How To Build The Confidence To Pursue Your Dreams

Do you dream of leaving your job, starting a business, or traveling around the world? Here's how you can build up the confidence you need to pursue your biggest dreams.

Do you have dreams of quitting your job to do work that actually feels meaningful to you? Do you want to take that idea you’ve been thinking about for years and turn it into something bigger? Of course you do, but there’s so much risk involved in pursuing something that might not result in anything substantial.

When I tell people I’m self-employed, I always hear, ‘I’d love to do that’ or ‘I wish I could do that.’ I think to myself, ‘So why don’t you?’ Maybe you want to be self-employed yourself, or you want to change careers, move to another country, or start a non-profit. Whatever it is, something is holding you back from getting started.

Do you dream of leaving your job, starting a business, or traveling around the world? Here's how you can build up the confidence you need to pursue your biggest dreams.

That something is probably fear around what would happen if you took the risk and failed. Instead of feeling confident in yourself and your ideas, you let doubt take the driver’s seat. But what if you could build up your confidence to actually take action instead of letting fear get in the way?

Today, I’m sharing how I took a risk and pursued my passion for writing and turned it into my job. I’m also sharing how you can feel more confident in yourself so you can stop holding yourself back.

P.S. Not sure what you’re passionate about? Read this post first.

How I Pursued My Passions


When I graduated from college, I found a job doing administrative work for a non-profit. I was excited to have my first real-person job, but it didn’t exactly align with my passions. I knew I needed a creative outlet to feel fulfilled, so I decided to nurture my love for writing. Little did I know that one small action would lead to a totally different career path than I imagined for myself. Here’s how my journey has unfolded so far:

Nurturing My Passions

My journey started when I created The Blissful Mind in 2014. After thinking about it for years, I finally committed to starting a blog so I could share my thoughts and ideas with the world. It was the perfect combination of my love for writing with my interest in web design (both of which I’d been doing separately for years).

Of course, I was scared to put my writing out into the world, and I worried what other people (mainly those I knew in real life) would think of it. I didn’t know if people would criticize my writing style or think that the topics I wrote about were lame. But I kept writing because it felt good to have a place to share the thoughts and ideas that I often didn’t have a chance to tell anyone about.

After making an effort to connect with other bloggers, I soon found that people were reading and commenting on my blog posts. It felt good to connect with people who had common interests, even if they were random people on the Internet who I’d never met before. The encouragement from others gave me more confidence in my writing, and soon I wanted to put all of my time and energy into blogging.

The more I wrote, the more confident I became in my writing. The more confident I felt, the more I wanted to keep doing it.

Continuing To Learn

As I kept blogging on the side while working my 9-5, I started to wonder if I should get some credentials that would make me feel more confident writing about certain topics. Since most of the topics I write about focus on health in some way (whether it’s mental health, physical health, stress reduction, or self-care), I wanted to make sure I was giving out solid advice.

I looked at different programs in the health space, and I randomly came across the Health & Wellness Coaching program at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. I had no previous intentions of becoming a coach, but the program covered all of the topics that I wanted to learn more about.

The program took two years to complete while I continued to blog and work my full-time job. At that point, I was making a minimal amount of money from blog sponsors, but I had the crazy idea that at the end of my program, I would quit my job to focus on blogging and coaching.

My little idea to start a blog in 2014 somehow transformed into a completely different idea along the way. If you want to pursue your dreams, continue to learn everything you can about the field or topic that you’re interested in. You really never know where it might take you.

Taking A Leap Of Faith

The number one question I get when I tell people I left my 9-5 job is ‘How did you know you were ready?’ The honest answer is that I wasn’t ready. My plan was to leave my job in September 2017, at which point I would be done with my graduate program. Instead, my boss basically told me that I didn’t have a choice on my end date and that my last day would be July 1, 2017. It was a weird situation, but I took it as a sign that it was my opportunity to try the whole self-employment thing.

