Surround Yourself with Positive People: Your environment plays a significant role in shaping your beliefs and attitudes. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who believe in you and encourage you to pursue your dreams. When you’re around people who believe in you, you’ll start to believe in yourself too.
Starting something new is scary. Learning to believe in yourself can be a critical precursor to starting a new initiative. Why is it so important to learn to believe in yourself? How can someone work on gaining these skills? In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders, authors, writers, coaches, medical professionals, teachers, to share empowering insights about “How To Learn To Believe In Yourself.” As a part of this series we had the pleasure of interviewing Shanita Dorsey and Shakita Dorsey.
Shanita and Shakita Dorsey are twin sisters who share a deep love for cooking and baking that goes back as far as they can remember. Their passion for food led them down different paths, with Shakita pursuing her culinary dreams by earning a degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu and working in some of the best restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia. Meanwhile, Shanita pursued a business degree and served in the Air Force, but never lost her love for food and cooking. Together, they are a dynamic culinary duo, combining their expertise to create delicious, easy-to-follow recipes that are accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to cook. Through their blog and social media channels, Shanita and Shakita are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and helping others discover the joy of cooking and baking.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Growing up as Army brats, we were always exposed to different cultures and cuisines. Because we were exposed to a variety of foods at a young age, it sparked our interest in cooking and especially baking. One of our fondest memories from childhood was making German chocolate cake with our mom. We loved the process of measuring out the ingredients, mixing the batter, and seeing the cake rise in the oven. Baking became a big part of our lives, along with cooking which has inspired us to continue experimenting with different recipes and techniques in the kitchen. Years later, we decided to become food bloggers, sharing our love for cooking and baking with the world. Looking back, we are grateful for the early exposure to different types of foods that helped shape our culinary journey.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
Our mom is who truly inspired us to pursue a career in culinary arts. We remember watching her cook in the kitchen, effortlessly whipping up dishes that were not only delicious but also visually stunning. She taught us the importance of using fresh ingredients and creating dishes from scratch. As a result, we grew up with a love for baking and cooking, constantly experimenting with new recipes and techniques. It was this passion that ultimately led us to pursue a career in the culinary industry through blogging, where we could continue to explore and create amazing dishes.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I (Shanita) was filming a video of making a recipe for broccoli cheddar soup. I had spent hours preparing the ingredients and setting up the camera and lighting. I was excited to film my second cooking video for our YouTube channel.
However, when I went to edit the footage, I realized that I had forgot to press the record button and I thought I was filming the part where I added the garlic. Turns out I didn’t and was a bit devastated. I had put so much time and effort into the video, only to end up not having every part of the video I needed.
Although it was a frustrating experience, it taught me the importance of being detail-oriented and taking the time to double-check everything. From that day forward, I made sure to always check my camera settings and equipment before filming and that the record button is on when I film. It also taught me to be patient with myself and not let mistakes discourage me. Making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, and it’s important to keep trying and learning from them.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
As food bloggers that have a passion for baking, one of the most exciting projects we’re working on now is creating a baking guide for people who are just starting or want to improve their baking skills. We know that not everyone has the knowledge or experience to bake delicious treats, and we want to change that. Our baking guide will cover everything from basic techniques like measuring ingredients and mixing batter, and how to achieve the perfect texture in their baked goods. We hope that our guide will empower people to bake with confidence and enjoy the process of creating something delicious. Baking can be a therapeutic and rewarding experience, and we’re excited to share our knowledge and passion with others through our guide.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. This will be intuitive to you but it will be helpful to spell this out directly. Can you help explain a few reasons why it is so important to believe in yourself? Can you share a story or give some examples?
Believing in yourself is crucial for achieving success, happiness, and personal fulfillment. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Confidence: When you believe in yourself, you exude a sense of confidence that is attractive to others. Confidence is the key to success in many areas of life, including career, relationships, and personal growth. People who are confident in themselves are more likely to take risks, try new things, and pursue their dreams.
