Believe in yourself

My Wednesday Wish for you: Believe in yourself

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford’s quip captures what psychologists call self-efficacy; our belief in our own ability to succeed. Albert Bandura’s research shows that this inner confidence colors everything from how we interpret fear to how we size up risk. When we know we’ve mastered tough tasks before, a looming hurdle feels less like a cliff and more like a climbing wall we already have chalk for.

Think back to a recent win, big or small. Maybe you negotiated a tricky contract, finally stuck to a new workout, or just hit “send” on that intimidating email. Each success is a receipt you can pull out when self-doubt pipes up. The brain loves evidence, reminding it of past proof quiets the “I can’t” chorus.

But self-efficacy isn’t blind optimism. It blends three ingredients:

1. Knowledge – a clear grasp of the skills and resources at hand.

2. Experience – lived moments that confirm “I’ve handled hard before.”

3. Intention – a conscious decision to act despite uncertainty.

Together they shift fear from a stop sign to a yield sign, caution, not paralysis. Outcomes are never guaranteed, yet people who walk into challenges with a solid sense of “I can figure this out” persist longer, adapt faster, and ultimately notch more wins than equally talented peers who doubt themselves.

So this week, gather your evidence: list three past achievements, one strength others often notice, and one step you will take toward today’s challenge. Post it where you’ll see it. Let each reminder nudge you from hesitation to action.

My wish for you this Wednesday is simple: trust the track record you’ve already written and let it fuel the chapter you’re about to write next.