So how do you do it? Do you know how to build confidence despite barriers in your life? There are several posts on this blog showing you how to build confidence. Today I have a picture for you to illustrate the point I always make and reiterate here: confidence, like Rome, wasn’t and isn’t going to be built in a short time. No, confidence takes time and it’s the first, little steps we take in getting there, that are the most important.
Barriers can be a big deal when they stand in our way of true confidence. They can block our view of the life we want to live which stands on the horizon just within our reach – kind of like the picture immediately below.
These are merely some steel plates set horizontally into the landscape, right? Individually, they mean nothing really. All they represent are barriers to the green and prosperous landscape within reach. In fact, you could go as far as to say they’re ugly, black steel plates obstructing your view of the beauty that lies beyond – similar to the barriers in your own life which obstruct you from building your confidence.
Now look at these steel plates together and from a different angle, from a distance:
This is what the individual, seemingly obstructive steel plate look like together. The sculpture (by Marco Cianfanelli) consist of 50 10-metre, laser-cut steel plates. The sculpture was put there to commemorate August 6th, 1962, the 50th anniversary of when Nelson Mandela was captured and arrested.
Now you see that random steel plates actually come together to make something complete and beautiful – even astounding.
Confidence is built (as this article explains) one step at a time. Of course, the important issue here is actually taking steps to improve yourself. If you can’t see them working straight away, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t. You’re probably just viewing your skills from the wrong angle – as individual items rather than the forge of strength you already possess within you.
Find your confidence by accessing your strengths and building upon them. Sometimes, like in the first picture, you’re looking at the building blocks (you can use to step up) as obstacles to a beautiful you. See how sometimes obstacles are the very things that build us up.
So what’s that barrier preventing you from seeing the beautiful landscape you want your life to be? Have you examined that barrier closely and from every angle? Maybe it’s that very thing you need to be able to journey to your destination and achieve your dreams. Just step back and look closely. You may be surprised at what you discover.
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What a beautiful analogy!
Confidence is built one step at a time. But if we look at those “blocks” we sometimes focus too much on it. If we look at the “beauty” behind it we may take one step toward it.
One step at a time. Thanks so much for spreading your knowledge.
Donna
Great Information.. I wanna read more from your blog..
Thanks
Thanks for your beautiful comment, Donna. And yes, one step at a time truly does get you to where you want to be. So simple, so profound.
Great post. I esp like confidence is built one step at a time.
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Hi Anne
Those are pretty cool. Never knew that there was something like that.
I agree by it’s self we have nothing really to look at, but we are sum of all our parts and if we just do, we become like a beautiful piece of art.
I shall have to remember the picture when I lack confidence…which is far more often than I wish.
Mary
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Well described, Mary. I like your example of taking a sum of all our parts to see our truly beautiful self.
Hi Anne,
When I saw the bars and started reading, I remembered all the bars I had to knock down, drag and pull out in order to free myself. It took one day at a time, one cry at a time, one push at a time to keep moving.
Thanks you so much for your beautiful article. Sally
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I know what you mean, Sally. I’ve had those too and am still going through some at the moment. Life gives us so many stepping stones, but sometimes we can’t help but see them as barriers.
Wonderful stuff..Im really impressed and inspired thank you
“Really impressed” – These are the right words 🙂
Great article. Wanna see more!
This is just beautiful Anne. Your messages are always inspirational, but I love your example of how all the pieces fit together. And the sculpture is just beautiful! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Marty. And you’re always welcome. Yes, I think the sculpture is beautiful.
Its a realy beautiful analogy…!
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It is very important to know that analgy like this is very vital to lift barriers across segments of life. It is true that top leaders in the world has played vital role in lifting the barriers example Mr Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and many more. So what is barrier it is a complicated hurdle until you voice for it. Many first home buyers face barriers in getting their loan, tough policies and procedures and high house prices than it should be. Love this quality post
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What a wonderful analogy – I really enjoyed it! Beautiful, beautiful post.
Nice way of looking at it, i think i have been a victim of viewing my skills at a wrong angle, but just realized after reading your post. i agree confidence is build step at a time, you cant have it all at once you gotta work on it.
This is an excellent post. I liked this post very much. All things are described in very excellent way.It is a great information and helps everyone. Congratulations on your work, always with great posts. In my
eyes you should keep on such kind of postings for us.The quality of your articles makes me come back frequently and check your website for more articles! In future I would like to come here again for some new and more information. Best of Luck.
Marco Cianfanelli’s work is incredible but more so your analogy is beautiful! Subscribed and definitely keeping up with this blog. Thanks for the the encouragement!
