Posted: 27th April 2016
The Fire Wheel of Confidence
It was with a spring in my step that I (Angie Davies from So Occasion) went along to the Carmarthenshire WiRE monthly meeting on Monday 18th April at Ore Knot in Bridge Street, Carmarthen. The venue (a first for WiRE) had been tastefully and beautifully decorated in popping citrus shades.
Sarah MacDonald introduced the speaker, Belinda Ray, who encouraged us to gather around in a semi-circle. Firstly Belinda drew our attention to her colourful clothes, including bright socks, and she emphasised the importance of wearing something that was comfortable. Belinda showed us how our confidence can go up and down and how we can be wobbling on the inside, but displaying buoyancy on the outside. This was something that we could all relate to. She then enthused about her very creative “Fire Wheel of Confidence.” She showed us how each flame represented something special to empower and enrich us.
You will see in the picture that there were many flames but I will focus upon the following – authenticity, relationships and passion. It is so important to be authentic and honest, firstly to ourselves and to how we promote our business and by so doing, this fans a flame of reliability. Relationships – now this is a flame that we need to control as it could burn itself out. However, we need to nurture and create lasting friendships. As for that passion flame, we all need this for our business and keeping this well lit will ensure that we make great strides towards our goals; that confidence will fire within our souls!
Belinda demonstrated how to generate confidence which we can do in a number of ways. One example was “the power pose” (imagine it) and listening to “pump up music” which one or two of us did admit to doing. We do, however, all have our own ways. I was remembering a programme I had listened to on Radio 4 when a lady who had been a nurse during the Second World War explained that the nurses would apply bright red lipstick just as all the war casualties were coming in from the trenches. The sheer act of applying the lipstick invigorated their “get to it” mood.
We were then shown a cushion in a Mandala design with shades of blues and greens and were encouraged to throw it at each other, along with a positive statement like “I am strong!” Much laughter ensued as it was thrown with such passion and the statement that ignited us. This emphasised that having a good laugh can unlock that energy. The cushion tossing proved to be a lively exercise which helped with the cohesion of the group.
Belinda spread onto the floor inspiring and relevant quotations and she urged us to pick one that resonated with us and read it out powerfully. The one I read out was “When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.” (Joe Namath). Actually, reading out such a statement empowered us there and then. Here is one that I have since thought of “What does not destroy me, makes me strong.” (Friedrich Neitzche).
If anyone had commenced the evening feeling despondent, I am sure that by the end they would have been bouncing with those vibrant flames of confidence!
Angie Davies
