How to Take Action in Spite of Self-Doubt | Jonathan Fields
Nov 6, 2023
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Jonathan Fields, an expert in cultivating awareness, bravery, and conviction, discusses how chasing confidence can distract from growth. Learn to make decisions and take unconfident action. Explore the impact of tragic events on mindset. Discover the ABCs of Unconfident Action and the power of conviction in pursuing your goals.
Cultivating awareness, bravery, and conviction enables us to take action even in the face of uncertainty and low confidence.
Waiting for confidence is a distraction that prevents us from living our best lives; instead, embrace unconfident action for growth and connection.
By embracing bravery and conviction, the speaker built a successful yoga community that positively impacted thousands of lives despite lacking confidence and facing significant risks.
Deep dives
The Importance of Cultivating Meta Skills
Instead of fixating on confidence, it is more valuable to focus on cultivating deeper meta skills. These skills enable us to act even in the face of uncertainty and low confidence. By developing these core skills, we can make decisions and take actions that move us forward, even when the outcome is unknown.
The Illusion of Confidence and the Power of Unconfident Action
Confidence is often perceived as a prerequisite for pursuing our dreams and goals. However, waiting for confidence to magically appear is a distraction that prevents us from living our best lives. The willingness to take action even when we lack confidence or certainty can lead to powerful and life-changing outcomes. Cultivating the skill of unconfident action allows us to break free from the limitations of seeking confidence and instead embrace opportunities for growth, connection, and impact.
Personal Story: Overcoming Uncertainty and Building a Yoga Studio
The speaker shares a personal story of taking decisive action in the face of uncertainty. He recounts the experience of opening a yoga studio in the aftermath of 9/11, a time of profound loss and uncertainty. Despite lacking confidence and facing significant risks, he chose to move forward with the vision of creating a space of community, healing, and personal growth. By embracing bravery and conviction, he built a successful yoga community that positively impacted thousands of lives.
The ABCs of Unconfident Action: Awareness, Bravery, and Conviction
To navigate moments of uncertainty and low confidence, the speaker outlines the ABCs of unconfident action. Awareness involves honestly acknowledging and understanding the truth of a situation both internally and externally. Bravery means being willing to take action even without knowing the outcome, chunking the uncertainty and stakes into small steps, and normalizing unconfident action by surrounding oneself with others who are also striving towards similar goals. Finally, conviction forms the foundation by asking oneself why the pursuit is important and understanding the deep personal meaning behind it.
Cultivating Ease and Equanimity in Uncertain Moments
In moments of uncertainty and meaningful stakes, cultivating ease and equanimity can be powerful. The speaker suggests incorporating mindfulness and breathing practices into daily routines to enhance awareness and access a calm state. Mindfulness helps train awareness and choosing where attention is directed, while various breathing techniques, such as box breathing, can regulate the nervous system, promoting relaxation in the face of uncertainty.
What if confidence was an illusion stopping you from an amazing life?
Today we're unpacking how chasing confidence distracts us from meaningful growth and connection. Instead, cultivate awareness, bravery and conviction to take unconfident action. Learn to make decisions and live fully, even when uncertain. You’ll unlock growth and impact without needing magical confidence.
