Rekindle friendships with confidence👫

Welcome to Quick Confidence! This weekly letter delivers a spritz of stories, tips and actions that will build your confidence and power. Each tip bolsters confidence in your body, mind, and relationships so you can lead yourself and others to greatness. Quick Confidence is also a book! Get your copy to carry confidence wherever you go. 

Recently, as I prepared to head to London for a conference, I scrolled through social media, trying to remember who I knew there. That's when a familiar name popped into my mind—Mila! I hadn't seen or spoken to her since my teenage years.

Back then, I'd been an exchange student and stayed with Mila and her wonderful family in France. It was one of my top five life experiences… Ever! More than a deeply enriching cultural experience, it helped me realize life could go on after the passing of my father only months earlier. Her family showed me their culture, food and customs with generosity and heart. And I gobbled it up—along with many crepes!

Despite the passage of 30 years and many miles between us, I felt a surge of nostalgia and a drive to reconnect with Mila. With a little social media snooping, I discovered that Mila had relocated from France to England. Talk about serendipity! 😁

I reached out and let her know I was coming to town. "Here goes...." I thought. And what followed was a wonderful reconnection: we made plans to meet, and sitting there in bustling London on a rainy afternoon, we had the most special lunch.

We laughed about how I almost didn't reach out, and she confessed that she wasn't sure if she should come, but we were both so glad we did. We reminisced about our adventures and mischief years ago and how life is a little 'different' for us now as working moms.

The deep fulfillment that this experience brought me reminded me of the importance of having the confidence to reach out to people from our past. Sure, it takes a different kind of confidence and effort, but it is so worth it.

Here are some tips to help you summon the confidence to reconnect with someone from your past:

Quick Confidence Tips to Reconnect Confidently:

1. Mindset: Embrace Vulnerability. Reconnecting after a long absence requires vulnerability, opening yourself up to the possibility of rejection or disappointment. But vulnerability isn't a weakness—it's a sign that what you're doing matters! Being vulnerable is part of the package of being a social creature. Each time you show authenticity and courage, you lay the foundation for genuine and meaningful connections. When I reached out to Mila, I had to mentally acknowledge the uncertainty but chose to focus on the potential for rekindling our friendship.
2. Embodied: Trust Your Instincts. Confidence in reconnection often stems from trusting your instincts. If a particular person from your past comes to mind positively, there's likely a reason. Trust that intuition and take the initiative to reach out. Whether it's a childhood friend, a former colleague, or a mentor, your inner wisdom may be guiding you toward a valuable connection. I trusted my gut feeling that Mila held a special place in my life, even after all those years, and I was rewarded with a wonderful gift at the end.
3. Interpersonal: Be Open to Growth. Reconnecting with people from our past offers opportunities for personal growth and enrichment. It allows us to reflect on our journey, share experiences, and gain new perspectives. Approach reconnection with an open mind and a willingness to learn and grow. Stay loose and understand that this person may have evolved in unexpected ways, and that's okay. Avoid attaching rigid expectations to the interaction; instead, approach it with curiosity and flexibility.

In a hectic world where relationships often take a backseat, reconnecting with people from our past can be a meaningful boost. So embrace vulnerability, trust your instincts, and be open to growth. You never know what gifts and treasures await on the other side of a simple "hello."

Question for you: Who from your past would you like to reconnect with, and what's holding you back? Let me know in the comments!

Confidence and presence are key to making an impact as a professional — and especially as a leader.

And my book, Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself, can help you with both.

You’ll learn confidence-boosting strategies for overcoming intimidation, making a memorable entrance, and stoking the confidence in those around you. PLUS, you'll get effective mental and physical routines to lock in everything you learn.

What you'll find in Quick Confidence are techniques backed by scientific research that go beyond the over-used “fake it till you make it” advice. Instead, you'll make changes to your self-image and well-being that are lasting and authentic. Order your copy today!