Empower Self Discipline by Self-Trust

How self-trust promotes effective action and goal achievement

Involvement in efforts to change inevitably run up against issues of self-trust. To trust yourself means being kind and respectful to yourself regardless of the outcome of your actions.

This essay will cover the achievement of self-trust and how it can serve your long-range goals.

I like to think I have an ‘entrepreneurial personality,” that is, someone who is a self-starter. But sometimes, I need the expectations of others to get going.

Perhaps this is the way it is with you. You become tentative when doubt strikes. But, with certainty, you fly.

I also tend to rebel against others’ expectations, undermining my effectiveness and productivity. And I like someone to say ‘yes’ to my ideas to trust them.

“The perfecting of oneself is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.” Confucious

“To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man.” Euripedes

“Without self-knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself, and he will always remain a slave.” Gurdjieff

All of these quotes emphasize the importance of self-trust. I find support for my initiatives rise and fall, both with the situation and my fluctuating level of self-confidence.

Discipline Yourself for Improved Self-Trust

Disciplining yourself to do what you know is proper and necessary is important in general. But it is essential for building self-trust.

Plato said the first and best victory is to conquer the self. And the best reason for self-mastery is that it promotes self-trust.

I find from experience that my self-trust goes up after doing what I want, regardless of discomfort and resistance. Successful completion of almost any task seems to be a self-trust builder.

Goethe said: “Never by reflection, but only by doing is self-knowledge possible to one.” I have lost count of the number of times that experience has short-circuited foolish anticipations and fears of ‘what might happen.’

Discount Future Predictions

It has got to the point that now I regularly discount future predictions when confronting an initiative. Why? Because experience has taught me my anticipations are usually incorrect.

I once wanted to start a business advising direct salespeople on how to prospect for new business. First, I had to wade through all sorts of arguments that prevented me from acting.

But, after the launch and the discovery of positive feedback, and even sometimes favorable reviews. I saw the disutility of my early thoughts

It has now become a firm understanding that thoughts about what might happen in action are usually erroneous.

“Self-trust is the first secret of success”…Emerson

Our culture is dizzy with the love of success; its pursuit first requires trust in yourself and your abilities. I am not advocating pie-in-the-sky schemes; going after what bears some close relation to your abilities is much better.

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained”…..Marie Curie

Choose Self-Trust Over Dependency

The value of self-trust is highlighted by what you face if its opposite hounds you. And that is to be a slave to whatever impulse, force, craves, or pull appears on the horizon.

This sudden appeal can lead you to kiss off any principle or value as soon as some other pull or push comes along.

I once had a coach who claimed my reluctance to take on new personal or business challenges was due to a lack of self-trust. I agreed, and I asked how I might improve my self-trust.

She claimed I could improve my self-trust by honoring my emotions instead of hiding behind them. She thought that as you heed your feelings, you develop trust in your capacity to deal with what arises.

She also advised nurturing our innermost thoughts. While we cannot control external circumstances, we can become curious about what is happening inside us and get in touch with our inner guide.

I followed her advice in one respect: keeping a journal to record my thoughts. I have been doing that for years; it has become a positive addiction. I rely on the self-understanding it provides to help with my self-trust.

In sum: It’s far better to trust your instincts, principles, and values and follow their lead. Self-trust may take a lifetime to secure, but once you have it, you will be close to following your way.