Ellie Simpson, Country to Canberra Teen Blogger.
A common catch-phrase among schools, the workplace and in my own life is “fake it til you make it”. There isn’t one person in particular who gave me this piece of advice, as I think almost everyone has used it at some point.
Picture this: you’re sitting in the school library, one earphone in your ear and work spread out all around you. You’re just trying to get things done. But there is that one person sitting beside you who will just not. Stop. Talking. You don’t want to seem rude, so you listen and reply with the appropriate response. You’re trying to seem as interested as possible, despite wanting nothing more than to finish your homework. But somehow, you smile and make it through. Now, I’m not telling you to lie, but these familiar conversations show that we have the stamina to put on a brave face.
So, what about this: you’re not feeling confident about a presentation (I know we have all been there. Public speaking, eek!)? But if you act confident, people will believe that you are. With your head up high, a smile and a projected voice, nobody will ever know that on the inside, you are a shaky mess and are hoping that nobody sees your trembling legs.
Faking it til you make it is a constant sticker in our brains. It is a reminder to yourself that you can, in fact, achieve. One example is that you can achieve by blocking-out a chatter-box in your environment. Another is that you can achieve by getting through a stellar presentation. It was just self-doubt that was standing in the way – you could achieve all along. This piece of advice continues to get me through both school and work. By having a smile on my face and speaking up, I can never be unheard.
However, there is such a thing as being “too fake”. There is no need to brag about how confident you are in an effort to make yourself believe it. The only person you need to tell is you.
Remind yourself that you are confident, that you can do it and that you will do it well. Self-doubt can be such a downer. I can tell you that pretending is no piece of cake when you honestly do not believe it. Not everybody can trick themselves into thinking they are the next best thing after Beyoncé. All you can push yourself to do is your best. Isn’t that what you have always been taught? “It’s okay. Just do your best”. Even if you don’t end up like Beyoncé, you will still be impressed with yourself. Guaranteed.
So, next time you find yourself succumbing to self-doubt, giving a presentation you really don’t want to give or believing you won’t make it like Beyoncé, fake it ‘til you make it. It’s a showstopper, I swear.
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