To believe in yourself is to disconnect from need for positive feedback — or approval — from others as the justification and drive for whatever it is you wish to accomplish.

You have to have such a strong faith in yourself, your abilities, or your idea(s) that you are able to sustain the effort — and maintain the enthusiasm — necessary to succeed, even when you are inevitably presented with challenges along the way.

Others may question you. Doubt you. Reject you. In fact, studies show that anything that is considered new or different faces rejection and criticism — and is often ridiculed before it is accepted.

And this is when you often need to believe in yourself the most in order to overcome the irrationality of groupthink.

If you truly believe in what you’re doing — then you’re not doing it for others or what they think about it — you’re doing it because you believe in yourself and the value of what you have to offer.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You need to learn to be the source of your own strength and encouragement. Because if you don’t have a deep down belief in yourself and a confidence in your ability to overcome any obstacles along your path, why will anyone else?

It starts with you. And you can do it.

But you don’t need me to tell you that — because deep down, you already know it.

Related:

• What I’ve learned about determination & commitment
• There will always be someone better at something than you are
• You don’t have to wait for acceptance or permission to do great things
• Offsite: Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid…
• Offsite: (video) Asch conformity experiments
• Offsite: Excerpt from Paulo Coelho’s introduction to “The Alchemist”