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The Heart Shaped Herb of Confidence 🌿

Lighthearted thoughts on psychology in today’s society. From your friendly neighbourhood British-Kenyan

By Wako AnindoPublished 5 years ago • 3 min read
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The sauce has always been within me 

Where are you from? 🌍

Many a time have I seen an individual puff up their chest with pride as they tell everyone within ear shot that they represent south London. If that opening statement triggered you, I’m probably talking about you. Sorry not sorry.

The point is that they hold value in where they’ve been, and how that place or circumstances have shaped the person they are today. I picked on south Londoners because they’re a good example of people who often don’t see the need to compare themselves to others. Call it arrogance if you want but a self-elevating mindset is 🔑.

There is always someone better than you.

Our minds are constantly pointing out things like this to us. Things that are considered common sense or logical. Perfectly good-sounding reasons for us to accept failure or average existences.

This is clearly not helpful. Comparison is a mortal enemy of self-confidence. Instead I’d like to challenge you to change your mind’s default settings. Don’t let you hold you back.

Imagine an average community thousands of years ago. Your village would include you, the village idiot perhaps, a wise elder, some heroes that do all the fighting and hunting, the pretty ones and the youth. It was much easier to stand out and be noticeably good at something. Something that only you could do out of everyone in your village. Obviously, being the funniest out of everyone in the village wouldn’t be that impressive to the modern individual reading this today. But the ancient version of you did not have to take this into account, and would be filled with great pride and lots of serotonin. The hormone of victory and confidence.

Interesting, but very relevant fact: People born in small communities—a small town or farm for example—make up a great number of the well known and respected earthlings. Could this be because they are used to believing in themselves, and getting reassurance from those who are close to them?

Let’s quickly leave our imaginary early settlement, and go back to the modern you. You probably live in a large city. Most of us do these days. And of the millions of people living in your city, there is likely to be at least 10 who are very much like you. Who basically are you. And no matter how good you are at something, there will always be someone on social media or anywhere else on the world wide web, that makes you look like a total noob. No offence. Many writers on Vocal could have me looking dizzyingly incompetent too. But hey, I’m more handsome (maybe) and will post this piece anyway.

Play the Game 🎮

Ever heard someone say “life is like a game”. Let’s use that to figure out a way to build confidence and a powerful character (pun shamefully intended).

Break your dreams up into small goals that are easy to accomplish starting from right now.

Like in the good old days when it was just you (and maybe a sibling or two) sitting in front of your TV, PS controller in hand, getting through a mission. Your mind knew what the game was, and that no matter what, you had the power to beat it. At the beginning you were weak and didn’t have many weapons or tools. But by the end, the world you lived in didn’t stand a chance.

The same is true in real life. Experience and skills are gathered with time. You grow physically and gain new abilities bit by bit. As this happens the things that challenged you in the beginning, ergo, when you were a child; become… well… child’s play.

I’ll stop there for now. Get out there and see each moment as an opportunity to build your character. It all has to start somewhere. Do something today that will make the you of tomorrow stronger than the you of today.

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About the Creator

Wako Anindo

Kenyan born Brit residing in the north east of Scotland

I’m here to inspire and entertain

Watch this space for content that will give your life a senzu bean (if you didn’t watch DBZ growing up I can’t help you)

Have a great day every day

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