The journey back to increased confidence and self-belief

COPE Scotland launch new campaign with resources to support the journey to increased confidence and self-belief.

Self Management Week this year is aptly themed ‘Journeys’, reflecting the varied and personal paths we all take in managing our health and wellbeing. At COPE Scotland, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our ‘Confidence Counts’ campaign, made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Awards for All. We are also grateful to the Glasgow Wellbeing Fund which helped enable us to create a new website which we hope people will find helpful. This is full of resources which we have built up over the years listening to the voices of lived experience as well as new resources being developed in response to the current issues which impact on people’s sense of life satisfaction. We are grateful to past funding from the ALLIANCE Self Management Fund which helped us create some of these tools to help support self care and self management.

Confidence and self-belief are not static attributes; they ebb and flow in response to life’s challenges and triumphs. Living with a long term condition, many of us might find our confidence waning as we navigate the complexities of symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments. It’s completely natural to feel a dip in self-assurance when our bodies or minds no longer perform as they once did. The journey to a diagnosis itself is often fraught with numerous tests and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty, capable of shaking even the most steadfast individuals. We may also find ourselves in a caring role for a loved one, which can also impact on our self-belief and confidence as we wonder whether we can offer them the support they need as we go on a learning journey about the new skills which can support our caring role. Carers’ wellbeing counts too, which is why we created this tip sheet, shared on our website.

Regaining a sense of confidence and self-belief is also a journey, one filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Here are some ideas that may help:

Firstly, connecting with a supportive community can provide reassurance and shared wisdom. There are many peer support groups whose members have a wide range of shared experiences and conditions. Ask your health care team of any groups they are aware of. You can also check out ALISS –  A local health information for Scotland which can help you find groups, services and activities for health and wellbeing across Scotland, including for carers.

You may find your condition limits what you previously enjoyed, and you find it hard to think you may ever enjoy anything again. You may find there are activities which are totally new to you which you find engaging and never knew about before. This is why being a part of a group or network is important as self managing a long term condition also includes how we find joy, even if only for moments, as that sustains us when life is challenging. It may be if you are in a caring role, you do not have the same time to spend on activities you enjoyed before; it matters though that you still have hobbies and interests, so exploring new activities with the person you care for as well as on your own can help support your journey to an increased sense of life satisfaction.

Setting small, achievable goals can offer a sense of accomplishment and forward momentum. It is important that these goals have meaning for you and are important to you. Setting small goals and working towards them can help us achieve those bigger goals in time. Remember, every journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. This resource offered by COPE Scotland offers some fun ideas on goal setting.

Lastly, practising mindfulness and self-compassion can foster a kinder, more nurturing relationship with oneself. Remember, each step you take on this journey is a testament to your strength and resilience. You do not need to take those steps alone, there are people and groups who care and together, we can navigate these paths with confidence, compassion, and hope. If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter you can register for it here.

Remember: you do matter, your wellbeing does matter, and people do care.

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