There are moments in life when we are expected to step outside of our comfort zone and rise to the challenge. Imagine that you applied for your dream job and were asked to come in for an interview, or you received a callback after auditioning for a role in a musical. An important life skill for moments like these is confidence.
Confidence can be defined as a feeling of self-assurance that occurs from the appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. Each one of us deserves to move through life with conviction in what we are truly capable of. While putting ourselves out there isn’t supposed to be easy or comfortable, doing things that sometimes scare us is key to achieving personal growth. Picture the things you can achieve if you just take the leap! Confidence impacts our happiness, success and well-being, and helps shape the way we carry ourselves. The activities we engage in, as well as the relationships we foster with ourselves and others, play a large role in building our confidence.
Dance is a prime example of a confidence-boosting activity – it takes guts to dance in front of others! Whether you’re dancing in the presence of a dance teacher, other students or you’re performing in front of an audience, the more your dancing skills grow, your self-confidence will follow. Because dance provides a space where we are encouraged to believe in ourselves, try our best, and set goals and accomplish them, we learn about the importance of persevering through challenges.
Dance teaches us that growth isn’t always linear: progress is a PROCESS. We can’t always expect things to come to us naturally. When attempting a pirouette turn for the first time, it’s likely going to be challenging. Instead of feeling discouraged when first starting out, be kind to yourself and remember that good things come with time, practice and patience. The same lesson applies to anything new you take on in life.
Immersing yourself in a group who supports one another is key to building self-confidence, and will in-turn change your inner-monologue. A true friend is someone who cheers you on in your mission to conquer your own goals, and who makes it easy to be there for them when they need a pep talk. Not only are our relationships with others integral in shaping our confidence, positive self-talk can go a long way. If your friend nails their pirouette, cheer them on and remember your time to shine will come. In the words of ice hockey Hall of Famer, Wayne Gretsky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Don’t be afraid to fall…take the leap.
