As I'm entering my 23rd year as a business woman I often reflect on how far I've come.
I'm a confident woman now with a successful business that can mostly run on its own.
It wasn't always that way.
I suffered from very low self esteem well into my twenties and wasn't confident at all. I built my confidence by applying the steps I now teach in one of my courses: The Self Confidence Formula.
Sometimes I wish I didn't have to suffer so much in my younger years.
But of course, I also realize that everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen for me. Why? Because it's exactly what happened.
And without all the experiences I’ve had, I wouldn’t be such an effective teacher now. I may not even do any of the things I'm doing now.
It’s only because I’ve personally experienced so many of the issues my clients struggle with that I’m able to relate so well. It’s only because I’ve practiced the formula on myself for so many years that I know how powerful and effective it is.
So let me share a personal story with you
I previously told you about the issue with my crossed eyes and I how I blamed all my problems on them. (if not, you can watch the short video below).
Although I was able to resolve this in my twenties (when I started to see myself as a beautiful person, got married and no longer worried about my eyes), I still had many other self limiting issues that affected my self worth.
I became very aware of this in a personal development course that I enrolled in. It was my first introduction into this world and I was keen to make some lasting changes so I could feel happier more of the time. I had just moved to Australia with my husband and wanted to make a fresh start.
Right at the start of the course we were asked to stand on the stage and tell us 3 things others would say about us when we are not in the room. What did they love about you?
That got me very worried. I had no idea what I could say. As the line ahead of me got shorter and shorter, I got more and more nervous.
By the time I entered the stage I was already an emotional wrack.
As soon as I opened my mouth I emotionally collapsed. it was in that moment that I realized that I had nothing positive to say about myself.
My armor had been hardened. I had been hiding from myself so much (and probably also my husband who got a bit of a shock after seeing me crumble) that I hadn’t even realized that I felt so lowly about myself.
I may have presented myself as a tough, confident and capable woman outwardly but inside I felt worthless.
I still believed I was ‘difficult’.
That I was of ‘average intelligence’.
Not Creative enough.
Not loving enough.
Not lovable.
Unconsciously I had known all of these were still an issue. I wouldn't have take the course if I didn't feel that something was wrong. But it still came as a shock to me that it was THIS bad.
Was it really so hard to stand on a stage and mention just a few things I love about myself?
Apparently yes.
The fact that I can still remember this moment so vividly and can still see some of the worried faces looking at me shows you how significant this moment was. I had become fully aware of the very low esteem I had for myself.
This event marks the moment that I actively started working on my self esteem and confidence and turned a corner. I'm recounting the story in this video I posted on Instagram.
So you can imagine how thrilled I am, that I can now help other women cultivate that true self confidence and self esteem.
Belief in yourself is so important when you want to create the life you want.
It's important for style.
It's important for business.
It's important for your relationships.
I have come such a long way. It’s so easy for me now to mention all the things I love about myself now and that others love about me too.
I love:
- That I’m so driven - yes some may call it intense, but it’s part of who I am and what makes me ME
- My honesty - even though it sometimes gets me into trouble
- My authenticity - you get what you see most of the time
- My sense of style
- My longing for learning and growth
- My open and trusting nature - yes, it sometimes leaves me open to manipulation but I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt
What I now know is that I’m 100% worthy
And so are you! You achieve that worthiness by just being born.
I feel it now.
That doesn't mean I still suffer sometimes. I do. It's part of life.
It also doesn’t mean I can’t grow as a person.
I’m still learning to be less judgmental (especially of myself)
I’m still learning to express love more easily.
I’m still learning to step even more into my power and become a better leader.
I will never stop learning. I will never stop my quest in becoming the absolute best version of myself and discover what's possible for me.
I still have plenty of time. And so do you!
If you’re ready to tap into your truest fullest potential and fully embrace yourself for who you are, come and learn the Self Confidence Formula and learn how to love being you.
How confident do you feel? In which areas would you still like to grow?