2. Resilience: Believing in yourself gives you the strength to bounce back from setbacks and failures. When you have confidence in your abilities, you are better equipped to handle challenges and overcome obstacles. Instead of giving up when things get tough, you are more likely to keep trying and find a way to succeed.
3. Positive outlook: Believing in yourself also helps you maintain a positive outlook on life. When you have faith in your abilities and your potential, you are more likely to see opportunities where others see obstacles. This positive mindset can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
Starting our food blog was a powerful example of the impact of self-belief. We had the skills, knowledge, and passion to create something special, but we were held back by doubts and fears. Once we decided to stop playing small and to believe in ourselves, we were able to pour our hearts and souls into our blog and build on our passion of sharing delicious recipes.
What exactly does it mean to believe in yourself? Can I believe that I can be a great artist even though I’m not very talented? Can I believe I can be a gold medal Olympic even if I’m not athletic? Can you please explain what you mean?
Believing in yourself means having confidence and trust in your own potential, abilities, and skills. It means recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and having faith in your capacity to grow and overcome obstacles. It is possible to believe in yourself even if you don’t have natural talent or ability in a particular area. For example, you can believe that you can become a great artist even if you are not very talented at drawing or painting, by practicing and improving your skills. Similarly, you can believe that you can become a gold medal Olympic athlete even if you are not very athletic, by working hard, training consistently, and pushing yourself beyond your limits. Ultimately, believing in yourself is about having the courage to pursue your passions, try new things, and take risks, even if they seem difficult or unlikely.
Was there a time when you did not believe in yourself? How did this impact your choices?
Yes, there was a time when we didn’t believe in ourselves as food bloggers because we were new to the industry, and we saw so many successful food bloggers already thriving. We felt like there was no room for us and that our voices wouldn’t be heard in such a crowded space. This lack of self-belief impacted our choices in a few ways. First, it caused us to hesitate to start our blog in the first place. We were worried that we wouldn’t be able to compete with the established food bloggers who had already built a following. This hesitation caused us to miss out on some opportunities to grow our brand and connect with our audience.
Second, our lack of self-belief caused us to doubt ourselves and our abilities. We were hesitant to put ourselves out there and share our content with the world. We were worried that our recipes and writing wouldn’t be good enough, and that we would be criticized or ignored. However, over time, we realized that our lack of self-belief was holding us back. We started to challenge our negative self-talk and focus on our strengths and unique perspective. We began to see that there was room for us in the food blogging world and that our voice was valuable and needed.
At what point did you realize that in order to get to the next level, it would be necessary to build up your belief in yourself? Can you share the story with us?
As food bloggers, we constantly found ourselves comparing our blog to others in the industry and feeling like we would never measure up. It wasn’t until we had a moment of realization that we understood the importance of building up our belief in ourselves. We realized that in order to get to the next level, we needed to stop comparing ourselves to others and start focusing on our own unique voice and style. We began to take small steps towards building up our confidence, trying out new recipes, experimenting with different writing styles, and working on improving our search engine optimization (SEO) to our blog. As we saw our blog grow and attract more readers, our confidence grew as well. We learned that building up your belief in yourself is crucial to achieving success in any industry, and it allows you to take risks and trust in your own instincts.
What are your top 5 strategies that will help someone learn to believe in themselves? Please share a story or example for each.
1 . Practice Self-Affirmation: One of the most effective ways to build self-belief is by practicing self-affirmation. This involves repeating positive statements about yourself, your abilities, and your potential. For instance, you can tell yourself, “I am capable of achieving my goals,” or “I am confident in my abilities.” By doing so, you begin to reprogram your subconscious mind with positive beliefs about yourself.
2 . Set Achievable Goals: Another way to develop self-belief is by setting achievable goals. When you set goals, you create a roadmap for success, which can help you stay motivated and focused. Start by setting small, achievable goals, and celebrate your successes along the way. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, start by training for a 5K race, and then gradually work your way up.
3 . Embrace Failure: Failure is an inevitable part of life, and it can be a powerful learning experience. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow. For instance, if you fail to secure a job opportunity or lose a business deal, reflect on what went wrong and what you can do differently next time. By doing so, you’ll develop resilience and become more confident in your abilities.
