A lack of Confidence can be express several different ways. It is low self-esteem, indecision. Doubt and unbelief. It can manifest itself in different ways also, like sensitivity to criticism, social withdrawal, hostility, excessive preoccupation with personal problems, depression, anxiety, anorexia, smoking tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse. We can overcome a lack of confidence by the right support, mindset and change in behavior.
Today everything is about taking one step at time. And it is the same with overcoming a lack of confidence. The first step is seeing the truth about oneself, identify the wrong conditions and situations in our lives. It is called coming to one self. Seeing where you are and acknowledging the truth you are in the wrong place. The second is being aware of what got you there, your thoughts and beliefs. What got us there is believing lies over the truth because we wanted what we wanted. The third step is challenging what you know to see if it is the truth. Challenging our wrong headedness. Then the fourth step is to change our mindset.
It is said that to change a habit, it takes 30 days of not doing it. So if you are in the habit of cussing while you are talking, don’t curse for 30 days. See what happens. Now for addictions, it will take a bit longer than 30 days, but it is achievable. The beginning of everything is you seeing that you want to change and not live the life that you have.
My life as a young man came to a head and I was in a death spiral. I kept on doing what I knew was wrong, because I didn’t see any other way. I knew that if I didn’t change I was going to die, both a physical and spiritual death. I went to a parochial school. It was a good education, but I didn’t believe what they said about life. I was going to find out myself. This is where I first got into trouble. I didn’t get arrested or get addicted to alcohol or drugs. But alcoholism was coming close behind me. I was miserable. I didn’t see at first a way and became embittered. I was angry at everyone.
Finally, a friend ask me to join the business. It was selling merchandise. I wasn’t the greatest salesman in the world, but I could hold my own. We meet every morning for coffee. He managed a cafeteria.
Each morning, he and another man would talk about what Jesus had done for them. I didn’t join in in the conversation. For about 3 months, they talked together never directing the conversation towards me. But God was speaking directly to me. I saw what my life had come to. I knew that I needed to change. An a way to change was being presented to me. I had to come to myself first and understand where I was and in need of help.
Then one morning in September 1978, they asked me if I would like to go to church with them the next Sunday. I immediately said yes. When I arrive at their church, it was like I was in a foreign land. People shook my hand and greeted me. We sat down, then the singing began. When that was finished, the pastor came up and began preaching. All the time I was watching the people. I was raised in a church when you didn’t say a word the whole time. In the middle of the pastor’s sermon, he stopped turned the people and said, hello. It was an expression that I used. I never heard anyone say it like that. I turned to the pastor and heard this voice say to me, what more do you want. I didn’t know at the time that it was God Himself. But knew that this is where I belonged and He would help me change for the better.
There is only one power in this world that will change our lives for the better. That is God Himself.
Crain Blanchard.
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Joseph1637/Crain Blanchard 