Excitement - The Key to Building Self Confidence
By Cheri Ruskus
Think back to the times in your life when you have felt totally in control and the power that those emotions brought to you. I can bet one of those feelings that surrounded your emotions at the time was the element of excitement. That single key ingredient, which helps us to rise up above our normal state of behavior.
There have been a variety of defining moments that were full of excitement for me in my life, but the one that comes to mind as I sit down to write this article was when I learned to ride a bike for the first time – without the training wheels. I can so clearly remember the training wheels coming off my sweet little bike. Excitement was all around me as I thought of my possibilities for actually going for bike rides with the “big kids” in our neighborhood, my brother and sister included. As my Dad turned that wrench to take the nuts off that held on my training wheels, I can remember the fear starting to creep in. Yes, it became apparent that in a matter of moments my balance backup that I had come to rely on would be gone!
As the unexpected terror of the moment began to take hold, my dad, brother and older sister told me I could do it, just like my brother and sister before me had done it. Deep inside I wasn’t so sure. Our house was located on a street with a bit of a slope to it. Suddenly I couldn’t get the memory of my sister’s big bike crash off my mind. Sure, she had simply forgotten where the brakes were and crashed in order to stop. “But hey” I had thought, “Wasn’t she my big sister and supposed to be smarter than me? What if I forgot something?”
The initial excitement I felt eventually saw me through as my dad wheeled the bike to the end of our driveway and onto our street. Every bit of me was focused as I envisioned being able to go on bike rides with the “big kids”. If I shed those darn training wheels no longer would I be the little kid slowly tagging along as I tried desperately to keep up with my little “baby wheels.”
Well it was that vision and excitement that made me take a deep breath and go for it when my dad let go. And go I did heading down our street without falling or breaking a bone. In a few quick moments I was given a new freedom that I would never forget. As I slowly made the curve of our suburban cul-de-sac I possessed a smile that went the entire width of our street. Indeed, riding a bike is one of those things that innately stay with you moving forward.
In writing on this topic I got to thinking about what it is that gets us “excited” enough to pull forward towards the things we want in our life, both big and small. What are the combinations of components that make us pull forward? What are those components that come from outside of us as well as the inside of us? Those key ingredients that create the excitement that creates the self-confidence that gets it done and pulls us forward past our fears and uncertainties. This goes from the basics of learning how to ride a bike to creating a successful business.
Since it is usually written all over your face when your self confidence takes control, lets use F.A.C.E. as the acronym to describe the tools needed to reach the excitement we should posses in order to reach maximum self-confidence.
Fear Busting
Fear is the emotion that usually comes pulling up for the ride when we get past the initial excitement of an idea. It usually appears when the realities of what it actually is going to take to get something to happen becomes crystal clear. This emotion can more times than not be a real deal killer. Fear has destroyed many an idea from ever seeing the light of day. Overcome your fear by looking past it, holding tight to the initial excitement and have it pull you forward.
Attitude
Coming at whatever it is with a can do attitude. Just like that little train chugging up the tracks of childhood lore, saying, “I know I can, I know I can”. Your attitude is your crowning glory.
Core Belief
When some one believes in you it makes all the difference in the world. Just like my dad, brother and sister did in getting me off those “baby wheels”. When you can add in a large does of belief that comes from deep inside of you, it helps you to sleep a whole lot better at night.
Excitement of your Imagination
Imagining it to be real right down to the details. When it comes to athletes and specifically those who race bikes, the winners imagine themselves coming across the finish line. Imagine yourself coming across the proverbial finish line in what ever it is that gets you excited, With your arms raised in a V for victory, reaching high to the sky your excitement vibrates through every inch of your being!
Yes, the real deal can be all for the better when you FACE it with all that you have to give…and perhaps with just a little bit more. For me, I have spent most of my life with a love for the bicycle. Over the course of the past few years I admit that my bike has gathered a bit of dust, but the excitement of knowing that I can ride it whenever I want holds it close to my heart. Is that a little excitement I am starting to feel at the possibility of hoping on it again this spring…could be!
Cheri Ruskus is a Writer, Business Coach and Entreprenuer. She is also the founder of the Victory Circles. She can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
