“THIS programme demanded that I work on how to identify myself to provide the best version of myself. I thought that all it was was just my name, and Sonia Noel crushed and destroyed that. One of my best takeaways from this programme was how to sell my entire business in just 60 seconds. When I got to the topic of purpose, it opened my ability to speak boldly in public; I even started to think more positively about myself. It was then I learnt who I was, and what the difference between confidence and self-esteem was,” Marcia Trotz, Entrepreneur.

Words like these encourage me to keep hosting the Confidence Becomes You virtual programme. I have been hosting this programme for years, but implemented the virtual version during the pandemic. I have not counted the many testimonials that were shared over the years. I am a very confident woman today, but it wasn’t always like this. I was a shy and very introverted young lady who was extremely unsure of herself; I hardly interacted with people, because of my low self-esteem, which caused me to doubt myself repeatedly.

Looking at me now, it’s very difficult for people to believe that confession, because of the woman I have become today.  I had to intentionally change my mindset and challenge myself to improve my self-esteem and self-confidence. This intention allowed me to look through a clearer lens and visualise the image of the person I was created to be.

Self-esteem refers to the overall sense of personal assurance we feel; the self-reliance, the positive self-regard and the self-love we possess. Self-esteem is developed from our responses to the many experiences, and the varied situations that have shaped how we view ourselves today.??Self-confidence influences how we feel about our abilities, knowing that we can express ourselves differently in each situation. For instance, I may generally have a healthy self-esteem, but very low confidence, particularly in situations involving math. So, in the final analysis, I would need to channel my confidence to maintain my composure in the face of this insecurity.

?When one loves oneself, one’s self-esteem improves, which makes one more confident. When one is confident in many areas of life, one increases one’s overall sense of esteem. All in all, one can work on both at the same time. I am passionate about this programme because I saw the transformation manifested in many lives, some of whom have shared their testimonials below. I believe in proactively charting positive outcomes in individuals. Many are still fine-tuning the goals for the new year, although a month has gone by very quickly. Confidence is necessary as you chase down any goal; it allows us to be self-reliant, committed, resilient and focused. Not having confidence can cause you to doubt yourself, act on fear, sell yourself short, and give up.
When you are confident, you don’t need validation from others to acknowledge your achievements.

A few days ago, I received a very encouraging call from Victory, who has grown through the programme. She is from Nigeria, and was studying medicine in Guyana. She left to go home, and called to thank me for influencing her life in a positive way, and she shared with me again the benefits she received from the Confidences Becomes You Programme zone.
Confidence pushes you outside your comfort zone. Everyone has a comfort zone, where we feel completely safe and at peace; success is not alive in this zone.  Live in your comfort zone, and you won’t achieve anything extraordinary; take just one baby step outside the lines, though, and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. I have attended events where my confidence introduced me before I said one word. The confidence you gain and give to the world will allow others to see and share in your true beauty.

I always receive great feedback from my pics, because they exude confidence. I am so relaxed in front of the camera, and that inner beauty, mixed with the outer creates magic through that lens. Cleveland is amazing, and he did my first shoot for 2023 a few days ago. He always explains how easy it is to photograph me, and a shoot that would take two hours is wrapped up in 45 minutes.
Sharing the pics outdoors from my new collection. I will share some more in another column after the preview on 12 February. Confidence has made me jump and grew my winds down; lack of it robs you of the opportunity to live your best life.

I love this quote by JM Barrie. “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”
I invite you to join us for the next Confidence Becomes You virtual class (WhatsApp 5926848129), which commences in a couple of weeks. Remember that you are worth it as we celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.