“Sometimes, the hardest person to trust is ourselves. But when we do, everything changes.” ~Unknown
For a long time I thought that the key to changing my life was there.
Just finding an expert with the right program, perfect plans, or all the answers, I finally felt control and felt “right.”
So I followed all the plans, bought books, enrolled in the course, followed all the steps.
And for a while, it felt good. But deep down, I still didn’t trust myself. No matter how long it went, I was still outsourced my strength. I didn’t believe that anyone else could create lasting change without telling me how.
When life became quiet and the excuses faded, I finally asked myself. What do you actually want? And can I trust myself to chase it?
Honest answer? I didn’t know. I had been listening to everyone else for a long time, I lost the sound of my voice.
And that perception was an equal part of fearless freedom.
Because if I didn’t know what I wanted, I had to figure it out myself. It meant adjusting the noise and tuning it into something I hadn’t prioritized for years: me.
Self-trust is not about thinking. It comes from doing it
That was the turning point.
I realized that self-confidence isn’t something you just wake up to. That’s what you build. And for me, it started with the smallest step.
I began to show up for myself in small ways. I apply water first thing in the morning, walk for 10 minutes, write for a few minutes a day. Nothing is fantastical. But they were promises I made to myself and held them.
Each small habit has become a small brick in the foundation of self-reliance.
And slowly, those microwins changed to momentum. There was no need for a complete plan anymore. I didn’t need anyone to tell me what came next. I was proving that I could rely on myself every day.
When I first committed to writing for 10 minutes a day, it didn’t feel like a big deal. But even when I was tired, uninspired or uncertain, doing it every day was quietly revolutionary. It wasn’t how good the writing was. It was about showing up for myself and keeping my promises. That shift has become a building block not only for my creativity but also for my confidence.
That consistency created a ripple effect. If I could trust myself to write, I could trust to move my body. If I could move my body, I could nourish it better. If I could feed my body, I could have spoken to myself more kindly. Each action reinforced my belief that I could do this. I didn’t need to fix it. I just had to believe.
And, honestly, it wasn’t always easy. There was a day when I didn’t want to do that. I went back to following someone else’s checklist on the day I wanted to hide. But I remember this time I was making something that belonged to me.
Consistency builds reliability
It wasn’t perfect that changed me. It was consistency.
Every time I keep my promise to myself – even small enough to sit in silence for two minutes, rather than reaching for my phone, I sent a powerful message: I have you.
And the more I appeared, the more I thought differently. I stopped asking, “What should I do?” And I began to ask, “What do you feel is right for me?”
That’s when everything changes. It’s not a dramatic, fireworks-like way. But grounded, in a real way.
And that reality is the last change.
I wasn’t a new person – I was back to myself. And it felt like going home.
No other plans are required. You need to believe in yourself
We live in a world where we always say we need to be fixed. Something that somebody there knows well. The answer is to be just a step away. If you are purchasing the following, follow the following reader or change a little more.
But this is what I learned:
No more noise is needed. We need more trust.
You need to know that you already have wisdom within you. You have to give it room to talk about it – and the courage to act on it.
And it starts with showing up for yourself in a small, meaningful way. It’s not perfect. Consistently.
When you build a solid relationship with yourself — when you become someone who keeps your promises — that’s where the shift happens. Not because you have mastered the flashy process, but because you have begun to live honestly with the person you are.
And in doing so you step into a quiet kind of power. You don’t need to prove that to anyone.
Start small, be honest and continue
If you are in a season of doubt, or if you have forgotten how your voice sounds, you are not alone.
Start with one small habit that reflects who you want to be. Make it your anchor. Let it be your proof.
Because self-trust is not lightning. It’s a quiet build. And one small shift at a time, you will hear your voice again – and this time, you will believe it.
And when you do, you will find something even better than the perfect plan – you will find your power.
And that’s where the real change begins.
About Dawn Mariotti
Dawn Mariotti is a mindset, life and health coach that helps middle-aged women re-align their way of thinking, identity and habits to create a life they love. She is the author of Mindset Shift and believes that transformation begins with small, consistent behavior. That self-confidence is one of the most powerful gifts we can give to ourselves. Visit her at dawnmariotti.com.
