Trust your gut: building self-belief and confidence through experience

By Wendy Kushel

Contributor

Self-belief, confidence and self-knowledge go hand in hand. But let’s be honest—it’s not always easy to possess all three at once. In today’s world, knowing who you truly are and trusting yourself can feel like a battle. Yet, deep down, we all have that voice, that gut feeling, guiding us toward what’s right. The key is learning to listen to it.

People will always tell you how they think things should be done. Their way. Their path. Their plan. But at the end of the day, you know your truth. It’s in your gut, whispering, “This is the way.” Listening to it means picking your battles wisely because energy is finite. You can’t fight every fight, but you can focus on what matters most to you.

Take starting a business, for example. When you’re just getting started, the details can feel overwhelming—labels on products, for instance. They need to look sharp, line up correctly and convey your vision. Here’s a detail many don’t realize: font size. If someone can’t read it from three feet away on a store shelf, it won’t grab their attention. But here’s the thing—these are the kinds of lessons you learn as you go.

And that’s the beauty of growth. With each problem you solve, each hurdle you clear, and each success you achieve, your confidence builds. Bit by bit, you realize you can trust yourself. You’re capable of making the right decisions and standing your ground when something doesn’t sit right with you.

Barbra Streisand is a perfect example of this. Read her book, and you’ll see how deeply she believes in herself. She’s not afraid to fight for what she knows is right. That kind of conviction comes from experience and a refusal to settle for less than what aligns with her vision.

In life, it’s essential to pick your battles. You can’t speak up every time something doesn’t suit you—no one wants to be “that person.” But there are moments when staying silent isn’t an option. If someone’s speeding through a neighborhood, you speak up. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.

The more you accomplish in life—whether in business, relationships or personal growth—the stronger your self-belief will become. Confidence is built through experience, and with every step forward, you prove to yourself that you’re capable. Trust your gut. Believe in who you are.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.