Losing confidence in ourselves.
What do other people see when they look at us? Do we put on a brave face to the world when inside we're crying or full of stress? It's at times like this that we can have a tendency to withdraw into ourselves and look inwards rather than being aware of what's going on around us and the help and support that may be on offer. We can feel unsure and lacking in confidence, whereas from the outside people could think otherwise. We're told to "put on a brave face" or to "be strong," and to cope with the day to day routine, this is what most of us probably do. However, if we don't let other people know we have a problem, then they won't be able to help us and then the downward spiral can get worse.
When things aren't quite going to plan, or there's a hiccup or set-back, it's very easy to feel a failure or that we're not capable of what we set out to do. A lack of confidence or worrying excessively can blow a minor set-back out of proportion and help us to lose track of our goal or forget how well we've been doing overall. We need to try to remember all the good work and successes we've had and this can help us to move away from our self-doubt. It's time to trust in ourselves and our abilities, to listen to our intuition, and to find our confidence again.
We need to believe the people who have faith and confidence in us and turn a deaf ear to our own doubts and fears of failure. Those who love us will want to help and we owe it to ourselves to learn to accept help and support when it's offered. It can be surprising how many other people have had similar experiences, but have also kept it to themselves in the past. Sharing won't make the pain disappear, but it can help to know that you're not the only one going through this. It's important to remember that what's going on now doesn't define who we are. It's a chapter of our lives, and in time we may be able to help others who are going through a similar experience. Take care and survive xx