Determination is perhaps the quality that underpins allsuccess. No one gets very
far without it. If you’ve lacked confidence for years it won’t change overnight
without determination on your part.
Every choice you make – including the choice to become more confident – is a
result of weighing up the balance of ‘pleasure’ and ‘pain’. When faced with a deci-
sion, you consciousIy or subconsciously weigh up the alternatives and their
consequences. You ask yourself:
■ What are the advantages of pursuing this course of action? If I go ahead, what
will be the probable rewards? How much ‘pleasure’ will it bring? Are there any
disadvantages? How much ‘pain’?
■ If I do not goahead, how much ‘pain’ will I avoid? And how much ‘pleasure’
am I likely to forego?
For example, learning a new skill potentially brings many future benefits, but
may involve short-term sacrifices, especially the time and effort you put in. But as
long as you keep in mind the advantages that will come your way, your determination
remains strong. Anything is possible if you have enough reasons to change.
It only takes 30 days to lay the foundations for lasting change in your thinking,
your behaviour and your life.