Self-efficacy – the belief in our overall ability to succeed – is the backbone of a healthy and robust self-esteem. Trusting in our ability to succeed keeps us motivated, regulated, and goal-focused. It gives us the courage to take necessary risks that bring us closer to our values, and the confidence to live fully and authentically.
When I was first learning how to cook, it would only take one burned waffle for me to throw up my hands in frustration. But now, with every successfully cooked meal, I find it easier to bounce back from the less successful ones. Self-efficacy is built from those small successes – perfectly boiled pastas, unburned scrambled eggs, cakes cooked all the way through – and it’s through those small successes that we learn we are capable of making something delicious.
Like in cooking, being successful in therapy is more than a single “Ah ha!” moment. It’s the dozens of small victories, the ones that get us from “there’s no way I can do this”, to “Huh, maybe I CAN do this!” That self-efficacy is the ingredient that we need in order to risk trying out new recipes for our lives, recipes that are healthy, creative, energizing, and (most importantly!) nourishing.
Want to discover your personal recipe to success and confidence?
