“All confidence is acquired, developed. No one is born with confidence. Those people you know who radiate confidence, who have conquered worry, have acquired their confidence, every bit of it.” – David Schwartz
When I was in 10th grade I had one friend at my high school.
And then, I had none.
It’s hard to express the anguish that a kid feels when we feel disliked, disconnected, alone. I felt all those feels.
A petty disagreement had splintered my small group of friends, and all I had left to save me from complete social oblivion was my one best friend. Someone I had grown up with, tried my first beer with, talked about life and dreams and dungeons & dragons with. He was my only hope. I needed him to stand by my side.
He didn’t.
What happened after is a sad, scary blur. I ate alone in the cafeteria. I skipped classes. Eventually I changed schools and started to make friends all over again.
FAST FORWARD 25 YEARS
Everything is different. Although my life completely changed, I still feel the sting of what happened. It feels like a weight.
Then, my former best friend (who was married, with kids in California) and I tentatively became Facebook friends. I happened to be traveling to Laguna Beach and I did the unthinkable: I risked rejection and asked him if we could meet and talk about what had happened. He accepted.
I regretted it immediately. I began to contemplate what would happen, what he would say. I started to plan how I could back out.
But I didn’t back out.
I did meet him. At a deli for over an hour. It was one of the best things I have ever done.
We talked. He apologized. He told me how amazing my life looks to him now, and how sorry he was. We talked about old times, our families, our love for In-And-Out Burger’s secret menu.
The weight had been lifted. The wound could now heal, and the friendship could start yet again.
When we enter a fearful situation with the intent of healing and connection, amazing things can happen.
This week’s Scare Your Soul Challenge is to:
Risk Rejection and Take Action
This week, you’re going to take one act. You need to do this. It has been weighing on you. Now is the time.
We have a simple checklist to give you what you need to choose and make the commitment.
Click here for the checklist
Finally, as a statement of your commitment, what is one thing that you can do this week to risk rejection and take ACTION? We’ll feature your ideas on our Instagram Stories this week: