Believe In Yourself

Today, I am sharing an article that will be published next month.

“Believe In Yourself”

By

Rob Claudio

I read an inspirational message the other morning that simply stated, "Believe in Yourself".  As I looked at those three powerful words, I thought about the many people in the world who may have a hard time believing in themselves because of issues with self esteem or perhaps they have experienced so many hardships in their lifetime, that they may have lost the ability to have that type of confidence.  When the light inside of someone appears to be flickering, it is always cause for concern, as ultimately that embodiment of who they are may appear to be diminishing.  Although we all face different issues within our lifetime, the variance by which some people must overcome their own circumstances can be quite substantial at times.  This also made me think about the courageous 15 year old young woman named Malala from Pakistan, who became the youngest person to ever be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her activism for female education.  The fact that she survived being targeted and shot in the head while left severely wounded, for being an advocate for girls education in her region of her home country, is absolutely mind blowing.  It is certainly hard to fathom that being an advocate for young children attending school and receiving an education, could cause that type of reaction and in most of the western world this sounds unimaginable. However, as in many instances of tragedies when they occur, there is always something that can be turned into good in the midst of such dire circumstances.  I love the fact that this young girl has brought a voice to her counterparts in the world who may not have one, because of cultures that do not necessarily support something as the right to an education for women and girls.  The belief that Malala had in herself, certainly speaks to a level of courage that is not seen everyday.  This is why it is important to remember examples like this, when you are thinking about the hurdles that you may be undergoing within your present life.  Although you may not be facing life threatening ramifications, one can certainly learn to look at things differently when you hear about stories such as these.  I know that there are plenty of examples in the world where others have been the light in the midst of darkness and there are many heroes walking among us, if we pay close attention.  What Malala and the rest of the heroes through out the world have been able to accomplish is a shining example of believing in themselves and then giving of themselves for the greater good.  For many of us who have grown up with supportive family and friends, it is a comfort to know that people will always stand behind you in all circumstances.  Yet, by the same token many people have lost hope along the way, because they lacked the support of having somebody that had faith in them.  So what does it take to separate yourself from those that may cause doubt about who you are?  First and foremost, one has to remember that we were all created with a greater purpose, some of which has yet to be revealed or manifested in our lives.  The doubt may come from not seeing what you want right away, however, there has to be a core sense of personal conviction that can expel any type of negative thinking, regardless if one is not seeing results. It is also important to remember that change can occur at any given time, all you have to do is make a choice.  If you are resolved to transform and you put in the right amount of work, then you let your faith and hard work find the right opportunity that can be waiting for you around the corner.  Remember that some of the greatest game changers in the world, along with a young girl from Pakistan, were able to affect the world around them by believing in who they were.  It is this type of resolution that can be your catalyst towards your next great episode in your life.  I hope that you are willing to accept the challenge and have the strong belief that you too are worthy of achieving great things, just like the others who have gone before us.

"Don't feed your mind with negative thoughts.
If you do, you will come to believe them."
-Catherine Pulsifer