Self-Coaching: Cultivating Self-Confidence

Trust as a Crucial Pillar

Trust plays a crucial role both in coaching processes guided by an external professional and, equally important, in self-coaching.

But what do we mean by trust in this context? Generally, we associate it with a belief in honesty. If you trust another person, you believe in their honesty.

Similarly, if you trust yourself, it means that you believe in your own honesty and ability.

Without this fundamental trust in your own potential and commitment, the self-coaching process lacks a solid foundation.

Trust as Emotional Decision and Investment

It is vital to understand that this belief in honesty (your own or another's) need not be blind or absolute.

Trusting also implies being aware that, under certain circumstances, oneself (or the other person) may not be completely honest or effective.

With this in mind, we can understand trust as a capacity that allows us to invest emotionally in ourselves or in another person. It is, fundamentally, a decision.

It is we who choose when and in whom to trust, including trust in our own ability to carry out a process of change.

Sincerity and Prior Analysis

In order to make the conscious decision to trust (in oneself or in another), we must first be very honest with ourselves about the real possibilities that may present themselves.

We must face the situation analytically, honestly assessing our capabilities, our fears, our resources and the challenges that the objective implies.

Only by carrying out this preliminary analysis will we be in a position to make an informed decision on whether or not to trust in our ability to successfully complete the self-coaching process.

The Role of the "Internal Coach" and Commitment

In a traditional coaching process, the coach has the ability to build trust in his or her client.

In self-coaching, you assume both roles, so you must actively cultivate that trust in yourself.

Commitment is a key element in making the decision to trust yourself to achieve your goals.

How can you be confident in your ability to realize your dreams if you are not firmly committed to the process? Commitment acts as the internal guarantee that supports the decision to trust.

Key Questions to Assess Ease of Confidence

To assess how easy or difficult it will be to establish that trusting relationship with yourself (or a client), you can ask yourself (or a client) some key questions.

The answers will give you important clues about possible barriers or facilitators:

• Are you (or is your client) able to ask for help when you need it?
• Do you tend to focus on the positive aspects of others' behavior or, on the contrary, on the negative ones?
• Do you have an optimistic but realistic view of the world, or do you tend to be more pessimistic?
• Do you prefer a balance between give and take in your relationships?
• Do you tend to be honest with yourself and ot