There are a few reasons why it might be easier to believe in aliens than in ourselves.
Aliens are outside of our own experience. We don’t know what they’re like, so our imaginations can run wild. We can fill in the blanks with whatever we want, and there’s no one to tell us we’re wrong.
Aliens are a mystery. The unknown is always more exciting than the known. We’re naturally curious about things we don’t understand, and aliens are the ultimate mystery.
Aliens offer hope. The idea that there might be other intelligent life out there can be a source of hope for some people. It can make us feel less alone in the universe, and it can give us something to aspire to.
On the other hand, believing in ourselves can be more challenging. It requires us to face our own flaws and weaknesses, and it means taking responsibility for our own lives. It can be easier to believe in something that’s outside of ourselves, because we don’t have to deal with the same kind of self-doubt. Aliens are special, fantastical – and we, well, we are not.
But believing in ourselves is important. It’s what gives us our resilience, the strength to overcome challenges, achieve our goals, and be confident. It’s what allows us to live our lives to the fullest. So if you’re struggling to believe in yourself, I encourage you to keep trying. It’s worth it.
Here are a few tips for believing in yourself:
Focus on your strengths. Everyone has strengths, even if they don’t always feel like it. Take some time to identify your strengths and focus on them. How? Sit down with a journal and start writing. Don’t make it complicated – at the start of every school year I buy half a dozen school writing books – the cheap ones. Use a pen or use a pencil – materials don’t really don’t matter. Start writing down all the things you can do. It doesn’t matter how well, the question is what can you do. They won’t let you on the ship to Mars if you can’t do at least 100 things. Start writing. Cherish your achievements, however humble they are.
Set bold (but realistic) goals. Realistic means goals you can confidently achieve in a limited time. I’ve walked the length of Italy (and New Zealand). Not all at once, but walking every day builds up over time. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually work your way up. You’ll get better over time when you learn how long things take. I can walk around the block in 15 minutes. I wonder if I can walk it in 10. Can I be faster, more exact, or just achieve the perfect result, time after time?
Celebrate your successes. When you achieve a goal, take some time to celebrate your success. This is a critical step that’ll help you build your confidence and see yourself as a capable person. Lists. Celebrating might be no more than the satisfaction of crossing off another thing off your to-do list. But that’s ok. It’s an achievement.
Surround yourself with positive people. The people you spend time with can have a big impact on your self-esteem. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you. Sometimes that’s friends or family, but more often than not it’s someone else. In turn, you should be a positive person. People are hungry for recognition, support them when they achieve too. The more they succeed you’ll find the more you will too.
Be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake. Just learn from it and move on. You are the only person who is a witness to all your failures and all of your successes. Be supportive of your efforts. Be the first person in your fan club.
Believing in yourself is a journey, not a destination. It takes time and effort to build your confidence, but it’s worth it. It’s like any manual skill – the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. Keep believing in yourself, even when it’s tough. Keep your chin up, keep striving. You can do it!
Photo by ? Luca Iaconelli ? on Unsplash
