Getting Confident
Pondering
There's often a 'defining moment,' an inflexion point that triggers big change. Don't underestimate the role of a mentor to provide help and support throughout the evolutionary process.
It All Starts With ‘Apoyo y Ayuda Siempre’ (Help and Support Forever)
Don’t like potentially traumatic events especially since I’ve been bunkered down my whole life. Now I got adopted and been freed from the ‘bunker' found outside world pretty scary.
This was my ‘before’ and that Chinese gang of two baby shih-tzu more dangerous than you think. I was cowering in fear. Dad was in pasaporte office getting ready for our aventura. He looks out window sees me in a panic and seemingly delighted in my distress.
“Saw your struggles, did you really think you were in danger? No you weren’t. Just wanted to see how you navigated through it.”
Oh Dad, it was just another one of your tests.
"The lady in Post Office, laughed, even she noted how the situation was far from dire. You need to learn how to conquer your fears. But I understand. In six years you’ve never been outside not to mention meeting other dogs.”
You mumbled something about an ‘aventura.’ what’s that?
“You’ll find out. It’s time for this puppy to get out of her comfort zone. That was your ‘before.’ It’s time to achieve your ‘after,’ and unleash your inner fearless 2-kg dog who’s new handle will be La Princesa.”
Sounds good to me.
There Will Be Rude Awakenings, Bumps in the Road
Look at me!! Took a while to build up the courage, now I’m addicted to walks and the socialization it can enable.
Now I earned my first trip to the Dog Park. All the big dogs running around at a frenetic pace can be a little overwhelming. Dad let me go but he had laser vision on me. Suddenly an interdiction was needed.
Dad, alert to the situation saunters by, “Uh what’s going on here? Twinkie is the German Shepherd your new BF? Not sure how the geometry would work on that one.”
But look how popular I am! Then Dad looked at blood on hind quarters, saw the ‘whites in my eyes.’
“Yeah, well first I see you’re cowering under a chair and reason why you’re popular because it’s ‘that time of the year.’ When I inherited you didn’t know you not fixed. We’re going to the vet tomorrow, we’re gonna fix this.”
I’m not gonna be popular anymore and just made new friends.
“Ah puppy, your confidence has accelerated light speed but it needs more development. Don’t give in the treachery of first dates and false friends. Twinkles we’re going to a place where, if you play your cards right, you’ll be popular beyond belief and make REAL friends, people who love you for who you are.”
But I’m OK here.
“You’re better than to settle for ‘OK.’ Little dog gonna make a BIG change. We’re gonna em-bark on a true aventura were BOTH of us will get ‘Unleashed.’”
You’ll Look Back and Be Grateful For the Courage it Took to Trailblaze to the ‘True State.’
So as Dad and I were ready to depart, we took a touristy farewell to a town I lived my whole life, Dallas, Texas. A reflective victory lap looking on back on who were, anticipating La Aventura to become who we can be, who we were intended to be.
‘Think Different, Think Better.’
“To make change takes real risk and real courage young dog. See the strong determined fella on the horse? We’re at the Texas Cattle drive monument.” He thought different, thought better.”
What’s the Texas Cattle Drive?
“Well knowing situation getting dire, a gang of twelve amigos took their livelihood, 3,000 head of cattle and started their Aventura. The herd moved about twelve miles a day, it would take them about six months to reach the ‘promised land.’”
“Cowboy in this monument is looking backward, glad he made grueling decision to move forward, get to a more abundant place. But bet ya think sometimes Cowboy looks backward and thinks, ‘Why the hell did I do this?’”
This dog remembers her ‘backward’ and IT SUCKED! I’m wanna do what you did big fella. Start my ‘Aventura.’
What we learned
Be self-aware to recognize your lack of self-confidence.
Find an empathetic coach who will be patient, present, positive, paint the picture.
Tranquilo (don’t panic), espero (wait, hope), despacito (take it slow,). True sustainable progress will occur at a glacial pace.
Don’t get over your skis, do significantly more than what you’re currently capable.
Reflect, use inevitable set-backs as learning points.
Continuously check-in with your coach. If good, they have superpowers of a psych (can see through your bullshit so don’t bullshit them.)
Reflect on your accomplishments, celebrate ‘Estoy orgulloso de mi,’ I’m proud of myself!