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Great Post Anne! Too often, we often think the barriers placed in front of us are for our downfall rather than our growth. Our biggest blessings usually come after the biggest struggles. It’s all about perception and how you perceive things to be…
Love reading your posts Anne, you always remind us to focus on our strengths!
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I wonder what it looks like from all the different angles. very cool and creative though.
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Anne,
Its indeed a great stuff, I think age is also the main factor don’t you think that? I was in touch with children age of 7 to 9 , at that age how can they maintain their confidence is the discussion point. you described one of the best reading stuff on this topic. believe it or not but I am very glad after reading this. keep writing anne. I will wait for the next post 🙂
This is a very creative way of explaining your point. It’s nice to realize that some negative things such as those barriers can turn out to be something beautiful when looked at from a different point of view. I also like it that the image turned out to be that of Nelson Mandela, one of the great people I truly admire.
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This is a great post. What a great analogy!!
Thanks for the sharing of such information. we will pass it on to our readers. This is a great reading. Thanking you
Hii anie, Thanks for sharing such a great post.Confidence is a state of mind where in our body generate positive energy.if we look at those “blocks” we sometimes focus too much on it. If we look at the “beauty” behind it we may take one step toward it.
This is absolutely fabulous post.Thanks !!
My Property Stores
that’s right Kate
its all about the perspective, once we learn to look at things the right way we will become more confident
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Hi Anie, thanks for such a great article..the images are magnificent
Barriers should serve as motivation to gain confidence.
I’ve never seen that sculpture before. ..and a lovely post.
Hi Anne,
Confidence appears when barriers disappear. You have articulated well. I want to add a quote here:
Follow the master (your goal)
Face the devil (barriers)
Fight to the end (beat the barriers)
Finish the game (achieve your goal)
Lastly appreciate yourself. Feel that you are the best! It will help you to achieve the real big things of life.
Thank you Anne for the analogy!
I myself have had many ups and downs when it comes to confidence, mostly due to girlfriends and breakups later on. I spent a lot of time worrying about my future and thinking about what could have been, but then I realized that I was “killing” myself in the process. So I decided to stop what I was doing, assess it and then try to move on. For the last year I’ve been working on who I am and trying to move on step by step.
My confidence is slowly increasing step by step. A year ago, everything was blocked by “ugly steel rods” but now I’ve taken many steps away since then and I am finally starting to be able to see the face on the sculpture again!
Confidence takes time, guys!
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Thank you, Brosius, for your insightful comment. It’s always refreshing to hear personal stories of people rising above barriers to achieve things they’ve always wanted, but thought impossible.
Thanks for your input. I hope you’ll visit again.
When I saw the bars and started reading, I remembered all the bars I had to knock down, drag and pull out in order to free myself. It took one day at a time, one cry at a time, one push at a time to keep moving.
I agree by it’s self we have nothing really to look at, but we are sum of all our parts and if we just do, we become like a beautiful piece of art.
Content aside, I love the sculpture! I think we all sometimes forget it’s the obstacles and how we overcome them that define us as people. Thanks for making me think a bit.
B
Beautiful poetic post, Anne. What’s interesting about your view of mental barriers is that in Oriental Medicine, they speak of disturbances of the body and mind as Qi (or Chi) energy blockages. Although these blockages can be in bodily organs and what they call “meridians,” these blockages can have an overall affect on the human psyche as well.
Traditional Oriental medicine says that each cell of our body communicates to one another and so when we are suffering from stress or even low self confidence, these feelings can be directly connected to our physical condition – our bodily cells. That is why Acupuncture works well to “poke holes” and unblock Qi blockages, break mental carriers and bring patients back to a level of inner calm, peace and humility
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What a very good example to be illuminated. Sometimes, we just have to take one step at a time as good things really do comes to those who wait.
Very inspiring information! I think that people can go out and get things themselves if they view the world as open and full of opportunities at all times.
I spent a lot of time worrying about my future and thinking about what could have been, but then I realized that I was “killing” myself in the process.
It’s always refreshing to hear personal stories of people rising above barriers to achieve things they’ve always wanted, but thought impossible.
Hi Anne
We as a family are seeing how what you said above works. One of our sons, is battling depression, and he at least at the moment, is finding it hard to see the whole picture, with just about everything being a barrier, stopping his progress. However, he is trying to “push” through at the moment, and we are hoping that every successful effort will result in greater confidence for him.
Thanks for your, to the point article
Robert
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Thanks for sharing your story, Robert. My heart goes out to you and your family. I wish your son all the best in his fight. Hope he can see some light soon.
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