Two months ago, a young friend of mine asked me to share eight things that help me be more confident. His request offered me an opportunity to self-reflect. Here are the eight things I shared with him. I added two more.

“Confidence comes from knowing that, it does not matter what happens to us, God has a perfect plan for each one of us.”

First: I Believe in God – I know that I am a child of God. He cares about me. He knows me. He is my father. I was born with goodness and intelligence.

Second: I Am a Child of God – I know who I am. I know where I came from. I embrace that fact. I have a brother, in Jesus Christ, who will never forsake me.

Third: Worth of Souls – Because of the first two reasons I understand that all human beings have worth – the worth of soul is important in the sight of God. I respect all human beings.

Fourth: Purpose – I know I am here on earth to make a contribution to society. I know why I am here on this earth. I feel a sense of purpose in me being here on earth.

Fifth: Hard Work – Since I know that my life has a purpose I work hard to educate myself so I can accomplish this mission. I practice a never-give-up mindset.

Sixth: Humility – I remain humble in my days of success and plentiful so I don’t get too discouraged in my days of defeats and my days of needs.

Seventh: Attitude of Gratitude – When things get tough I look toward God and see all the good he has done for me. I try to be grateful even in the midst of trials.

Eighth: Outward Mindset (Life is not all about me) – I look at life with an outward mindset. I surround myself with people who have the same mindset. I try to lift a soul who needs my help. I allow others to lift my soul as well.

Ninth: Positive Self Talk. Every morning I wake up I tell myself “Life is good.” I remind myself that I am a child of God. I speak kind words to others. I take time to enjoy the small victories of the day.

Tenth: Perseverance – We are here to finish the race. Sometimes we will fall, fumble, and made some faux pas. But we need to get back on our feet and keep on going. 

Summary: I understand the greater plan. I know where I came from. I know why I am here. I know where I am going. This knowledge of the greater plan helps me in both my spiritual and temporal time of needs. Confidence comes from knowing that, it does not matter what happens to us, God has a perfect plan for each one of us. The plan helps better understand: Where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. God is the architect of this plan. Jesus is the perfect example of this plan. We can have complete trust in both of them.