Believing in yourself doesn’t mean thinking you are perfect. It means trusting that you have the strength to face challenges, learn from failures, and keep going. Self-belief gives people the courage to speak up, take chances, and grow — even when the odds aren’t in their favor.
Take Maya, for example. She had a dream of becoming a public speaker. But every time she stood in front of a crowd, her hands would shake and her voice would tremble. Some people told her she wasn’t cut out for it, that her nervousness would always get the best of her. She could have let those comments affect her ( confidence / confidants ) ____________________.
Instead, she focused on practice. She watched talks online, recorded herself, and slowly improved. She found a mentor who helped her with tone, body language, and pacing. His advice proved to be a perfect ( complement / compliment ) ____________________ to her determination.
Maya began giving short talks at her local library. At first, only a few people came, but she didn’t let the small audience ( faze / phase ) ____________________ her. She reminded herself that progress takes time. Over the next year, she saw herself improve. The number of attendees grew, and with each session, so did her belief in herself.
Eventually, she was invited to speak at a national conference. That morning, she stood backstage, listening to her heart ( beat / beet ) ____________________ faster than usual. She wasn’t without nerves — but she was ready. Her message was clear: belief isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you ( earn / urn ) ____________________ through effort.
In her speech, she told the audience how she used to feel like an ( aisle / isle ) ____________________ in a sea of confident voices. But with every small win, she started to feel more connected, more sure of her path.
She reminded listeners that they shouldn’t let fear ( rain / reign ) ____________________ over their lives. Fear will always be there — but it doesn’t have to be in charge. You choose whether to stay stuck or step forward.
After the talk, many people came up to her to share how her story touched them. One woman said, “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Your words were a real ( peace / piece ) ____________________ of inspiration.”
Later that night, Maya wrote in her journal. She reflected on how far she had come and how important it is to ( bare / bear ) ____________________ the discomfort that comes with growth.
Self-belief doesn’t make things easy, but it makes them possible. And that possibility can ( lead / led ) ____________________ to the kind of life you once thought was only a dream.
