"We gain courage by living courageously."
Jo Anne White, Ph.D.

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We all measure success differently. For some people success is defined as good relationships and communication with family and friends ì- or with the boss and co-workers. For others, success is reaching certain goals. Yet some individuals define success by monetary gains or financial prosperity.

For most of us, a special combination of these factors is success. But no matter what kind of success you are seeking to bring about in your life, there are some important points to consider.

1. The power of attitude.
Feeling as if we can accomplish something no matter how large or small, is a powerful factor in bringing it into our reality.

I recently viewed the film Seabiscuit. The message contained in this film is one of hope and inspiration. It features a small racehorse and jockey who experienced bad knocks and ill treatment in their respective lives.

Against tremendous odds and injuries, they managed to win and overcame all the painful and life threatening obstacles. Both were written off by the medical experts, yet they were not deterred from their ultimate goal and eventual victory.

2. We aren't born with it!
Confidence is an internal feel-good sense in which you see yourself in a positive light. It is also expressed in the way that you portray that feeling to others. How you feel about you will affect how others perceive you.

So how do you achieve the necessary confidence to create success in your life? Having the confidence to exceed and move forward in life with purpose is not something we are always born with. However, we can learn to live with more confidence and change our self view.

3. It's a self-belief.
Confidence is a self-belief that gives you the certainty you can succeed, perform, or achieve. It is linked to achievement and success because when we have an unwavering belief in ourselves, we can be tenacious in going after what we want.

This creates positive feeling energy that vibrates at a different level than feelings of defeat, doubt or self-recrimination. And this can serve as a powerful force in attracting to us more of the same positive vibrations.

4. It changes everything.
It is now a known fact in the scientific community that we are energy and not solid matter, and we can continuously change and shift who we are by how we think and feel.

You can create a feeling of confidence by imagining and believing what that feels like in your body and mind. Your imagination can create those feelings of confidence over time, and you will actually believe it even if you first doubted. Let your imagination lead you in the direction you want to go.

5. It goes along with"
Of course there are other variables that contribute to your life success. Goal planning or life planning are also necessary components, and need to be addressed and visited often.

What do you want to get out of your life? This is not a lofty question, but one that I believe requires much soul searching and vigilant attention.

Even if it's about improving your relationships, you need to develop a plan to bring about the kind of relationships that you want. For overall life success, planning is a must. Reevaluate your plan often and modify it whenever necessary.

6. How to gain courage.
It's also important to be present in your life, and by that I mean to be actively engaged in what is happening -- rather than always being in the reactive mode to whatever comes along.

This has everything to do with being in the moment and taking charge of your life, rather than being a surprised spectator.

There are many wonderful and sometimes scary risks in life we can shy away from because they represent the unknown, or because of the possibility for failure. I would rather take that risk than forever look back and wonder "what if or if only."

We gain courage by living courageously. That doesn't mean that we don't experience doubt or fear. By practicing moments of courageous acts, we begin to shape a fearless future.

7. Most of all
Most of all, make sure that your heart is in whatever you do!