Obviously it was a shock, and I was in denial for a while. At the same time, I had this belief within myself that I could do this whole self-employment thing. I trusted myself to find a way to make it work. I’d built up this blog that people seemed to enjoy reading, and I was almost done with graduate school so I felt prepared to coach others at that point.

To help deal with any worry that crept up, I set myself a time limit. I told myself that I would try out self-employment for two months. If I wasn’t able to make it work, I would look for another job. One year later I’m still going. It hasn’t been easy (being self-employed is more stressful than you’d think), but I’m grateful that I had the confidence in myself to take the risk.

Whatever your dream or goal might be, I hope that the elements of my journey are helpful. The key steps here are to nurture your passions, learn everything you can about what you want to do, and take a leap of faith into the unknown.

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

5 Things You Need To Pursue Your Passions


Wondering how you can find the confidence to pursue your own dreams and passions? The first step is to make sure you’re actually on your own team. If you’re constantly afraid of failure or judgment from others, you’ll never feel ready to go after what you want.

The key is to be confident in your decisions, beliefs, and abilities. Some people have a natural aura of confidence about them, but you can build your own self-confidence if you focus on the following elements:

1. Trust – Trust that you will make the right decision or figure out the next best step on your own. Believe that things have a way of working out in your favor.

2. Self-Respect – Respect yourself enough to not let others make decisions for you. Get clear on your boundaries and values in life.

3. Acceptance – Accept yourself without feeling the need to change to meet the desires of others. Know that you are worthy of success despite your flaws.

4. Commitment – Take responsibility for your life. Commit to being consistent with your actions.

5. Compassion – Be patient with yourself and your situation, even when things seem to take forever. Treat yourself with kind thoughts and encouragement.

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”

Jean Shinoda Bolen

How To Start Pursuing Your Passions


I think it’s important to mention that you can’t keep using lack of confidence as an excuse to not get started. Those excuses are simply a form of procrastination.

Instead of searching for the confidence you think you need, how about you get started right now? Here’s where to go from here:

Take Imperfect Action

We’re so convinced that everything has to be perfect the first time we do something when it truly doesn’t. When you’re just getting started, there’s no need to put too much pressure on yourself. Instead, take one little step that will move you closer to your goal. Done is better than perfect.

Learn Everything You Can

Build up your confidence in yourself by learning everything you possibly can about what you’re trying to accomplish. If it’s starting a blog, research how to start a blog. If it’s going into a new profession, learn everything you can about that profession. If it’s traveling the world, find out how other people have done it. The key here is to never stop learning.

Commit 100%

In order to successfully pursue your goals, you have to have an unwavering commitment to yourself and your ideas (even if no one else gets it). I recommended listening to Suzy Batiz on the Skinny Confidential podcast talk about how everyone thought she was crazy to create Poo Pourri. If she hadn’t have committed to her idea, she never would have known that it would become a multi-million dollar company.


What’s your biggest takeaway from this post?

I hope this post has given you some actionable steps towards building self-confidence and pursuing your passions. I’d love to know how you cultivate confidence in yourself!

Recommended Reading

About the Author
Catherine Beard
Hi, I'm Catherine! As the creator of The Blissful Mind, I love exploring ways to make life more fulfilling, especially when it comes to our daily routines, habits, and well-being.

25 Responses

  1. This is great I run two blogs so I’m self -employed too people always say I’m not working or doing anything because money isn’t Coming in yet well it takes work so that’s what I am doing to make Money off my blog being self -employed takes dedication and lots of discipline no matter how you choose to do it. This is such a great post

  2. I absolutely love this post!! I enjoy reading all of your posts but this one couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m on a very similar journey to where you were and it’s so enlightening to know that others have been in the same spot I’m in. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and I can’t wait to read more :)

  3. This is so encouraging! I’m in the middle of trying to find a job so I have an income but also working behind the scenes to get my writing out there. I love reading about other creatives who are pursuing their passion!

