“Sometimes, the hardest person to trust is ourselves. But when we do, everything changes.” ~Unknown
For a long time, I thought the key to changing my life was out there—somewhere.
I thought that if I just found the right program, the perfect plan, or the expert with all the answers, then I’d finally feel in control and like I was doing it “right.”
So, I chased every plan, bought the books, signed up for the courses, and followed all the steps.
And for a while, it felt good—safe, even. But deep down, I still didn’t trust myself. Because no matter how much I followed, I was still outsourcing my power. I didn’t believe I could create lasting change without someone else telling me how.
It wasn’t until I hit a moment of pause—when life got quiet and the excuses disappeared—that I finally asked myself: What do I actually want? And can I trust myself to go after it?
The honest answer? I didn’t know. I’d been listening to everyone else for so long, I’d lost the sound of my own voice.
And that realization was equal parts terrifying and freeing.
Because if I didn’t know what I wanted, I had to figure it out for myself—and that meant letting go of what everyone else thought I should be doing. It meant tuning out the noise and tuning in to something I hadn’t prioritized in years: me.
Self-Trust Doesn’t Come from Thinking; It Comes from Doing
That was the turning point.
I realized that self-trust isn’t something you just wake up with. It’s something you build. And for me, that started with the smallest steps.
I began showing up for myself in tiny ways—drinking water first thing in the morning, walking for ten minutes, writing for just a few minutes a day. Nothing fancy. But they were promises I made to myself—and kept.
Each small habit became a tiny brick in the foundation of self-trust.
And slowly, those micro-wins turned into momentum. I didn’t need a full plan anymore. I didn’t need someone to tell me what came next. I was proving to myself, day by day, that I could count on me.
When I first committed to writing ten minutes a day, it didn’t feel like a big deal. But doing it every day—even when I was tired, or uninspired, or unsure—was quietly revolutionary. It wasn’t about how good the writing was. It was about showing up for myself and keeping a promise. That shift became a building block not just for my creativity but also for my confidence.
That consistency created a ripple effect. If I could trust myself to write, I could trust myself to move my body. If I could move my body, I could nourish it better. If I could nourish my body, I could speak more kindly to myself. Each action reinforced the belief that I could do this—that I didn’t need to be fixed; I just needed to believe.
And let’s be honest—it wasn’t always easy. There were days when I didn’t feel like doing any of it. Days I wanted to hide, to go back to following someone else’s checklist. But I reminded myself that this time, I was building something that belonged to me.
Consistency Builds Confidence
It wasn’t perfection that changed me. It was consistency.
Every time I kept a promise to myself—even something as small as sitting in silence for two minutes instead of reaching for my phone—I sent a powerful message: I’ve got you.
And the more I showed up, the more my mindset shifted. I stopped asking, “What should I do?” and started asking, “What feels right for me?”
That’s when everything changed. Not in a dramatic, fireworks kind of way. But in a grounded, real way.
And that realness is what made the change last.
I wasn’t becoming someone new—I was returning to myself. And it felt like coming home.
You Don’t Need Another Plan; You Need to Believe in Yourself
We live in a world that constantly tells us we need to be fixed. That someone out there knows better. That the answers are just one step away—if only we buy the next thing, follow the next leader, or change just a little more.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
You don’t need more noise. You need more trust.
You need to know that you already have wisdom inside you. You just have to give it room to speak—and the courage to act on it.
And that starts with showing up for yourself in small, meaningful ways. Not perfectly. Just consistently.
When you build a solid relationship with yourself—when you become someone who keeps promises to you—that’s where the shift happens. Not because you’ve mastered some fancy process, but because you’ve started living in integrity with the person you’re becoming.
And in doing so, you step into a quiet kind of power—one that doesn’t need to prove itself to anyone.
Start Small, Stay Honest, and Keep Going
If you’re in a season of doubt, or if you’ve forgotten what your own voice sounds like, you’re not alone.
Start with one tiny habit that reflects the person you want to become. Let that be your anchor. Let that be your proof.
Because self-trust isn’t a lightning bolt. It’s a quiet build. And one small shift at a time, you’ll hear your voice again—and this time, you’ll believe it.
And when you do, you’ll find something even better than the perfect plan—you’ll find your power.
And that’s where real change begins.
About Dawn Mariotti
Dawn Mariotti is a mindset, life, and health coach who helps midlife women realign their mindset, identity, and habits to create a life they love. She’s the author of Mindset Shift and believes transformation starts with small, consistent actions—and that self-trust is one of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves. Visit her at dawnmariotti.com.
