Boost Your Confidence
5 Things You Can Do To Boost Your Confidence
Most of us have times when we don’t feel confident. It might be when we are heading to a job interview, or perhaps a first date, or when we have to make a speech or presentation to a large crowd. So what can you do to feel a little more confident before you walk through the door?
1. Remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE – Everyone has moments of doubt.
Others may appear confident and act confident, but regardless of how you may perceive them, everyone has their moments of doubt. No one is confident in their abilities all of the time. They have just learned how to project that aura of confidence, and so can you. You can begin by observing the way confident people dress.
2. Dress the part to demonstrate self-confidence.
Appearing confident involves appearance. If you are going for an interview, dress one step above the job you want. When you look good, you feel good and you project that aura to others. You may dress down for work, but you won’t be ranked high on the “confidence meter.” Appearances do matter, so you want to make a good fist impression. Think about how often you judge a person by the way they look. People are always sizing you up too, and if you dress for success, you will more likely display confidence whether you feel it all of the time or not.
3. Surround yourself with positive people and positive messages.
Have you ever noticed that when you are with negative people you start feeling down? When you are with positive people the opposite happens – you start feeling up and more positive. You have an “I can do it” attitude. Your “I can’t do it” becomes “How can I do it?”.
Sometimes it is helpful to have positive affirmations that you can read on a daily basis. It is easy to acquire a collection of positive quotes. You might choose a new one for each day or just choose one that speaks to you for several days. One important quote to remember when you are in a tough situation is, “This too shall pass”.
Sometimes, the only thing holding us back is our own feelings of self-doubt. Wouldn’t it be freeing if you knew the only thing keeping you from feeling as confident as you would like is something you have complete control over?
4. Stop comparing yourself to others.
It is so easy to get caught up in the “I’m not as good as…. mindset. What you need to remember is that you are unique. You may feel that you don’t fit some frame that everyone else seems to fit, (although the reality is this is a false perception). How often do you listen to what others tell you instead of listening to your inner wisdom. It’s time to stop looking outside yourself for validation and begin to look inside yourself for who you truly are, to let your uniqueness shine for all to see. (You may not know it, but others are comparing themselves to you.)
5. Meditation and Mantras
What is a mantra? A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. It has been proven that meditation can make a positive difference in your life, enhancing your abilities and your confidence. Some people use phrases such as, “I am perfect, whole, and complete, just as I am.” Meditating on this will strengthen your belief in yourself.
You can also read books with positive messages, download articles that lift you up. Purchase cards or print out affirmations that you can post around your house or your office until thinking more positively becomes more of a habit.
There are many other ways you can boost your confidence. These are just a few suggestions. Don’t worry about what other people think of you as much as what you think of you. When you feel confident, you will project confidence.
To your success
Fran Watson
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