Years ago I didn’t have confidence in my own abilities. Heck, I didn’t even really know what my abilities were. If you asked me, back then, what I was good at, I would have said something general like, “I’m a people person”.

In addition to not truly knowing myself and appreciating my strengths, I definitely didn’t feel worthy to go after, let alone have, this big, expansive, exciting life, filled with global travel, and the opportunity to meet and inspire people across the world.

I grew up with undiagnosed dyslexia and a series of traumatic experiences that left me with two decades of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In short, growing up, I didn’t think I was very smart, and I felt very afraid of the world.

So, how did I, with a learning disability and trauma symptoms, manage to complete a doctorate degree, and go on to garner huge accomplishments?

First, it started slowly. Little by little, I began to see my potential. I wouldn’t volunteer to lead a project, but then think, as I watched the person in charge, “You know what, I think I could actually do that.” Next time, I stepped forward. Each time I stepped forward, I learned I had what it took to try something new. I learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone, getting comfortable, and getting uncomfortable was key to growth and development. Each time I challenged myself, I built another molecule of confidence, and my confidence began to accumulate over time.

The second element that supported me on my journey is deeply knowing myself. I’ve kept journals of my thoughts and feelings since middle school. In my early 30s, I took my first leadership assessment which gave me valuable feedback on my strengths that make me unique as a person and as a leader. My eyes were opened wide to my capabilities, and for the first time, I understood, that I had a special ability to formulate strategy, communicate effectively with people, share a positive vision for the future, and stay focused to generate results.

The third and final element is the notion of resilience. I wanted to know why, when presented to challenge, some people flourished and others folded.

When challenged, change, and complexity inevitably arise, how can we as humans bounce forward and keep going? Well, that’s a great question. This is a little bit of a longer story…. Stay with me now.