Ron White, two-time USA Memory Champion, would like to share with you this very important lesson I learned about self-esteem from former U.S. Navy Seal, T.C. Cummings.
“This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting one’s heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he pains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.†~ excerpt from Hagakure, by samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo (Bushido)
Navy SEALs live by the way of the samurai, they practice living an authentic life – true to themselves and their convictions. In Bushido, students of the martial arts are taught to live a life of virtue – courage, benevolence, politeness, sincerity, honor, loyalty and self-control. This is a centuries old philosophy and one that can be related to with the acronym “WWJD,†or ‘What Would Jesus Do.â€
What does living authentically mean to you? Do you walk the walk and talk the talk, or do you say one thing and do another? What is the cost of not being confident? Are you losing business, money, sales, and relationships because you are not living an authentic life? Is you accepting responsibility for your actions, or blaming others for your shortcomings?
The term ‘living an authentic life’ is actually a relative term. It could mean different things to different people, but the basis is the same. Do you live a life that would be spiritually in harmony with your true beliefs and moral compass, or do you play the role of victim – making your choices out of self-loathing and fear?
Once you step outside of your ego, you will realize that you can make the choice not to believe in what others think or feel about you, and break the cycle of being a ‘victim’. Once you face your fears, learn to trust your own instincts and ignore the criticism or guidance of others that are counter to your beliefs, you will become the person you have always wanted to be. This will make you a confident person, and at peace with your decisions. You will be shifting your mindset from negative to positive, and it will change your life completely.
In the U.S. Navy SEALs there is no politics. It’s a “get ‘er done†mentality. They don’t care who is President, who is the boss, or have a personal agenda they are trying to meet. Their job is to accept and complete missions they are assigned to the best of their ability. They are large and in charge, and SEALs follow what they believe is the right thing to do.
How many times have you asked yourself – “What will I do if I don’t make this sale?†“What if I’m not a good spouse?†“What if I fail?†Whenever we are dwelling on the negative we will never make it. Trust your gut that you know what is right, and then follow through on it.
I heard an excellent story about how living an authentic life can make all the difference in a situation, and would like to share with you: The author, Mike Robbins, had an interview with a highly regarded publisher regarding the publishing of his book. He was nervous about the interview, so when he sat down with her he immediately said, “I feel really nervous right now because I am wanting to impress you, is it ok if I don’t try to impress you?†Of course she agreed. Mike made himself vulnerable by expressing his true feelings, and it changed the entire course of the interview.
There’s nothing wrong with exposing your vulnerability at times. It actually puts you at lighten your load, put you at ease and shows you are human. Others will respect you for it. Along with building your confidence, it will allow others to share in your angst and feel confident you will be truthful with them in other aspects of your dealings.
You will never achieve happiness, or build your confidence, if you are always second-guessing yourself. You know what is right or wrong, and should make your decisions based on your knowledge and beliefs, not what you think someone else wants to hear.
You will find lessons in building confidence in the training CDs “Mind of a Navy SEAL,†and in our training “Think Like A U.S. Navy SEAL†workshops.
Sources:
“Mind of a U.S. Navy SEAL†workshop
Wikkipedia – Confidence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence’ Bushido: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido
Are You Living Authentically? by Debra Moser: http://blog.morningcoach.com/2011/04/25/are-you-living-authentically/
My Special Voice – Are You Living Authentically?: http://www.myspecialvoice.com/are-you-living-authentically/