Magnificent Confidence
By Lori Snyder
21 quick and practical strategies to make your confidence soar
1. Think about someone you admire, what is it about them that you like? Take cues from the people who you think are great. You are great also. Nothing is stopping you from modeling mannerisms of people you admire, they my have done the same thing with someone whom they admire. Create your own unique being, and incorporate all that you love from the people who you look up to, along with your own many special qualities
2. Smile a lot more. That doesn’t mean putting a silly grin on your face! But smile when you walk down the street, when you meet people and generally be happier even if you’re not feeling that way.
3. Learn from mistakes of the past; Think of them as a gift, and let them go. You can feel bad about how you handled a past situation, or how one turned out. But in order to gain from it, you must learn from it, and then release it. Don’t hang on and try to change something that is no longer in existence, instead learn from it and move on.
4. Try something new, something you always wanted to try before. Buy yourself some new clothes, do your hair differently, treat yourself to something new. It will make you feel better and will give your ego a boost.
5. Are you basically prepared for daily, new and immediate situations that cross your path? Are you confident enough to meet any challenge that may present itself to you? Are you prepared for that meeting, that presentation, that job interview, when you meet someone for the first time? If you feel you are not prepared, get to it ASAP. Work out a plan for being confident when situations quickly come before you.
6. If you are not happy about, or do not agree with a decision someone else made, which also affects you, such as a break-up. Be happy with the fact that you do have control over how you handle that situation from your end of the table. Know that you can rise above the sadness, and instill confidence and a success mindset for yourself to get through this trying time with nothing less then overcoming the sadness, and moving on into your own power of happiness.
7. Play to your strengths. Know what you are good at and expose yourself to these opportunities, because you’re good at it, you’ll enjoy it and have more confidence.
8. Improve your weaknesses. Know and appreciate what these are and put a plan into action to improve them over time.
9. It is ok to say no to people. If you cannot do something that is asked of you, or you simply do not want to, or just do not have the time, you can say no. Don’t be afraid, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of. They will most likely understand. You cannot always overextend yourself, if it goes against what you really want to do.
10. Be positive. Look on the “ I can do” side of things rather than the “I can’t do”. You’ve accomplished lots in your life and you will accomplish lots more in the future.
11. Be in charge of your thoughts at all times. What is a thought? It’s just a question that you’ve asked yourself and the thought is you’re answer. If you’re thinking negative thoughts, you’re probably asking a negative question. Change the questions to be more positive.
12. Whenever you feel a negative thought coming, STOP, THINK, and say is this really the only outcome that can happen? If so, then turn the negative into a positive by seeing what good the situation will bring with it. If there is more then one outcome, which nine out of ten times there is, then toss the negative and focus on the positive outcome.
13. Do you let the words of others affect you? Do you mind what they think of you? Remember that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. It’s not what they say to you that matter’s, it’s what you say to yourself after they have stopped talking. Change the way you think, to acknowledge that only you have the power to choose how you feel and think about yourself.
14. List the words that you use on a consistent basis when you feel let down or annoyed. People use different words to mean the same thing and depending upon the intensity of the word – this will have an effect on your confidence. Instead of saying “I’m enraged about this” say, “I’m a little annoyed”. Make a substitute list for the words that you use. Make sure they are lower in intensity and then use them. You’ll be surprised with the results.
15. At the end of each day list your achievements and successes throughout that day. Celebrate your reaching your goals no matter how big or small.
16. Be appreciative of what you have to be thankful for in your life right now. Fill yourself with gratitude for all that you have at this moment.
17. Every morning when you wake-up, prepare yourself for an excellent day. Go over in your head the day’s events as though they have already happened and that they were a success. Visualize all of the encounters you had, the people you talked to, the outcomes you had. Visualize success and confidence and it will be so.
18. Improve your body language. The way that you move your body has a massive impact on your confidence levels. Move your body assertively and walk with your head up, shoulders back and as though you’ve got somewhere very important to go. If you are feeling low in confidence at the moment, visualize an empowering moment, and walk in that fashion. Change you body language to reflect success.
19. Emotion is created by motion; make sure you move around consistently. Create energizing moments and get the blood pumping around your body – it makes you feel better and more confident.
20. Learn to brag about yourself. Yes, you heard me! Talk about your achievements and successes more than you currently are.
21. And finally – You only live once, so any time that you are down just ask yourself in 10 or 20 years time – will what I am down about now and worrying about really matter?
© 2010 Lori Snyder
