“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”
Everyone has their ups and downs. No matter how confident we may seem on the outside, I don't know anyone who is 100% confident all the time.
While many of us sail along most of the time feeling pretty much OK, every now and then things can conspire to shake our confidence and sense of self.
The word confidence comes from the Latin CONFIDERE, which means to have full trust.
Confidence is about having faith in yourself, in your qualities and your abilities and trusting that whatever life throws at you, you'll be able to handle it. So when our confidence falters, how do we re-calibrate? What do we do to restore our equilibrium? Here are some ideas.
1. Be Really Good to Yourself
This may sound trite, but when our conference is shaky we can be unreasonably hard on ourselves and give ourselves a tough time for not doing better.
So a good way to start building your confidence is to practise some extreme self-care. Put yourself at the top of the list, nurture and be kind to yourself.
2. Like Yourself.
The new Oxford dictionary defines confidence as;
"...of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one’s own ability or qualities".
With this in mind write a list of 10 things you like about yourself and think you do well.
3. Create a Feel Good Box
Fill it with positive encouraging notes, emails, letters, certificates, pictures, anything that makes you feel good and reminds you how brilliant you really are.
Reach for this box whenever you feel your confidence is waning.
4. Spend as Little Time as Possible with those Who Criticise You or Undermine your Confidence.
The messages we received from those around us can affect how we feel about ourselves, so choosing not to be around those who erode our confidence is really important.
Surround yourself with people who love and support you and encourage you to succeed.
5. Give Yourself a Quick Confidence Boost
This can be as simple as getting a new haircut, throwing out a piece of clothing that old and baggy and doesn't suit you and buying something new or upgrading your immediate environment in some way. These external factors can affect how we feel internally.
6. Watch your Language
If you're feeling a bit low you might be tempted to put yourself down in front of other people, resist this at all costs!
If this is the message you're giving out to the world, it will be having a negative impact on you too.
7. Confidence Comes from Taking Action
The very best way to boost your confidence is to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone.
Set yourself a couple of “stretch” goals: it may feel uncomfortable, but your confidence will soar when you achieve them
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you..”
About our Guest Author
Colin Lindsay is the Global Managing Director for The Alpha Group. The Alpha Group mission is to help 1 million SMEs worldwide to double the value of their business and dominate their marketplace.
For further information visit: https://the-alpha-group.biz/about/ or email: colin.lindsay@the-alpha-group.biz
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