I’ve spent years studying what real confidence looks like—studying it, practicing it, helping other people build it. And one thing I know for sure? Most of us are still waiting for permission.

We think once the signs are all pointing the right way, or we’ve gathered enough evidence, or we feel 100% certain, then we’ll choose. Then we’ll move. Then we’ll feel confident.

But that’s not how it works. That’s not how it ever works.

Confidence doesn’t show up fully formed before the decision. It shows up because of it. You choose first—often in the fog, often with shaky hands—and then, step by step, the confidence follows.

That choice might be finally walking away from a job you’ve outgrown. It might be naming what you really want in a relationship that’s been in “polite autopilot” for too long. It might be applying for the thing you’re not quite “qualified” for, or saying no to something everyone else thinks you should want.

These aren’t easy choices. But they’re the ones that shift everything.

This episode is for the moment right before you move—when you’re circling the truth but haven’t spoken it yet, when the decision is hanging in the air and your brain is still begging for a guarantee. The kind that says, I want “this”, even if no one else claps.

If you’ve been circling something—an idea, a shift, a truth you’re not quite ready to say out loud—this episode’s for you. Because we’re going to talk about what it takes to choose your life before it all makes sense and why that’s often the most confident move you can make.

When I invited Nina Manelson onto the Real Confidence podcast, I wasn't prepared for how deeply the phrase "body peace" would hit home. There I was, thinking I'd mastered body image stuff (hello, recent weight loss!), but within minutes I was like, "Wait, she's reading my diary?" The way Nina explained our relationship with our bodies hit me right in the heart.

I've spent DECADES in what Nina calls "body hate." You know that voice, right? The one that whispers "you shouldn't have eaten that" after every damn cookie. The one that blames EVERYTHING on your size. Zipper breaks? Because you're fat. Knees hurt? Fat. Didn't get that job? Definitely because you're fat.

I literally blamed my body for all my problems! Nina nailed it when she said this toxic relationship affects literally everything – from how we show up in bed with our partners to how we pitch ideas in meetings. The mental space this crap takes up is EXHAUSTING.

So there we were chatting, and Nina does this thing where she has me put my hand on my heart and just say "hello body." I'm not even kidding – I felt something shift instantly. It was like... peace. Just simple peace.

It wasn't some complex therapy technique or 30-day challenge. Just acknowledgment. Connection. Nina kept saying body peace isn't about suddenly loving every dimple (though wouldn't that be nice?), it's a practice, like any relationship. Some days you're madly in love, other days you're annoyed as hell, but you stay in conversation.

What really got me was when Nina talked about her clients who stopped obsessing over food rules and body management BS and started, you know, LIVING (one woman who had been spending all her mental energy on clean eating and workouts suddenly freed up so much headspace that she went back to school, got a major promotion, and basically reclaimed her life).

That's when it clicked for me – body confidence isn't just about feeling prettier in photos. It's about the freedom to be a whole damn person again.

Listen to the conversation and:

• Discover why body comparison is actually a form of self-sabotage (and how to catch yourself doing it)
• Understand why the traditional "wellness culture" approach might be keeping you trapped in body management instead of true body connection
• Learn how a simple 30-second practice can begin repairing your relationship with your body starting today
• Find out why Nina believes our relationship with our body is the most important relationship of our life
• Hear about the surprising connection between body peace and professional confidence

Learn more about Nina Manolson at ninamanolson.com and her Body Peace Journal and masterclass.

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you just know you own it? That’s what true confidence feels like. I don’t mean in the “look at me, I’m the star!” way. I’m talking about being that steady, calming presence that everyone feels comfortable around.

People have told me I have this vibe—like I’m solid and calming. And honestly? I’ve been thinking about how I do that. Spoiler: It’s not just luck. There’s a method to social madness.

Because it’s easy to let nerves take over, right? You start worrying about how you look, if you’re saying the right things, or if you’re coming off okay. But owning the room has nothing to do with that. It’s not about you—it’s about the people in the room with you and how you relate to them.

When you step in with the mindset that you’ve got value to offer—no matter who’s in the room—that’s when people start noticing you and your confidence naturally spikes.

People start to recognize you as the person who’s grounded, reliable, and can handle whatever’s thrown their way. And that’s how you build trust, which is the foundation of all real confidence.

At the end of the day, confidence isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up and making others feel like they’re in good hands in the process.

Ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start stepping into your power? Listen in because owning the room is just the start of owning your confidence.