Fake it until you make it

Fake it until you make it. A controversial one I know, but hear me out.

Many people do not like this as it suggests that you are not being true to yourself, however, when it comes to the topic of confidence it can be a very powerful tool.



Here is my story:

I was given this advice when I was in my 1st year of professional dance college. I didn’t actually take the advice until I left college and gained my first professional dance job, working on a cruise ship.

Dance college is a tough environment where teachers and peers alike, put you down and constantly tell you that you aren’t good enough. This left the little confidence I had when starting completely crushed. When I was offered a contract within a month of graduating, I was over the moon. I had been given that first chance. This was my chance to shine, to prove to myself I could do this.

I knew I wanted to be a happy, bubbly and confident person who enjoyed life and got along with everyone. I wasn’t the person I wanted to be … yet. So I decided to ‘fake it’. Going in to a completely new environment with people who had never met me was scary but exciting at the same time. I knew that nobody had an expectation of who I was meant to be, how I act, how I speak. I could be the person I wanted to be and no one would know any different.

It worked! I faked being bubbly and confident, until I realised I wasn’t faking any more. I was, and still am bubbly, confident, self assured, happy and get along with most people.



I understand that I was in this unique situation that made the process a lot easer. My question is; why can’t you do this too? What is stopping you from waking up one day and making the decision to be the person you want to be? Fake it … Fake it until you are not faking it anymore. Feel uncomfortable, but push through it until you do feel comfortable. Imagine what you could achieve if you knew you could.

Confidence is a funny thing though. It is not something that you either have or you don’t. You may feel confident in certain areas of your life and not in others. The most important thing to remember is to find self-confidence. To be confident with who you are as a person will carry you through the times where you may feel less confident. Trust yourself. Trust that you will make the right decision for you and that you are good enough, you are worthy of everything you have and everything you want.

Remember: Fake it until you make it!