Stepping Stones

Stepping stones are anything in your life that will help build confidence or self-esteem.  It starts from early childhood.  To help you build confidence today go back through your life history and take note of all the stepping stones that you had to face.  What things you succeeded in and yes, even failed in.  It helps in trying to figure out who you are, and who you might become today.  You will find that as you write some of these things down you may feel certain emotions like sadness, happiness, and anger.  This is alright.

When I was writing down my stepping stones I cried.  I cried when I wrote down how I felt after my family members died, and the time I had a coma.  However, some things I wrote down made me laugh.  You should not leave anything out, even if you feel it to be embarrassing or that you hadn’t told anyone about it before.  If it is the biggest secret you have ever had, then write it down.  It will be useful to you later, because after you write everything down I want you to go to the bathroom and read it.

Stand in front of the mirror and read what you have been through in life.  Watch your face for emotions.  It will tell you what things you find important or hard for you to say.  These things that you have found to be important or just hard to talk about write more about it.  Write a short story or report on yourself and take it to school or church and read it in front of everyone.  Stop right there!  Say what?  That is right, read it to an audience.  If you need practice, fine, then try reading it first to your closest friend/s or family.  They will always give you positive reinforcement.  You will feel a whole new you afterwards, and not only that, but people will understand you better.

If that isn’t the type of person you are, then build new stepping stones.  Like joining a club or membership that requires your personal services.  Make your self heard.  After all helping others is always the best way to make your self comfortable around other people.  That is the key to confidence and self-esteem, isn’t it?  You will find that it makes a nice addition to a resume too, because it builds character.  Why else do you think they ask for that kind of thing?  It shows that you have accomplished something or have overcome it.  So, go.  Accomplish something today, or just tell someone how you feel.  You can even tell them how much you appreciate them for just being there.