Roots of Confidence: Turning Your Self-Doubts into Strength with Tree Hugging!

My dear fellow traveller,

Today, I want to talk about something we all experience at some point in life: self-doubt.

That nagging voice inside our heads that says, “You’re not good enough.”

Trust me, I’ve faced it too!

In my life’s journey so far, I have been blessed to have the opportunity of walking varied trails as a theatre artist, writer, leadership and life coach, and my favourite one, an explorer of nature, and believe me, self-doubt has tried to steal my spotlight many times.

But wait, hear me out. I’ve discovered a powerful secret now — “Vulnerability is, in fact, a hidden fuel that turbocharges your confidence.”

Imagine you’re standing on a stage. The lights are bright, and all eyes are on you. Your heart races, your palms sweat. That’s your vulnerability taking the centre stage of your performance playing out in your mind.

It’s scary, right? But I have discovered it’s also powerful. You may ask how.

In acting, we use a technique called “method acting.” It’s about digging deep into our own emotions and experiences. On stage, you’re not just pretending to be someone else. You’re bringing parts of yourself to the character.

While preparing for the character of Sapna, this technique

I once played a character named Sapna, a strong, confident woman, and just like many of us, she too had had her moments of doubt. Wearing Sapna’s skin while preparing for the character, it helped me understand my own fears and insecurities. I began to see them as part of my journey, not as obstacles.

There was a scene where she had to confront her deepest fears in front of her family. She stood in the living room, tears in her eyes, admitting how scared she was of failing them and herself. Her voice shook as she shared her insecurities and the pressure, she felt to always be perfect.

At that moment, I felt her vulnerability deeply. Her family listened intently, their expressions softening with understanding and empathy. As Sapna poured out her heart, I realized how her honesty and openness made her even more relatable and strong.

Living through Sapna’s struggles on stage taught me that showing vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a raw, real, and relatable strength. This realization made me see how my self-doubts are self-sabotaging. I realized how accepting my vulnerabilities could connect me more deeply with others and transform my self-doubt into self-confidence.

When we show our true selves, people see our authenticity and connect with us on a deeper level. I became a little more empathetic after that day.

A Quick Technique for You: Stand in front of a mirror. Look at yourself and say, “I am enough” or whatever positive identity words that resonate with you. Find your words and feel them as you speak yourself. Believe them. It’s a small step, but it’s powerful. It’s about owning your story, your truth.

Another technique is to simply reframe your thoughts.

Instead of thinking, “I can’t do this,” ask yourself, “What if I can?”

This simple shift can change everything. When I started writing, I had moments of doubt. But I learned to reframe my thoughts. I started asking, “What story do I want to tell? What message do I want to share?”

I once worked with a client, with a brilliant mind, and like many of us, he too struggled with confidence. They say we can find lessons everywhere, so we decided to have one of our sessions while on a nature walk in the Sahyadri Mountain ranges near Mumbai.

And as we walked through the quaint trails, I went close to a tree to hug and listen and talk to it. Tree hugging is something that my big brother introduced me to as a child. It is the simple act of hugging a tree with your arms, as a gesture of connecting in deep appreciation for the natural world. Seeing me, my client got intrigued and came forward to hug a tree too. After a few moments, a broad smile spread all over his face. There was a visible sense of grounding and peace.

We kept walking in silence for a while until he broke the silence saying, “Hey Vinita, thank you so much. I have been thinking about the conversation I just had with this tree I hugged… it felt like it was speaking directly to me. I could feel it… It said it stands tall, despite storms and harsh weather, bending with the wind but never breaking…

…It encouraged me to see my own vulnerabilities as sources of strength, just as it draws resilience from its deep roots and flexibility to thrive through its adversities… wow, this experience has left me thinking about how I have been looking at some situations and how I can revisit it all now.”

Now we worked on ‘acceptance’ — him accepting his vulnerability. He started sharing his fears and doubts through some of the questions I asked him as we continued our walk.

The result? His stakeholders saw him as more human, and more relatable. People’s respect for him grew visibly, and so did his confidence.

You may also want to ask some of those reflection questions to yourself:

What would you do if you weren’t afraid of failing?

How would your life change if you accepted your true self?

What stories are you telling yourself that hold you back?

What is the new narrative you want to tell yourself about this situation?

And hey, by the way, next time you’re outside, take a moment to hug a tree and have a conversation if you haven’t had yet. Feel the wind on your face, the ground beneath your feet. Nature’s beauty is a reminder that we, too, are part of something bigger.

Let’s put together some practical tips to replace Self-doubts with Self-Confidence:

Journal Your Thoughts: Write down your fears and doubts. Acknowledge them, and don’t allow them to control you.

Practice Mindfulness: Take deep breaths. Ground yourself in the present moment.

Seek Feedback: Ask for constructive feedback. It helps you grow and see your blind spots.

Celebrate Small Wins: Every step forward is a victory. Celebrate it.

Self-doubt, my friends, is a part of our journey. It doesn’t have to be the star of the show. By being vulnerable, we open the door to confidence and connection. So, take a deep breath. Step into the light. The world is waiting for your unique story. And remember, you are enough!

Let’s make self-doubt take its final bow. It’s your time to shine.

Much Love,

Simply Vinita

Let’s Connect, https://www.linkedin.com/in/simplyvinita