a fan. There are many white noise generators available as apps and on YouTube.

The practice of prayer, whether alone or in community, can also be a useful means of personal growth. Whether you are praying for guidance or in appreciation for what you have accomplished, prayer can help you focus on those things of greatest importance.

Self-Care

Here is a radical, yet valid idea: it’s okay to be selfish. In fact, you should. Not in the obnoxious and demanding sense, but rather in prioritizing your own needs before the desires and demands of others. The reason is that if you are not satisfied and happy with yourself, you will be of little help to those around you. Take time to eat right, exercise, nourish your mind, and get rest when you need it. A healthy psyche and a healthy body go hand-in-hand—and the people around you will appreciate it and benefit.

Push the Boundaries

How long have you been doing the same things in the same manner? How is it working out for you? If the answer is “Very well,” then, by all means, continue. If not, it’s time to try something new. That may be a new career, which may involve returning to school for a new degree. Or, it may be something that builds on skills and knowledge you already have.

Either way, it will be time for you to dust off and update your resume. While this may seem daunting, the task will be made easier by using a free template online. Most of these are available at no charge and come in a vast variety of professional designs. Customizing these by adding your own content and elements is easily done.

Launching a Business

A common personal goal is to start a business, but it can be an intimidating task. Part of growing means seeking assistance when necessary to achieve one’s goals. If you’re wondering how to get an LLC, a formation service can guide you through the process so you can more effectively accomplish your goals of business ownership. And it will save you both time and money in the process.

Need Guidance?

Depending on your own personal development goals, it may be helpful to hire a coach or mentor. The advantage here is objectivity; sometimes, it is difficult to see the barriers we inadvertently place in front of ourselves. Furthermore, a life coach or mentor has valuable experience and knowledge that can help you on your journey.

Eye on the Prize

One way in which people sabotage themselves is by focusing on the bad news of the day, especially headlines. As grim as the global and national news may seem these days, it’s important to understand that very little of it can affect you personally. There are also uplifting and positive stories out there, even if the corporate media chooses to spin it into something else. By focusing on the beauty in the world, you can easily change your mindset into a more positive one over time—and this will manifest into positive change in virtually all areas of your life.

Whether you’re beginning a meditation practice, starting a business, or prioritizing your self-care, the tips above will help you become who you want to be.