For instance take the client who paid by cheque. On reflection, how could I have avoided putting myself in that situation?

If I were trusting myself, I would have

Five Ways To Keep Yourself In Check:

These are five tactics you can use to make sure you can trust yourself, even when the tendency is not to.

You need to build self-awareness, which is all about becoming an observer of yourself and watching how you respond in different situations and environments. Once you are conscious of your own danger zones, you can set up ways to change what you're doing, to get the result you want.

How Do I Identify My Danger Zones?

Take time to reflect on experiences you've had where you didn't trust yourself enough and ended up with problems. Check what was on your mind at the time. There are always warning signs, (gut responses) or intuitive messages you got. You probably ignored them at the time. Usually we only truly acknowledge them with hindsight.

Another way is to observe yourself in current situations and see how you operate. You'll soon recognise your pitfalls. Then you can change your responses and build more self-trust.

It looks like you need to have presence of mind to be able to trust yourself.

Yes and this is where white space comes in. We need to stop and take time out just to be with ourselves.

What is White Space?

It's:

• A designated chunk of time, for you alone. No 'shoulding' on yourself! You do whatever you want.

• At least two hours, twice a week, with nothing scheduled or planned for it.

• Blocked out in your diary for the coming year.

• Built up over time to two hours/day or a half day/week or two days/week.

• Untouchable

You need to commit to it and also to shift your perception. You are not being self-indulgent. You are being responsible and empowering yourself to have choice and freedom.

How do I use White Space?

The decision on how you use it should come in the first moment you are in it. If you are unsure, just sit and be present and see what comes up. You will learn to be more spontaneous. It's a bit like clearing clutter. Until you clear it, it's hard to see what you have currently and what you can eventually have.

Remember:

To trust yourself, you've got to know yourself well. Knowing yourself means you are aware, you understand, you are conscious of what's going on around you and how you are responding to it. It means you know what you want in any given situation. You learn to read signals and adjust your responses as necessary.

When you slow down and take time and space to build awareness, you will notice that you are:

• Observing yourself

• Eventually able to watch your mind in action

• Learning that when nothing is working, to do nothing

• Trusting yourself more and more

• Taking the pressure off and more sure of yourself

• More surefooted and strategic.

About The Author

Ann Kelly is a Personal and Business coach, with an established global reach. Her speciality is helping those who've sold their souls to their business or organisation and want a refund. Ann's unique style has had a significant positive, impact upon many lives and businesses. Check out success stories and visit her website, at http://www.yourworldyourway.com. To arrange a complimentary 30 minute session please call Ann at +353-21-4354725 or email ann@yourworldyourway.com