Trust yourself

12 young people, two beautiful people by my side, miles of outdoor walking with heavy backpacks on, army food from aluminium bags, lots of fun and not so fun challenges. The programme I am being a team coach in is intense, being back home for the weekend I could only rest, rest and rest. My body is hurting and yet, it is worth it and I am truly energised from the inside!

I feel alive, because I get to do what I love: I get to be outdoors, I get to sing, I get to dance, I get to lead a group of fantastic and unique people and I get to help their unique qualities shine.

What does it take to do this? Patience, trust, assertiveness, believing in my strength and in every other person's humanness and whole being, deep breathing, humour, asking for help.

Trust and patience - I was tested during this week. You might not be surprised that young people are not always happy doing what you tell them to do. At one point I remember being close to tears. Not because I was physically hurt, but I felt rejected and I began to doubt myself. If this person is trying too wind me up, treating me with disrespect, I am probably not worth it, I deserve being treated like this, I want to run away, send someone else to sort it for me...

Deep breath up, deep exhale down, relax the muscles, becoming aware of the world around me again and slowly I gain access to my inner strength once more, my mind is no longer swamped with critical voices anihilating myself, I can make sense of it to a certain extend. I can invite other voices in that appreciate, that I am putting myself on the line in this job, that I am doing great in being patient and not lashing back and that it seems time to stop swallowing, move into action and set my boundaries in a conversation.

Conversation held, tides tamed, and I know they will start rising again, but I can trust myself.

I think trust is where it has to begin, if you don't trust, things are unsettled. Imagine if gravity was failing and we would all wobble walk and fall, trust is the gravity on your planet.
How can one build trust? Is a question I am gonna take away with me, but here are a few tips I'd like to share now:

1. Get curious: Where do I trust myself and other people? Where is there mistrust/where do I wobble? 
2. Acknowledge: When I am trusting, what is possible? E.g. I can let go, I can relax into what I am doing, I can ask for what I need.
3. Practice: Breath deeply, up from the earth along your spine past the top of your head into the sky, down along the axi softening your front rooting yourself on and in the ground. Notice the space around you, to your left, your right, above you, below you and inside you. Notice how gravity holds you and the centrifugal forces of our planet help you stay upright. Invite trust, and notice how your body responds to it. 

What are your ideas on trusting more? Any tips and tricks? Leave me a comment below!