Feel Confident

The importance of having and being self confident is talked about all the time.

But is it really that important?

Well let me tell you something. Confidence is the foundation to success, to achievement, to a sense of fulfilment. Confidence is the doorway to success. It is the entrance to the life that you want to lead and to the aspirations that you desire to have.

When you feel self confident you can boldly and courageously step forward and move ahead towards your ambitions, targets, objectives and goals. Again, it is the foundation to all achievements.

Read that again. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is.

A key element to getting and doing anything in life is self confidence. It is an essential part of a person's development and success, achievement and life as a whole.

How would you like to feel confident quickly and right now?

Here are 5 simple steps that will get you to feel self confident quickly:

1. Think of a specific situation where you want to feel confident. It could be work related or a personal event.

2. What has come to mind when you think about that situation? Are any of these thoughts familiar: "Oh, no! They can't ask me to do that." Or "I'll make a mess of things." Or "I'm really not up to this."

Pick one thought or picture that came to mind, one to focus on. No censoring. Feel whatever you are feeling. Allow that feeling to be there.

3. Now, ask yourself: "Am I willing to let go of this thought (picture or feeling)?" Are you willing to release the unconfident thought, feeling or picture that has come up?

By the way, if you said no, you are not willing to release that unconfident thought, feeling or picture, ask yourself: "Would I rather have this thought, (feeling or picture), or would I rather be free of it?"

You might say yes, or perhaps no. Either way, since you merely thought of the fact of getting rid of it, that alone gets the process of releasing started.

4. Now ask yourself: "When?" Here you are open to the invitation to let go of that thought (feeling or picture) NOW. So your response to when is, "Now."

5. Repetition is the mother of all skill. So repeat steps 1 through to 4 until you feel free of that particular feeling, thought or picture of un-confidence. Then go back and do the same process until all, or most of, the unconfident feelings have been released from your mind.

The idea here is not to hold on to the limiting beliefs of lacking self confidence. Release them, set them free and you, too, will be free.

Many people resort to cigarettes or alcohol to release their frustration, stress, or anxiety. What they do not realise is that their type of release is superficial. The underlying feeling or thought or pictures remain within.

However, using the above steps goes to work on your inner thoughts and feelings and sets you free of them over time once and for all. Cigarettes and alcohol do not do that.

This is a powerful way to set you free of any unwanted feelings or emotions. And the great news is that you can use this in any area of your life.

These steps are based on The Sedona Method, where you can be free of the blocks that hold you back.

Release, let go and live!

Build Self Confidence..

Build Self Confidence

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.

3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.