A post from a fellow instructor got me thinking the other day.
They’d received some harsh feedback about their instructing practices and the types of courses they deliver. This isn’t the first time this has happened to them, not because they’re a poor instructor, no not that at all. It usually from anonymous sources or random social media profiles who have an issue with people from the underrepresented communities that she directs her courses towards.

Her response. She was very open and honest about it. About how it makes her feel. About how she has grown and learned to deal with it. About the realities of progress and embracing change.

It reminded me of advice that I got from a friend years ago about having the confidence to back yourself. Back yourself to know you’re the right person for the job. Back yourself to win. Back yourself to have the knowledge. Back yourself to know you’re doing the right thing. This attitude is what she has in spades and she is making it work for her.

Coming from a sporting background, I know the power this mindset can have. Standing on the pitchside, convincing yourself that you belong and that you have the skills and talents needed to have a positive influence, you’re already one step ahead. Inversely you’re one step behind when you don’t.

This also happened in my climbing in Pabbay last year. An uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Tall sea cliffs and potentially wild conditions make for real adventure climbing. The consequences of an accident need not be dwelled upon. By backing myself to know I had the skills to operate smoothly and safely in an environment like that meant I had the trip of my life and subsequently broke through a few plateaus along the way too.

It’s not an easy thing, it will come and go, and it can be a fine balance before falling in to the trap of arrogance. But by reminding yourself of  the skills you have inherited on your journey you’ve been on through life, as well as understanding the gaps you can still fill and the goals you need to pursue, you can start laying the foundation of confidence. You can start backing yourself.



The only person you can truly affect is yourself.
Starting up a path and continuing on it is daunting and often fraught with challenges, whatever it may be, but by backing yourself eventual success and enjoyment will be guaranteed to come with it.

How can you back yourself in a part of your life?