Self-Belief in the Face of Reality
I care deeply about personal wellbeing—both my own and that of others. It’s at the heart of everything I do. Through my own healing journey, I’ve seen first-hand just how transformative it can be to shift your mindset and perspective. By a stroke of luck—or perhaps something more—I was born with a natural sense of optimism and positivity. But I’ve also consciously cultivated that outlook over time.
Wellbeing is complex and multifaceted, but one of its foundations is self-belief.
Self-belief is the ability to trust in your own capacity: to follow through, manage uncertainty, recover from setbacks, set healthy boundaries, and pursue your hopes and dreams.
I was speaking with a family member this week who wants to change careers. They’ve worked in a blue-collar job their entire adult life, never went through higher education, and now have children, a mortgage, and other responsibilities. They feel stuck—unable to see how they could possibly upskill or transition into something new.
They’re also worried about the impact of AI on the kinds of roles they’re interested in. And the reality is: creating change in a situation like this is no small task.
In the short term, it may not even be viable. Sometimes, the kindest and most empowering step is acceptance—acknowledging where you are right now. For them, that might mean recognising the importance of simply providing stability: food on the table, a roof over their children’s heads. That in itself is huge. Being a parent is a massive job that should never be underrated.
Is it fair? Absolutely not. Should things change? Yes, without question.
But if someone does decide to pursue a big change like this, it often requires a total reorientation of their life. I don’t believe anything is impossible—people achieve the extraordinary every day—but priorities will need to shift. That might mean redirecting resources away from material purchases towards education, training, and self-development.
Relentless self-belief becomes vital here. You have to want the change so deeply that it informs every decision you make. And unfortunately, in many countries, the systems in place don’t make it easy for people from lower middle-income backgrounds to change careers later in life.
A good starting point is identifying transferable skills—what are your strengths, and how could those be applied in other industries?
Reflect on past achievements. Remind yourself of the challenges you’ve already overcome. That resilience is still within you.
Look for jobs that does not require a deegre.
Engage in volunteering if possible to create connection and build a new skillset.
Reframe success.
Cultivate a flexible mindset.
Perhaps consider if there is a middle way between changing everything and letting things remain the way that they are.
Then take small, steady steps. Little by little, those efforts accumulate—and over time, they can lead to profound change.
My Latest YouTube Videos
💛 I love sharing my thoughts, feelings and ideas with you, and I hope you find them useful. I would greatly appreciate your support with a paid subscription.
UPCOMING CLASSES:
BOOK A ONE-TO-ONE
OTHER PLACES YOU CAN FIND ME