I started my morning with prayer and meditation. This day was special, it was the first day of school for me and my Kindergarten students. I was nervous and afraid. Yes, I was afraid because this was the first day of my teaching career. I know, it sounds silly to be afraid of Kindergarteners. Truthfully, doubt was creeping through my mind. You see, I worked in corporate America for over 20 years as a Financial Analyst. I worked with all level of management and trained new staff members but on this day fear and doubt paralyze my confidence.
Sitting at my desk, I remembered past achievements and that I had prepared for this day. I shifted my mindset from negative thinking to positive thinking. Thinking about the lives I’ll touch through teaching, gave me a sense of joy, excitement and confidence.
The bell rang, I walked in confidence to greet my students at the classroom door with a smile. I viewed them as my little business partners working together toward academic success. The first day was the beginning of a great school year.
Don’t let fear or doubt keep from reaching your destiny.
6 Steps to Building Confidence
1. Seek a mentor/coach
2. Remember past achievements
3. Preparation
4. Positive self-talk
5. Visualize success
6. Turn failures into learning experiences
