Do you feel that you are capable of achieving the goal you have set for yourself? Maybe you have in mind to start your own company or learn to drive, but perhaps you doubt your abilities to achieve it. If so, this indicates that you have a very low and weak perception of self-efficacy, so it will be unlikely that you will achieve what you want.
One of the best examples of the concept of self-efficacy was during Obama’s speech during the US presidential elections. We are talking about his famous “Yes, we can!” which translates as: We can! A positive and motivating message that, if we turn it into our mantra, will greatly reduce the number of goals we set ourselves. Of course, if we give it credibility. In this way, we will trust in our abilities and in the capacity we have to face difficulties.
“Trusting yourself does not guarantee success, but not trusting yourself guarantees failure.”
-Albert Bandura-
If there is a psychologist who is closely related to this construct, it is Albert Bandura. This researcher developed a theory in which he pointed out, among other postulates, that there are certain variables of the person that influence their behavior and that are related to the feeling of self-efficacy. One of them is precisely the degree to which the subject trusts in their abilities or believes themselves to be effective in achieving a result.
However, this is not enough to feel valid and capable. For this reason, below we address 3 important aspects to increase our self-efficacy. By dedicating enough time to each of them, we will be able to achieve most of the things we set out to do.
Be realistic
It is impossible to do everything well, there are many things that we will have to make an effort and work on. However, this does not mean that we cannot achieve our goals in most cases. It is about discovering what we need to develop. Detecting new skills in which to invest our time to achieve the set objectives.
To do this, we have to see ourselves accurately and honestly and then look at the goal we want to reach. What do we have in our favor right now? What do we need to focus on? The important thing is not to give up at the first attempt, but rather to analyze, plan and reflect. Most dreams are achieved with effort and enthusiasm.
On the other hand, we must make sure that our goals are achievable. Once this is clear, we need to be aware that achieving them will take time. Gaining experience in those areas that are still undeveloped will not happen overnight. However, when we look back we will realize how much progress we have made.
Without haste, but without pause
A fragile self-efficacy originates in haste, running forward in an attempt to obtain, on impulse and in the short term, what we so desire. Not knowing how to wait, and rushing, will lead us directly to failure. People seek immediate satisfaction, for everything we want to happen right now. We are not willing to wait months or even years to achieve it.
However, all success is based on perseverance. Progression will be much better than any sudden change. Thanks to it, we can grow and increase our self-efficacy. It is very difficult to achieve our goals without it.
When we launch ourselves forward quickly, it is also possible that we return to the starting point just as quickly.
Let’s imagine that we are part of a climbing group. If we are in a hurry to reach the top, we won’t pay attention to how we are progressing. We may fall or at certain moments our nerves may get the better of us because we are not climbing as fast as we would like. However, we will still want to get there quickly. And so, at some point, we will get blocked and doubts will appear to question whether we will achieve our goal. We have not paid attention to our self-efficacy and little by little it has weakened.
Now, if we pay attention to where our feet and hands land, and how we grip and hold on, we will gradually learn what works for us and what doesn’t. Even though our climb is slow, we know that we will eventually reach the top because we are learning and growing as we trust in ourselves and our progress. We may even fall, but we will get up and try again, no doubt about it. Our sense of self-efficacy has grown by leaps and bounds.
The path offers clues.
The path we follow gives us clues to guide our course. We just need to free ourselves from our rigidity and make way for new alternatives to act appropriately when we encounter stones and walls.
If we focus on the obstacles and waste time thinking about them, we will never see what is next to them. Accepting that we are confused and evaluating our paths is always an option that we must keep in mind. The fear of failure cannot intimidate us.
If time passes and we do not move forward, there must be a reason. We must look around us because sometimes nothing happens as we had planned and above all, within ourselves. Do we believe ourselves capable and valid? Our inner critic may not be playing tricks on us and is sabotaging us through doubts.
To have high self-efficacy, it is important to be flexible to adapt to circumstances, change the chosen course when it does not take us where we want to go, and open our eyes to realize what is happening and how much confidence we give ourselves.
If you want to have high self-efficacy, you need to be flexible. You have to learn to adapt to circumstances, to change course when the chosen one doesn’t take you where you want to go and to open your eyes wide to realize what’s happening and not waste any more time.
“Even though the currents pass and the water changes, the river remains the same. Don’t let yourself be carried away by circumstances, grow with them.”
-Beon Quantum-
Our motivation will increase when we value our actions as effective. But to get there, we need to do a lot of work beforehand. If we have completed all the steps but have doubts about our ability, why don’t we stop and find out how we are treating ourselves? Perhaps asking the people around us can help us.