Learning the basic skills for mediumship is a relatively straightforward process for most people. Much of the skill involves learning how to connect with the spirit world, how to recognise that connection, and how to keep yourself out of these interactions as much as possible. Practising whilst learning is a crucial aspect of this development.
As with any new skill we learn, the more we practise, the better we should become. The result of becoming better builds our self-confidence. But new students to this work will often lack the needed self-confidence. Failing is part of the process of getting better, yet it can also have the effect of damaging our self-confidence in the process.
Self-confidence is a crucial aspect of personal development and well-being. It serves as the foundation for achieving goals, facing challenges, and navigating the complexities of life. In the practice of mediumship, self-confidence plays an often underestimated role. While some individuals seem naturally confident, others may struggle to believe in their abilities.
The good news is that self-confidence is a skill that can be cultivated and strengthened through intentional efforts and positive practices. The following list contains 10 simple ways you can improve your self-confidence and free your mind for better mediumship.
SET REALISTIC GOALS:
The worst challenge that a budding student of mediumship will have is in understanding what they can and can’t expect from their mediumship during their learning. Lowering expectations allows room for failures to happen during their development. Establishing achievable goals provides a clear direction and a sense of purpose. Break down larger objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. Celebrate small victories along the way, as each accomplishment contributes to a growing sense of self-efficacy.
PRACTISE POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS:
This is one of the most important ways to change your self-confidence. It’s on this list for that reason, but it takes work. Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations every time. Create a list of affirmations that reflect your strengths and capabilities. Repeat these affirmations regularly to reinforce a positive mindset and counteract self-doubt. “I am a good medium”, “I’m excited with my new abilities”, “I love this journey of self-discovery”, are three examples, but take time to create your own custom affirmations. Write them on a card and carry them with you. Read them regularly. Even if you find yourself not believing them, do it anyway. Eventually you’ll create more self-belief and confidence.
EMBRACE FAILURE AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY:
Occasionally failing at something we try is an inevitable part of life, particularly in terms of mediumship. The very nature of connecting with the spirit world is fraught with obstacles along the way. Even the finest mediums on earth, fail to communicate clearly with the spirit world more often than you probably believe. An important aspect of failing that is often overlooked is in the opportunity to learn from the experience. Failing to connect or to channel a clear message from the spirit world is useful learning experience that you should embrace. This should not be viewed as a setback. Instead, view it as another step forward in your development. Learn from the mistakes you might have made, retain the lessons from it and use them to improve and grow. Never over-analyse your errors. See them as part of the learning process and move on.
BUILD COMPETENCE THROUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
Mediumship is not something that can be fully understood from a weekend workshop. It involves a life-long commitment of learning and excellence. Seek out the good tutors that are skilled in the art of teaching others. The lady that runs a local circle may not be enough for you. Don’t limit your abilities to those of your teacher. The life of being a medium of standard will involve learning and practising, always. If you find there is an area of mediumship that you’re good at, then don’t waste precious time working on it. Instead, focus on areas where you need to learn more. Don’t underestimate the power of knowledge in mediumship. The more competent and knowledgeable you become, the greater your confidence will be.
BE AWARE AND PRACTISE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE AND POSTURE:
Stagecraft is a very important reflection of your self-confidence. The way you stand, your dress code, the way you present yourself all serve to inform your audience of how confident you are. Your perceived confidence acts to ease your audience. Stand tall, maintain eye contact and adopt an open and mildly assertive posture. Use the power of silence to your advantage. Don’t speak until you know what you’re going to say and wherever possible don’t use filler words like um. Avoid fidgeting and doing other distractive actions. Learn to control the space. Be more confident in the way you present your message by being more certain in your responses.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE INFLUENCES:
The people we surround ourselves with play a significant role in shaping our self-confidence. Choose to spend as much time as possible around supportive, uplifting individuals who encourage and believe in your capabilities. Minimise interactions with those who undermine your self-worth. Understand that partners or close family relatives may not have the same enthusiasm for your interests. Accept it and don’t expect any support to come from them. Instead, use your teachers and mentors to positively influence you.
ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS GRACEFULLY
Learn to accept compliments graciously instead of deflecting or dismissing them. Acknowledge and internalise positive feedback, as it serves as external validation of your strengths and achievements. Never, never, never confess that you don’t deserve the compliment, or that you aren’t very good. That only serves to undermine your own confidence. Instead, say something like, “Thank you. I appreciate your feedback. It means something to me.”
VISUALISE YOUR SUCCESS
Utilise the power of your mind to visualise yourself succeeding in various situations. Visualisation is something you can do in the privacy of your imagination without needing to worry about what others might think. Top performers in many fields will visualise themself winning, achieving their goals, before they’ve began the pursuit. Don’t ever underestimate your power of visualisation. Visualisation will serve to reduce your anxiety, thereby building your self-confidence through the power of your mind. Use this technique in alignment with practising positive affirmations.
CELEBRATE PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION
Recognise that perfection is an unrealistic standard, and striving for it can hinder and damage your self-confidence. Instead, focus on your progress and improvement. Every lesson learned, no matter how small, is a step forward. A failure to connect, or forward a message has a lesson in it for you to learn. So embrace it and celebrate your effort.
STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Your growth and development as a medium will almost always occur outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself by taking on new experiences, new challenges, new approaches to your work with the spirit world and embrace the opportunities to overcome your fears. Each successful step beyond your comfort zone contributes to an increased sense of self-confidence.
SUMMARY
Working on and improving your self-confidence is a continuous journey that requires dedication and a lot of self-reflection. By setting realistic goals, cultivating a positive mindset, and embracing personal growth, you will enhance your confidence and embark on a path to greater self-assurance. Remember, building confidence is a process, and with patience and persistence, positive change is attainable.