By Dawn Onley

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people that I come across who don’t fully grasp their worth. They brag about their kids, their spouse, their family and friends, even their dog, but when the conversation shifts to them, they avoid eye contact, they belittle their accomplishments, and they cut the conversation short to divert attention away from them.

These awesomely talented people, with big, loving hearts, sell themselves short – both personally and professionally. They’re unsure of themselves. They question their every move. Deep down inside, I wonder, if they have a hunch that there’s got to be more to life than the drudgery they’re experiencing. There is!

For these selfless spirits, I wish that it weren’t easier to remain part of the status quo than to blaze a new trail. I wish the beliefs that others have in them were enough to make them believe in themselves. I wish they knew their truth worth.

They have made me realize that talent is not nearly enough, nothing is actually, if a person doesn’t believe in his or her own abilities. Talent, confidence, good self-esteem, drive – these combined attributes are what it takes to reach new heights. This is what will propel us forward. If we don’t possess these attributes, we’ll continue to get more of the same out of life.

Iyanla Vanzant, the TV personality, speaker, author and life coach, says what we believe about ourselves is reflected back in what we attract to ourselves. “We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.”

Lululemon Athetica also drove that point home with part of its motto: “Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.”

There’s so much life out there, just waiting to be lived. Secretly they know it. I believe they feel it. They see others living the life they want to live. They don’t truly believe that they can live this life. They’re wrong. They can.

Whatever it is you want to pursue, pursue it. Life rewards those who take bold steps – and it’s not always monetarily. Sometimes the reward is a new-found belief in yourself.

Go get your bliss.