Confidence

What?? TWO blog posts in one day??? I know, it's unbelievable another blogger shared a video and some thoughts that I have to share.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have little self-confidence. It's been a real struggle for me throughout my life. Without confidence, you can get easy to get bogged down by feelings of inadequacy and convince yourself that you will never be able to be successful even in areas where you possess talent or skills.

This video is of Paul Potts' audition on Britain's Got Talent. I'm no super-fan of American Idol or any of the talent shows nor am I an avid opera fan. But I dare you to watch this video and not get goosebumps or positively tear up. Paul Potts is a lot like me, but he stepped out of his comfort zone and stepped into unimaginable success. And no one expected it from him.





So, in case you missed the message of the day, it's threefold:

1) Use what God gave ya.

Paul - who's one of four children- was singing almost from the moment he could talk. "My mother recalls me listening to the theme from ET and conducting an imaginary orchestra with sticks," laughs Paul." "When I sang, that's when I felt I was myself - the real me." **

2) Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.

Although Paul has performed at amateur level, most notably with Bath Opera, his chronic lack of self esteem and fear of rejection always prevented him from trying to make it professionally. " As I saw it, if I never asked - never put myself out there - then I'd never get told "No",'says Paul. "It was safer that way." **

3) Believe in yourself even if others are skeptical.
"Though it's fair to say that when Paul strolled awkwardly - almost apologetically - onto the Cardiff stage for his first Britain’s Got Talent audition a week before that final, in his now infamous £35 Tesco suit, and announced to Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan that he was going to sing opera, they never thought for one minute they were looking at their winner. Until he opened his mouth and started to sing. **

So, did he win? You betcha.

"All of this is like a fairy tale and I'm terrified I'm going to wake up soon and find I've dreamt it all," says Paul. "The support I've had has been incredible and I feel so touched and humbled by it. It has done so much for my confidence and I really can't thank people enough for giving me the chance to realise my dream. To be given an opportunity like this is more than I ever could have hoped for. Finally, I am going to be doing what I've always felt I was put here to do - something I love and that gives me so much joy." **

**Taken from http://www.paulpotts.com/, About Paul