I’ve always felt that acknowledging success or saying that things were going to happen – and eventually them happening – was arrogant.

It’s not until recently that I’ve realized that it’s not arrogance at all. It’s not even confidence. It’s perfectly okay to talk about things that you’re working on – and even get excited about them, as well as share ideas and discuss things that have worked before (and things that have not).

Through a lot of work with my coach and others, what I’ve begun to realize is that this is more about manifesting what you want out of life and out of the interactions that you have with people.

I’ve always felt that to be a little bit foo-foo, but I’m beginning to realize that it’s not; it’s real. The mindset that you put yourself into, good or bad, puts you in the best place to win or lose.

I also started asking myself why. Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel it’s wrong to acknowledge my success? Why is it so much easier to acknowledge the success of others?

That reminds me of a story. Many years ago, when my great grandparents passed away, I wrote a letter that was going to be read at the funeral and ultimately put in one of my grandparents’ caskets.

I remember reading it and sharing it with my father, who was alive at the time. I commented about how well I thought it read and how good a job I did writing it. But he simply said, “Don’t be so confident or arrogant in what you do, kid. What you’ve written is just okay. ‘Nothing that special.”

I was twelve years old.

Many, many years later, I realized that anything one writes or puts pen to paper on is NOT just okay if you give it your all and put all of your heart and soul into it.

It’s also perfectly okay to share with someone (or, hopefully, multiple people) that you are good at something.

That’s not arrogant.

That’s confidence in who you are, and it’s putting out in the universe what’s important to you and others.

It’s sharing the positive effect or the hard work that you have put in.

Michael Jordan knew how good he was. I’m sure Michelangelo did, too. We should all be okay with sharing with the world the gifts of our talents.

Confidence comes not only from inside of us, but also from the external factors that play in each one of our lives. With my children, I am very focused on making sure they always feel that confidence, love, and how special they are.

Manifest the life that you wish to have. Lead by example and focus on all the wonderful gifts we have been given.

After all, there are plenty of them.

-J.D.