  4. Reading this is getting me more excited to start my own career in being a compassion coach and health and wellness coach. I’ve been doing so much research and this post just gave me more hopen and more power to start my own blog. Thank you ♡

  5. Such a relatable read. Such a great point that we should never stop learning. Sometimes starting out it’s overwhelming and I want to take too much in too quickly as I want to do things perfectly but a great reminder to take baby steps. I’m excited to continue on my journey and see where it leads me.

  6. Loved reading your story and you are such an inspiration! Definitely, my favorite blog to follow. I have big dreams but I let fear hold me back. Fear of what others may say, fear of failure, even fear of just getting started. Also, perfection holds me back as well. I want everything to be perfect before I make it official and honestly I’ll never reach that point. I just have to do it.

    1. Thank you so much, Kari! I saw a quote today that said, “People will judge you for whatever you do, so you might as well do what you want.” I think that totally applies to letting fear of what others think hold you back. You’re right that you just have to do it ;)

  7. Thank you for the encouraging post! I’m currently working the 9-5 with a blog on the side as well so it’s nice to know that other people started out the same way. Thanks for sharing your story!

  8. Thanks for these reminders, Catherine! I particularly like “take imperfect action” and “commit” 100%”. When I started blogging, I realised I was trying to start perfect and that, of course, led to undue stress and procrastination. And I love how once you start pursuing your passion, life directs you unto paths you never anticipated but feel so right. Sharing this post! xx

    1. Oh gosh yes, I think I was probably too much of a perfectionist in the beginning haha. Taking imperfect action is one of the things I constantly have to remind myself to do. It really gets you out of your comfort zone ??

  9. This post is like you read my mind of what I needed! :-) I am just starting to get excited about my blog and I’m already dreaming of my blog’s future. it’s a little overwhelming to enter into this new “world”.

    I appreciate you sharing your journey and mentioning that you first started by connecting to other bloggers. Do you have any advice on how to best do that? I’m always worried about doing it “wrong”.

    Thank you for putting this blog out here for the rest of us to enjoy – it’s designed beautifully and always a good read.

    1. Hi Kelsey! When I started blogging it was a little different because Instagram wasn’t so huge, but Instagram would definitely be a good place to start connecting with others. I think the best thing you can do is just treat other bloggers like people you want to be friends with and compliment them haha. You could message them or comment and just share what you like about their work. It’s always a little jarring when people message me just asking if I’ll check out their blog right off the bat, so that’s what I’d avoid :)

  10. Thanks that really inspired me to chase my dream to coach people as I have my certification in life coaching. As you know I have a blog and it takes time to attract more people as you say keep chasing the goal and it will happen. Thanks for the blog it was great.?

  11. I love how all your posts have actionable advice. I wish I had read this post before I decided to quit teaching. Pursuing my dreams just didn’t even seem like an option until I hit breaking point. All of your points here are so accurate. Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad it worked out for you and I’m sure this post will help a lot of people.

  12. I love reading your blog posts because they’re always a perfect combination of inspirational and practical. I love how you didn’t just say “go for it” but actually gave some tips. As someone who’s been blogging for enjoyment but considering tentatively stepping towards working for myself, I really appreciated this post. Thanks!

  13. Thank you so much for your advice and share your journey, I have big dreams , always overthinking things , as you said I am afraid that my plans will not going to work for me , I have Been in this over two years after so much failures in my life and negative energies and the pressure that society and families are sometimes putting on you to achieve what they couldn’t do, so I start doubt everything and anything , but I have so weird feeling inside me for so long , I know what I want to do but when I start to do that I get stuck and I feel there is something hold me back all the time , when I feel I make progress something always holding me back , can you explain for me what is it , or there is something that I can do to overcome those feelings ??

  14. Wow, we started our career journey in the same way. I also was working at a nonprofit doing all kinds of things I had absolutely no interest in because it was a struggle trying to find a job. Then I became a blogger. I also was scared of my writing being judged but was shocked by the great reactions I received from my subscribers. This is coming from someone who wrote an essay last minute with no edits to get into UC Berkeley and got in. Haha. I still get insecure with my writing. But it’s great seeing someone coming from the same background becoming successful.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.