Do you ever wonder why zombies exude such an air of fierceness? It’s not just their ravenous appetite for brains, but it’s because they’re on a relentless mission. They’ve got a lot of practice under their decomposing belts, and they never, ever quit. No matter how many times they’re beaten down, they keep coming back from the dead. Now, let’s take a page out of their playbook and see how we can rise above the ‘undead’ of insecurity and walk with confidence.
Embrace Your Inner Zombie
Have you ever struggled with confidence? Walking into a room full of strangers can make it hard to be yourself. You might look around and wonder why everyone else seems at ease while you feel like a fish out of water. Well, guess what? It’s completely normal.
When you walk into a holiday party, you may feel awkward. The goal, as my friend Andy Vargo says, is to “Own your Awkward.” The cool thing about awkwardness is that once you own it, you start to walk with more confidence.
I once heard someone say that the very thing you were made of for as a child is the thing that makes you cool as an adult.
We think we have to hide our awkwardness or the fact that we are nervous. In fact, if you share how you are feeling, you may make an instant friend. For example, you could say, “I always feel so awkward at this type of event.” You are being vulnerable, and people appreciate the truth.
The Charm of Nervousness
If life were meant to be easy all the time, it would be boring. Those moments when fear pops up and you feel a little nervous or uneasy is the perfect time to remember that you are alive. Chances are you are doing something that’s out of your comfort zone, which should be applauded! Your Badassery isn’t lost on me!
Nerves don’t just help you to remember that you’re alive. They serve as a reminder of excitement. You can be both excited and nervous, and they often feel the same. A Toastmasters mentor once told me when you’re nervous to give a speech, say, “Oh, thank goodness my energy is here to help me finish this speech.”
You’d be amazed how a perspective and language switch can totally change the outcome of what you’re doing.
Unleash Your Inner Zombie and walk with confidence.
Now, let’s apply the wisdom of zombies to boost your confidence:
**1. Identify Your Mission:**
- Have you defined your purpose?
- What sets your passions on fire?
- Can you articulate your core values?
Write down the answers to those questions because that’ll help you to really align with your mission. As a result, you can make decisions that align with your values and what you want in your life. That will take the indecision out of the equation.
**2. Schedule Confidence-Building Time:**
Pinpoint areas in your life where you want to be more confident. Reflect on what makes you feel awkward? Then, schedule time to practice that skill. If you’re uncomfortable talking in front of strangers, consider joining a Facebook group to chat with strangers or participating in a Toastmasters group (a supportive group that teaches public speaking and leadership skills). Go to events where you don’t know anyone and challenge yourself to engage with a set number of people. You can start out by just engaging with one new person.
Consistent practice will help you to create a habit that will then turn you into the zombie who walks the same path every time effortlessly.
**3. Don’t Quit:**
Too often, we give up on things that push us out of our comfort zones. For example, if you feel uncomfortable approaching a good-looking guy or gal at a bar, you might avoid putting yourself in that type of situation in the future. But remember, becoming comfortable takes time.
An example of this is my journey in Martial Arts – it took me a year to feel somewhat comfortable, even though I grew up as an athlete. If I had given up Martial Arts just because I initially sucked at it, I would have missed out on a great opportunity and considered myself a failure.
It’s okay to fail and make mistakes. Don’t let those disappointments stop you from moving forward and trying again.
**4. Get Back Up:**
The hardest thing to do is to rise after you fail. Think of failure not as a loss or a mistake but as something that makes you even more badass. You’re like a zombie coming back from the dead, and you’re stronger for it, because you didn’t let that setback take you down; you’re more resilient and powerful than ever.
In the end, you don’t need to be a zombie to walk with confidence. Just be yourself, give yourself grace, and accept your mistakes. This is a process, and nothing changes overnight. Your resilience and your ability to persevere will help you feel more and more like a badass every day. So, unleash your inner zombie and walk that confident path by taking one fearless step at a time.
If you liked this episode, then check out that episode!
If you want more like the Zombie walk of Confidence, Andy Vargo was on the Ordinary to Badass Podcast and shared how to own your Awkwardness. Click here to listen.