...But, I don’t have the Confidence…!

(this article was also (no 2) initially submitted to another online project which i was working on - and i have left that project to concentrate on my blog - so you may have read it there - Allah (swt) blessed me to write this article - its for all the ladies (gents you can read and be inspired too) so i believe that it should be forwarded to benefit all)...

Have you ever heard yourself or someone else say this? ...But, I don’t have the Confidence…! Maybe you used to say it, but now, Alhamdulillah; you have overcome your fears and are confident. Maybe you’re still lacking confidence – you just need that extra help to gain that confidence again (otherwise you know you can do it!).
Insha’Allah in today’s article we will look at this issue and try to find some solutions, so by the end of it we will be on the road to confidence – together.
Confidence is an important aspect to being Productive. Confidence can usually make or break someone – and somewhere in your lives you may have encountered this issue. When we are happy and positive we achieve so much – even if we have just one hour. But when those grey clouds are hanging over our heads – then lo behold – that one hour can seem longer than 24 hours! But as Muslims(ahs) it is vital that we have confidence so we can become productive and achieve so much more – fulfill our dreams and goals – Insha’Allah.
Sure there will be moments when you’re lacking confidence because it’s a new course your enrolling on, working on a new project, new team members etc. This is natural for all of us – we need to become familiar with new surroundings and then Insha’Allah we’re ok. But when we’re fighting a constant confidence battle – then that’s when we need to bring out the ‘positive army’ to help us on our way to confidence.
What is confidence? It is when we believe in ourselves, in our abilities – being certain and without a doubt. It is a psychological state which shapes our mood, personality, our behavior and attitude towards our life and those around us.
But we are humans and we do fall – for various reasons.
The NLP – Neuro-Linguistic Language Programming – have stated that positive and negative programming since childhood affects our personality and confidence. So lack of confidence (or constant negative behavior) is something which has been programmed into people since their childhood days. It is this behavior which eventually shapes our personality and confidence in adulthood. Lack of confidence is also negative thoughts which become habitual.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words; watch your words, for they become actions; watch your actions, for they become habits; watch your habits, for they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." ~ Mahatma Ghandi”
How can we gain Confidence? Firstly, you need to remember that, with everything in life, it takes practice and patience – it isn’t something which can change overnight. It is the realization of it and then acting upon this realization and changing for the better. So, Insha’Allah – try the following – and please don’t give up after a day or two – you have to be determined and stick to it!
a) Focus on your achievements and not your failures and remember that we all need to fall to learn – those who haven’t fallen haven’t truly learnt!
b) Look at your own qualities and your uniqueness – we are all different and all have our own specialness – don’t compare with your friends or siblings
c) Focus on who you are and what you like about yourself (yes sisters (bros), you can do this!)
d) Work on any skills that you need to do what it is you want to do – so for instance – you want to work with the youth in the community – then volunteer at the local community centre – after school activities – and then top it up with some short courses and qualifications Insha’Allah
e) Golden Rule: you can never be over trained or over skilled for any challenge in life!
f) Check out this following article from Islamqa.com – very interesting! http://islamqa.com/en/ref/20872

What did our pious predecessors do? What was Islam like – in Medina? Spain? And what about our heroes and heroines in Islam – look at what they achieved and how they achieved it.
Remember little Fatimah (RA) defending her father? Wasn’t that confidence? And what about Asma (RA) when she went to give food to her father Abu Bakr and our beloved Prophet (PBUH) in the mountain of Thawr – now wasn’t that confidence? And what about those on the battlefield – nursing the wounded and fighting – confidence? And how did they achieve this? Unconditional faith and believe in Allah (SWT). Ponder upon the verses of the Qur’an, read and study the Seerah and the lives of the Great Past – and we too can be on that same path Insha’Allah.
So – my dear sisters (and bros) – you too can be productive – and many of you may already be productive or on your way to productivity – you need confidence. Don’t be afraid to fall – for when you do fall then be reassured that Allah (SWT) is there to pick you up again – well He (SWT) did create you right? Then why would He (SWT) leave you alone?
If you do have any confidence building tips then please comment and share – so all can be benefit Insha’Allah – and if you are lacking confidence – then make lots of dua (turBo is also making dua for you!) and try the above tips or tips fellow sisters and brothers may leave on the comment section – and don’t give up – try, try and keep trying!

Confidence and Productivity – Productivity and Confidence are two peas in a pod! One without another doesn’t work – properly. Remember Be Confident and Be Productive!