I had no self esteem. I was a twin, and my twin loved to put me down - successfully, and she was also my mother's favourite. I married, had two children, and divorced my husband when the older one was just 3 1/2. We had moved to Canada from the US and I stayed because I wanted the children to have a relationship with their father. Unfortunately, he also put me down in some ways, telling the children as they got older that I could afford to take them to Florida for two weeks if I didn't spend all my money on myself, things like that. Actually, I couldn't even afford a car, nor could I drive, so things were very tough for me. My ex-husband quickly married again and had two more children. Then he died suddenly, heart attack, then two strokes, while he and his wife were vacationing in FL. My children were 16 & 13 at that time, and his children from his second marriage were 11 & 5. I thought to myself, it's too bad my children lost the good parent and were stuck with the bad parent, the one with no self esteem.. Then I had a revelation. I could be THE GOOD PARENT. My children deserved it. I gave myself the gift of self esteem. It wasn't easy, but I found many ways to feel better about myself, and as a result, I matured quite a bit, and I continue to have a good relationship with my children, the blessings of my life.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's amazing what happens when we become aware that we can change the story of ourself. We can make a new decision. I'm so glad you could do this for yourself!
I had no self esteem. I was a twin, and my twin loved to put me down - successfully, and she was also my mother's favourite. I married, had two children, and divorced my husband when the older one was just 3 1/2. We had moved to Canada from the US and I stayed because I wanted the children to have a relationship with their father. Unfortunately, he also put me down in some ways, telling the children as they got older that I could afford to take them to Florida for two weeks if I didn't spend all my money on myself, things like that. Actually, I couldn't even afford a car, nor could I drive, so things were very tough for me. My ex-husband quickly married again and had two more children. Then he died suddenly, heart attack, then two strokes, while he and his wife were vacationing in FL. My children were 16 & 13 at that time, and his children from his second marriage were 11 & 5. I thought to myself, it's too bad my children lost the good parent and were stuck with the bad parent, the one with no self esteem.. Then I had a revelation. I could be THE GOOD PARENT. My children deserved it. I gave myself the gift of self esteem. It wasn't easy, but I found many ways to feel better about myself, and as a result, I matured quite a bit, and I continue to have a good relationship with my children, the blessings of my life.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's amazing what happens when we become aware that we can change the story of ourself. We can make a new decision. I'm so glad you could do this for yourself!
May I add you also have a beautiful body, a great mouth and smile and you are a good friend.
thanks Greetje 🙂
May I add you also have a beautiful body, a great mouth and smile and you are a good friend.
thanks Greetje 🙂
You are so lovely and inspiring, Sylvia! Now is the time to start listening to your blog and accepting the love and encouragement you're sharing with us. Been following your emails for some time now, and enjoying the advice for the body (figure 8 here). Now to learn from you regarding the insides! Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work. Much love to you and all the ladies here seeking to be the very best we can be for the benefit of all. xoxo
Thank you so much for your kind words Stephanie! I love what you're saying: be the very best we can be for the benefit of all.. YES!
You are so lovely and inspiring, Sylvia! Now is the time to start listening to your blog and accepting the love and encouragement you're sharing with us. Been following your emails for some time now, and enjoying the advice for the body (figure 8 here). Now to learn from you regarding the insides! Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work. Much love to you and all the ladies here seeking to be the very best we can be for the benefit of all. xoxo
Thank you so much for your kind words Stephanie! I love what you're saying: be the very best we can be for the benefit of all.. YES!
Thanks, Sylvia, for sharing your story. It’s so wonderful to see how you have become such a positive influence on so many women through your 40+ Community. You are such a great example of learning how to empower yourself and others. I have benefitted from many of your programs. Thank you so very much! ❤️
Thanks Nancy. I could never have imagined this path. Beautiful things happen when you follow your heart and share your gifts with the world. I love having you in my programs!
Thanks, Sylvia, for sharing your story. It’s so wonderful to see how you have become such a positive influence on so many women through your 40+ Community. You are such a great example of learning how to empower yourself and others. I have benefitted from many of your programs. Thank you so very much! ❤️
Thanks Nancy. I could never have imagined this path. Beautiful things happen when you follow your heart and share your gifts with the world. I love having you in my programs!