The TEN strategies on how to build confidence can be divided into two sections. The first FIVE strategies are practical tips for classic confidence by overcoming FEAR - the Number ONE reason for low self confidence.
1. Practice reacting aggressively and positively towards fears in your imagination.Do this every time fear creeps into your imagination. See yourself reacting aggressively and positively towards those fears. It will be a matter of time before those reactions extend to reality when those or similar situations show up in your actual, day-to-day life.
"Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right." -Henry Ford
2. Take risks.Go ahead. Take risks.
And set out to do what your heart desires. As Lee Ann Womack said beautifully, when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, CHOOSE TO DANCE. How to build confidence?
Do What You Fear! And next point provides tips on how to go about doing that.
3. "Act as if it were impossible to fail." Dorthea Brande expressed it perfectly, didn't she? Follow her advice. When you set out to do what your heart desires, follow Nike's advice and "JUST DO IT".
Know that it can be done, and you can do it.. it's just that you need to invoke that ability in you that gets it done. If a mistake does happen along the way, do not dwell, just correct your actions as you go along.
"I CAN is 100 times more important than IQ." -Unknown
How do you handle fear and anxiety barriers that you run into, in real situations, on the go? Subsequent points provide ideas for just that.
4. Relax your fear away.Psychology studies suggest that it is impossible to feel fear when the muscles of the body are kept perfectly relaxed.
So the moment you recognize the dread or anxiety creeping in during a situation, identify those tightening muscles and focus on relaxing them. Relaxing your muscles is also a common anger management tip.
5. Substitute the feeling of fear with another "positive, feel good" feeling. Think about anything that strikes the chord and leaves you with a pleasant taste. Capture the feeling, and replace the feeling of fright with it.
As Maxwell Maltz says, you may not be able to forcefully drive the fear away by sheer will power, but you can easily substitute it with another good feeling.
As soon as you identify a negative thought creeping into your mind, change your internal dialogue to reverse the thought and put a positive spin to it.
The moment you identify any irrational "what ifs" in your mind, replace them with "I'll handle it" or "It can be done" or "I'll figure it out".
Is there a Confidence Idea that works for you when you feel low? Share it here. Verbalizing your own thoughts does wonders to your confidence.
Now that we have seen how to build confidence, the focus of the next FIVE tips is on improving self esteem. Improving self esteem is a natural way to build
self confidence.
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