What is our self-image? Our self-image tells us so much about how we see ourselves, and is a driving force in the way we show up in the world. In Atomic Habits, James Clear speaks to this idea when he talks about the difference between a person who, once in a while says, “I am going to go for a run,” vs. someone who says “I am a runner.”

When you say, “I am a runner,” you take on the identity of a runner. It colors the way you see yourself, so much so that your actions affirm that identity. Instead of allowing feelings to dictate whether they’ll run or not, a runner commits to running consistently, perhaps even joining a running group or training for a race.

Can you see how this can apply to every area of our lives? Our self-image is malleable and is determined by what we choose to embody. That’s what’s amazing, we get to decide!

If we want to take on the self-image of someone who is confident, we get to decide what confidence looks like and then practice taking action and showing up in the world in the way that we believe a confident person would.

How would a confident person, think, talk, act, and walk? What would they pursue? What would a day in the life of a person who believes that they are here in the world to contribute something incredible be like?

This might look different for everyone, but that’s what’s wonderful - we get to decide what it means for us. By beginning to embody our unique expression of confidence, soon we won’t just be practicing confidence, instead we will have BECOME confident!!