Living up to Standards

Someone texted me to share that they had won an award at work and were nervous that they wouldn't be able to live up to the standard of the award.  This person asked for some tips in working through this issue.  My response is as follows:

Congratulations on your award!  That's a great achievement and I'm not sure why you feel like you can't live up to the standards of the award.  By virtue of getting the award you've already proven that you ARE already living up to the standards.  I think that is the biggest piece of working through lack of confidence.  You ARE ALREADY DOING IT!  They wouldn't have nominated and chosen you if you weren't.  

Lacking confidence is something you can change.  The first step is to fake it until you make it.  Often by faking confidence it becomes ingrained in you and before you know it you are confident.   

The second step is to get outside your comfort zone whenever possible.  By putting yourself in situations that challenge you then you allow yourself to grow as a person.  Whether it's accepting a promotion, moving to a new shift, moving your relationship forward to the next level, or doing something that frightens you don't allow yourself to accept the status quo.  If you always take the easy/known/familiar path then before you know it your life will have passed you by.  

The third step is to believe in yourself.  If you don't believe in your abilities then how can you expect other people to believe in you?  

Fourth, be kind to yourself.  If you wouldn't say the things you tell yourself (doubts, etc) to your best friend then DON"T say them to yourself.  We can be our own worst critic when it's clear that others in our lives don't think about us that way.  

And finally, know that whatever expectation is being asked of you by virtue of this award is something you are already living.  And it sounds like the only expectation is something you are projecting onto yourself.  Let that go.  You got this!