Confidence

Hi there! My name is Confidence. I’m that warm, strong feeling you get inside that whispers, “You can do this!” I’m not about being perfect; I’m about being brave enough to try. I am learning to be brave. I live inside everyone, but sometimes I can be a little quiet. I was with a girl named Maya the other day. She loves playing soccer in her backyard, but when she saw a sign-up sheet for the school team, she felt nervous. The other kids looked so good, and a voice of doubt, my opposite, told her she wasn't ready. That’s when I started to wake up, ready to help.

At first, I was just a tiny feeling for Maya. But when her friend told her she should try out, I grew a little bigger. Every afternoon for a week, Maya went outside to practice. With every kick that sent the ball soaring, I felt myself puffing up my chest. On the day of tryouts, her stomach was full of butterflies. But I was there too, reminding her of all her hard work. She took a deep breath and ran onto the field. She missed one pass and felt wobbly, but then she remembered that mistakes are okay. She focused and made a great play! Maya didn't know if she'd make the team, but it didn't matter. By facing her fear, she had made me stronger than ever. I continue to help people today, because every time you try something new, you give me the power to help you shine even brighter next time.