Confidence for Women: What It’s Like To Take That Next Step

One of my all time favorite quotes is from The Pilot’s Wife when one says “Sometimes courage is putting one foot in front of another”.  I barely remember the story but I remember that quote and have for years.  I turn to it all the time because I feel its truth in those moments when I don’t want to or am afraid to take that next step yet I know I need to.  It’s that next step where your breath comes in and you feel like you are going to have to hold it forever.  Your body is tense and you’re thinking 

My own face turns red, my words always fumble – and heck if you really know me, you know just how badly I can say the perfectly wrong thing at the worst times too.  The fear is there and the words came out.  I took that next stumbling step.  I wobbled, I turn red, and I sweat just a little.  The room stopped and starred.  “Is this really happening?” I am thinking.  They are thinking. “Dear God…” again.

Oooof. I continue to wobble and be red.

On a good day, I remember to calm myself down, collect my thoughts and turn things around.

Sometimes I do.  Sometimes it takes more tries and more conversations.  Sometimes it is lost completely.  Maybe like this post.

But the thing is I survived.  I feel I have made a fool of myself, yes.   But I have survived.  And I have grown. Now I can think about what I would do next time.  And when that next time comes, I am just a little bit more ready to take that next step.  I wobble less, I fumble on my words less and I am more confidant.

For me, taking the next step is empowering.  It can be Hell when you are in the trenches of something new where you have to put yourself out there. But in the end, it’s empowering. I did it.  I survived. And I am better because of it.

Then – what’s next??!  That wasn’t so hard!

*image from pinterest