4 . Surround Yourself with Positive People: Your environment plays a significant role in shaping your beliefs and attitudes. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who believe in you and encourage you to pursue your dreams. When you’re around people who believe in you, you’ll start to believe in yourself too.
5 . Practice Self-Care: Finally, taking care of yourself is essential for developing self-belief. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and take time for activities that bring you joy. When you prioritize your well-being, you’ll feel better about yourself, and that will translate into greater self-belief.
Conversely, how can one stop the negative stream of self-criticism that often accompanies us as we try to grow?
If you find yourself struggling with negative self-talk and self-criticism as you try to grow and improve, there are strategies you can use to break the cycle. One of the most effective is to practice self-compassion. This means treating yourself with kindness and understanding, rather than being overly critical or judgmental. When you notice negative thoughts creeping in, try to challenge them by reframing them in a more positive and constructive way. It’s also important to focus on your strengths and accomplishments, rather than dwelling on your perceived weaknesses or failures. Finally, surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people can help to counteract negative self-talk and build your self-confidence. Remember, self-criticism is a natural part of the growth process, but with a little practice and patience, you can learn to break the cycle and move forward with confidence and resilience.
Are there any misconceptions about self-confidence and believing in oneself that you would like to dispel?
Absolutely! One of the biggest misconceptions about self-confidence and believing in oneself is that it is an innate trait that some people are simply born with, while others are not. This is simply not true. Self-confidence is a skill that can be developed and improved upon with time and effort. It’s also important to remember that having self-confidence doesn’t mean that you’re always successful or that you never experience self-doubt. Everyone has moments of uncertainty, fear, or doubt, and that’s okay. Self-confidence is about having the courage to take risks, learn from mistakes, and keep pushing forward even when things get tough. Additionally, self-confidence is not the same as arrogance or being overly self-assured. It’s about having a healthy belief in oneself and one’s abilities, while also being open to growth and improvement.
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with imposter syndrome?
If you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, the first thing to remember is that you’re not alone. Many people experience this feeling at some point in their lives, especially when they’re starting something new or pursuing a new challenge. One of the best things you can do is to remind yourself of your accomplishments and the hard work you’ve put in to get to where you are today. It can also be helpful to talk to someone you trust about your feelings, whether it’s a friend, family member, or therapist. Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes and that no one is perfect. Instead of focusing on your perceived shortcomings, focus on what you can do to improve and grow. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem, and give yourself credit for the hard work you’ve put in. With time and practice, you can overcome imposter syndrome and develop a stronger sense of self-confidence.
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If we could start a movement that would benefit the most amount of people, it would be through cooking. Specifically, teaching people how to cook delicious meals for themselves and their loved ones at home. By sharing easy-to-follow recipes, practical cooking tips, and educational resources, we can empower people to take control and build their confidence in the kitchen. Plus, cooking at home saves money, reduces food waste, and promotes a deeper connection to the food we eat and the people we share it with. This will create a movement that promotes cooking good food, fosters community with friends and family, and brings joy to people’s lives!
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the U.S., whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them 🙂
If we had the opportunity to have a private breakfast or lunch with someone in the U.S., it would be Rachel Farnsworth, the food blogger behind The Stay at Home Chef. Her passion for food and cooking is infectious, and we have always been impressed by her ability to create delicious meals that are easy for home cooks to replicate. We would love to learn more about her creative process, how she comes up with new recipes, and what inspires her to keep pushing boundaries in the culinary world. We believe that her insights would be invaluable and help us take our culinary skills and food blog to the next level.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Thank you for asking! We would love to connect with your readers. First, they can visit our blog at delightcooking.com, where we regularly post delicious recipes. By subscribing to our newsletter, they can receive updates on our latest blog posts directly in their inbox. Additionally, your readers can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube with the handle Delight Cooking Recipes where we share recipe videos, cooking tips, and more. We look forward to connecting with your readers and sharing our work with them!
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.