The Connection Between Spirituality and Self-Confidence
I vigorously shook my head no, burst into tears and refused to go on stage. The timing of my meltdown couldn’t have been worse. I had rehearsed for the role of Mrs. Santa Claus with great enthusiasm and our first-grade play was about to begin. My mother, who had encouraged me to participate, had stayed up late at night for weeks on end sewing my costume. I was elated the night before the play when Mom handed me granny glasses and a wig. She had even taken the time to glue white cotton balls onto the wig, one by one, so that I really looked the part. But by the next morning, I was afraid the audience would laugh at me.
Instead of getting upset, my school teacher patiently waited for my tears to stop, and gently encouraged me to go on with the show. A few minutes later, with the wig in place, I took my spot on stage. The audience cheered wildly when we finished the last scene, and I smiled from the bottom of my toes to the top of my plastic cotton ball wig.
One of the key lessons I’ve learned on the spiritual path is that if you tell yourself you can’t do something, then you won’t be able to do it. If you don’t have confidence in yourself there isn’t a person on the planet who can do it for you! However, when you tell yourself that you can do it, energy and enthusiasm will naturally well up from within to meet the challenge. Spirituality instills confidence, along with resilience and a greater sense of Self.
Since that time so long ago, I’ve stood on many stages in many countries. Last year, I had the honor of walking onto the largest stage I’ve ever been on. I was in India for the launch of my book in the presence of renowned spiritual leader, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. More than 20,000 people packed the amphitheater, with a few million more tuning in for the live webcast. As I walked down a long red carpet toward the stage, lights and cameras flashed in every direction, almost blinding me. Doing my best not to trip over the yards of pink silk that made up my saree, I breathed a sigh of relief as I took the microphone.
It’s written that Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before his invention, the lightbulb, was successful. It’s remarkable that he didn’t view his previous attempts as failures – he saw them as 1,000 steps toward success. Edison felt that great success is built on failure.
The spiritual path is one that lifts you up and reminds you that you are part of the Divinity, you are beauty, you are love and you are truth. You have everything within you to mature into your full potential. It may take a little time and patience to get there, but that’s okay. Through spirituality, you will evolve. Even if you fail now and then, you’ll have the energy and confidence to pick yourself up and keep moving forward, with enthusiasm!
Patti Montella is a thought leader, best-selling author, international speaker and a senior faculty member with the Art of Living Foundation and the International Association for Human Values. She has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people worldwide, through the wisdom of the ancient Yogic Sciences, for over 25 years. Patti can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube.
