How to build confidence with help from your BIG PANTS
Why BIG PANTS are BIGGER than you might think
I talk a lot about pulling up your BIG PANTS and just getting on with it in relation to building confidence and my style of coaching. But there is much more to these BIG PANTS than meets the eye!
The first thing to say is that when you talk about BIG PANTS, people resonate with it, they get it, sometimes more than they get the concept of coaching. Usually, people smile and smiling makes you feel great, maybe even a bit more confident (go on, smile, give it a go, you know you want to).
I’m not really one for positive affirmations and mantras, unless they really mean something to you, and they are deep rooted meaning that you’ll live by them. But, every now and then something comes along that really means something to you and then it can truly become your mantra.
That something for me is “Pull up your BIG PANTS” and it has become my mantra over the years. It’s helped me to take one courageous action at a time to build my own confidence levels and continues to do so.
Just a marketing thing?
The sceptics amongst us might say but aren’t those BIG PANTS just a marketing thing, great for socials and networking pitches. My answer to that is absolutely NOT. BIG PANTS are throughout the DNA of Enrichment Coaching and are firmly linked COURAGE – one of my values.
When I was thinking about starting my business in 2019, I vividly remember going to my first ever networking event, walking down the street, feeling really nervous about it. I even considered not going and spending the hour shopping (no-one would know, would they?). I managed to get a grip on myself and heard myself saying “Come on Gayle, pull up your BIG PANTS and just do it”.
It goes without saying that I’m glad I did pull them up and go because the fear I had soon dissolved when I found myself sat amongst a friendly, welcoming community of business owners.
That networking event was the Last Friday Club – Chichester – I still attend every month when I can. Check it out if ever you’re looking for friendly networking in Chichester, it’s a great event.
From that point on BIG PANTS were here to stay and they have been in our household vocabulary ever since. There’s nothing quite like having your own mantra quoted back at you out loud on any occasion to spur you into action!
Confidence Building
It’s important to remember when we talk about confidence that it’s about what we think and believe we can & can’t do, it’s a feeling. If you believe and feel that you can do something by pulling up your BIG PANTS your confident feeling will most definitely be heightened. BIG PANTS help you to believe that you can do it, because by taking one courageous action at time YOU CAN.
You see, when you pull up your BIG PANTS, you get a little rush of dopamine. Known as the “feel-good” hormone, dopamine gives you the motivation to do something, to take action. You get an instant feeling that it will be okay, you stand taller, puff out your chest and suddenly you feel more confident.
It’s a little bit like when a hero pulls on a cape, they transform, that cape comes with a built-in superpower!
Imagine your BIG PANTS
It’s worth taking a moment to visualise your own version of BIG PANTS. Don’t worry I won’t be asking you to share that visual image with anyone! Once you have a picture of them in your mind, it will be easier to imagine yourself pulling them up.
Maybe for you they aren’t called BIG PANTS, I’ve heard people call them Brave Pants, Big Girl Pants, Big Boy Pants, Big Boy Trousers – it doesn’t really matter what you call them, it’s the action of pulling them up that’s important.
When will I need my BIG PANTS?
Usually, we’ll need our BIG PANTS in those moments where we feal fear, where we are about to step out of our comfort zone or where we might be procrastinating. We might be facing challenge, uncertainty, newness, change, difficult conversations, giving feedback, etc. All situations with justifiable real feelings including vulnerability, nervousness, anxiety, maybe even feeling a little bit sick.
In these moments, we all have a tendency to avoid things that we don’t like doing or don’t want to do, I mean it’s easier to stay in your comfort zone where things are…safe, boring, comfy…we listen to our inner critic / voice / child saying things like ‘there is absolutely no way am I doing that.’
BIG PANTS allow you to take action, they put you back in control, choosing how you want to respond to things and people around you. They help you to engage the adult version of you, your sensible, responsible, logical self because you know you have to do it if you want to make positive change.
They encourage you look fear in face and take action. So, come on then, pull up your BIG PANTS and do it, what’s the best that can happen?
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