Arriving at a state of confidence has been a journey of a lifetime for me. False bravado can be easily mistaken for confidence but the difference in the two lies in that one can be likened to a wisp of cloud that fizzles away and the other the formation of a whole sky.
It has been a hard won process of learning to love and accept myself, mistakes, warts and all; not because I am perfect but because I am enough, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, because I am a blessing and not an illusion, because I can and will be.
It hasn’t always been so, but time and grace has made me grow very comfortable in my own skin, able to hold my own fort and sensible enough to know that honesty and integrity makes a wholesome human. Honesty breeds confidence because you can stand tall.
In the process of regeneration, there have been times when I have felt like a fraud.
When I felt like I wasn’t up to snuff and that I was simply putting on a facade, but faith and positive affirmations stood in the gap for me and reminded me that I am what I choose to be, that I should not have fear of being found wanting but to have courage because He is.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt The Great Pretender
Are you full of confidence or have you ever suffered from Imposter Syndrome? Tell us all about it.
Some people reach that place sooner than others, it took me a while but mostly I’m there!
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The important thing is that you are there 🙂
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Self acceptance takes time so congratulation.
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Thank you my dear. It does take time and consistent work.
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Like this quoted that it is their Loss. Nearly over 40 yes get that through my head! Preach!!
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🙂 I very well can’t dance to everybody’s tune. That would be suicidal!
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This is beautiful, Jacqueline. I never experienced full self-acceptance until I was about fifty. It is a wonderful thing and the ability to love others is unleashed when we learn to love ourselves as Jesus loves us. I’ve been a slow regenerator but regenerate the same.:0)
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Pam darling, even though it took a while to get there, the important thing is that you arrived and it is a wonderful thing indeed. It was God’s grace and still is grace because refining me according to his will is a continuous process. Enjoy a beautiful day today my lady 🙂
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“It is no longer necessary to try and impress anyone.” Yes, yes, yes. Thanks so much, Jacqueline, I so needed to hear this today! For me, maturing to this level has been a process, not an event. Today, I’m trying to honor that process. Your good words help! Have a blessed day.
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Definitely hasn’t been a swift event but a long marinating process for me too. I am happy the words are useful to you Lily. It is truly my pleasure and do have a blessed day today 🙂
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It’s so important to be yourself. Great post, love the quote!
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Thank you my lady. It took a bit of learning to get here but I am very glad I did and I am going to stay put. Do have a lovely day 🙂
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Thank you, Jacqueline! A continuous journey, no? Even if I know this in all of my mind and heart, there will still be soft spots where a rogue word or gesture by someone else sears straight to my deep insecurities. That is when the daily practice of self-acceptance can save me. It allows me to recognize the hole sooner and patch it with self-love ASAP. The more self-love, the more other-love, and eventually, world peace!! 😁
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Oh definitely! It is a continuous journey indeed but it is also like building one’s body muscle, but in this case, mental, spiritual muscles so that one bounces back fast after a setback and like you said, more self-love, more one can love others.
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*EXACTLY*!! 😁
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Truth! I feel the same way.
The process to love oneself can be a difficult journey. And anything hard-earned is not given away.
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Thank you Emma for your affirmation. Have a good day today.
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Oneta introduced you to me, and I’m so glad! New follow here. This, your first post I have read, is me, me, me! It’s been a long long, and God is just so good to help us get over ourselves. Thank you! Looking forward to more.
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Hello Dawn, it is my utmost pleasure to meet you 🙂 Oneta is one fine and lovely lady and even though we have not met face to face, I count her a good and wise friend and if the future permits, one day we might meet. I will definitely tag along behind you and see what you get up to. Indeed, God’s grace is sufficient and it is only through it and by it that I live. Kind regards and God bless 🙂
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Do you have any original poetry on your blog?
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Yes I do. All the poetry on my blog were written by me 🙂
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It is so good to feel comfortable with ourselves! Very nice dear! 🙂
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Mama, thank you very much for saying so 🙂
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Lovely writing 🙂 Love, Mom
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Bravo!
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Thanks Leannenz 😊
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You know the waves on the ocean? That’s how my confidence sometimes feels like… but that’s okay, right?
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Hmm! That’s an interesting analogy. Your forces are truly powerful. The tide and ebb of confidence happens but I guess the important thing is that at the end of the day one is able to come out of the tossing waves stronger and not broken. That’s okay 🙂
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I knew you would get it 🙂 Spot on!
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🙂
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Love it!
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Thank you Khaya 🙂
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I am very confident with some aspects of myself – not as much with others, especially when that confidence is easily shattered by small, silly things…so I guess it will always be a work in progress for me. I suppose I should be glad that I’m not going through my high school years in this day and age! I would be a hot mess, sad to say!
😉
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I know that none of us is a perfectly finished product until even our last day. The important thing is that each day, the bigger mess is left behind and we become more refined. More grace to you my friend. Kind regards 🙂
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Thank you…and warm regards to you as well, my friend!
🙂
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With all pleasure 🙂
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I have been down this same road and it was a long journey getting to where I am now…believing in myself and my abilities. I understand the struggle, self-improvement is a daily task and never ending. There’s a lot to be learned on the path to becoming the greatest version of yourself…and self-confidence is just one aspect of it, but an important one nevertheless.
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Well said ma’am.
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You are already perfect – your imperfections only make your perfection more interesting, my dear friend. You are accepted as-is.
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If not that wifey might get jealous, I would have said that I love you 😉
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