“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
-Nelson Mandela

We often hear the phrase, “You’ve got to believe in yourself,” but what does that really mean? If you asked ten people what the phrase means to them, you’d probably get ten different responses.

While I love the pleasant and hopeful idea of this phrase, it doesn’t address how to get to the point where you genuinely believe in yourself as you strive for something important to you.

Truly believing in yourself is often a journey. It can that sometimes feels like an uphill battle depending on your personal situation, the experiences that have shaped your outlook on life, and your perceptions of yourself.

Belief+Action= Results

We tend to make conclusions about others based on their outward achievements but often aren’t aware of the series of failures and missteps along the way that they endured while moving toward their desired outcome.

Sometimes, it’s just tough to maintain a positive perspective. Believing in yourself requires you to cultivate the ongoing action steps toward a particular outcome. It’s a congruence so-to-speak, between what you desire and the energy you’re willing to put in.

There are inevitable setbacks along the way too and it can be a challenge to maintain your focus. The process often demands that we fully engage in understanding ourselves more deeply (exploring the ‘why’ of our desired outcome) and maintaining momentum even when we feel like giving up.

In his heartfelt motivational speech to his son, Rocky talks about the importance of moving forward in life despite the inevitable setbacks and challenges along the way. “It ain’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” Progress is a process that requires consistent engagement.