Wire Your Brain for Confidence: The Science of Conquering Self-Doubt

202 Pages·2017·1.64 MB·English

by  Louisa Jewell

PRAISE FOR WIRE YOUR BRAIN FOR CONFIDENCE:
“Timely and well-written, Wire Your Brain for Confidence translates
complex research into understandable, practical, and vital tools not just
for surviving the modern world, but remaking it. Amidst all the
competition, demands upon our time, and societal pressure, Louisa Jewell
provides a clear path forward for girls and women everywhere striving to
define success and worth for themselves.”
SHAWN ACHOR, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness
Advantage
“If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, this book might do you some
good. After spending years studying the roots of confidence, Louisa Jewell
offers a toolkit for building and rebuilding it.”
ADAM GRANT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take,
Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg
“On our path towards a happier life, there may be no more important
journey than the one from self-doubt to self-confidence. In Wire Your
Brain for Confidence, Louisa Jewell provides an easy-to-use yet well-
researched map that you can use for this important journey.”
TAL BEN-SHAHAR, New York Times bestselling author of Happier and Choose
the Life You Want
“Wire Your Brain for Confidence offers a practical step-by-step guide to
achieving goals for anyone who has struggled with self-doubt. Louisa
Jewell demystifies the science behind action-oriented confidence and
makes it accessible to all. This book will empower you to go for your
dreams and live your happiest life.”
MARCI SHIMOFF, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason
and Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
“Wire Your Brain for Confidence is a remarkable book for anyone who
aspires to have more confidence, success, and overall well-being! Louisa
Jewell has written a brilliant book that is steeped in research and filled
with novel ideas and memorable stories. I learned things from this book
that I will use for years to come.”
TOM RATH, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Full Is Your Bucket?,
StrengthsFinder 2.0, Eat Move Sleep, and Are You Fully Charged?
Wire Your Brain
for Confidence

Copyright © 2017 by Louisa Jewell
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior
written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright
Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit
www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.
Famous Warrior Press
www.louisajewell.com
Toronto ON
ISBN 978-0-9959909-0-6 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-9959909-1-3 (ebook)
Produced by Page Two
www.pagetwostrategies.com
Cover and interior design by Peter Cocking
Ebook by Bright Wing Books (brightwing.ca)
To my mother, Bianca,
who ignited a passion in me to improve the lives of all women,
and to my Zia Lina, who believed I could.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
FROM “MY WAY” BY FRANK SINATRA
(LYRICS BY PAUL ANKA)
Contents
·····
Introduction:
Why Women Need to Rule the World
1 How Self-Doubt Was Ruining My Life and What I Did about It
2 Why Is Everyone Plagued with Self-Doubt, and What Causes It?
3 How to Motivate Yourself to Conquer Self-Doubt (Yes, You Can Do It)
4 How to Say Yes When Your Brain Is Saying No
5 Build Your Confidence Muscles
6 What to Do When You Fall
7 How to Embrace Failure
8 Seeing to Believe
9 Surround Yourself with the Right People
10 Use Your Body and Emotions as Power
Conclusion: Now It’s Your Turn
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Introduction
Why Women Need to Rule the World
·····
IT IS TIME for women to have an equal say at ruling the world.
Even if you have no desire to rule the world, just stay with me for a
moment.
I am not a man-hater. I love men (maybe too much). I just believe that
men and women are different. Women think differently. We have a
different social consciousness.
My thinking on this topic began many years ago when I read an article
about microloans. These are tiny loans that banks make to people in
developing countries to fund new business ventures. Some microfinancers
target women exclusively, not only because they have higher repayment
rates but also because if you lend a woman money for her business, she is
more likely to contribute larger portions of her earnings to the household
than a man would. As a result, the children of these female entrepreneurs
have a higher likelihood of being enrolled in school full-time, with lower
dropout rates. In fact, research shows that these women invest in their
children’s education first. They also have better health practices and
nutrition than other households.1 Microfinancers discovered that when
you invest in female business ventures, you make those women’s
communities better places to live.
Another important consideration is that if we want to have our needs
served and advocate for our children and families, it is much easier to do
so from a position of executive power. Here is a simple example:
Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, in her book Lean In,