We all want to become more confident and feel good about
ourselves so we can live our very best life. Here are some ways
to gain confidence and raise self-esteem:
1. Do something that requires a decision and a follow-through.
Have you been putting off writing that letter to aunt Martha? Is
there a friend you've been meaning to call? Wash the car, tidy
the garden or clean the house. You'll gain confidence by setting
goals (even small ones) and following through on them.
2. Enjoy something you do well.
Do you have any hobbies or sports that you enjoy playing? Some
things like going swimming, painting or writing can hold your
attention and get you
into a state of 'flow'. While you are in
the flow you forget about everything else.
Afterwards, you'll feel competent and capable. It's a great way
to boost your self-esteem. If you don't have any particular
hobbies or pastimes that you enjoy make an effort to try
something you've always wanted to try.
Picture yourself doing it, and then give it a try! It doesn't
have to be something big - it can be as simple as joining a
walking club.
You'll find that you are more centered and happier if you do
something that puts you in that flow at least once a week.
3. Shift the focus.
It's been shown that low self-esteem develops hand-in-hand
with
individuals who put too much focus on themselves. You can gain
confidence by doing something that focuses on someone else or
even something else.
You'll find that when you are in a situation where you are
meeting new people, you immediately become less nervous when you
focus on the person you are meeting.
At the end of the day, you've interacted with others and will
notice that you feel much lighter.
4. Relax, already!
Learning to become more relaxed is a great life enhancer. People
who are more relaxed have fewer problems with their memories and
are more likely to take the bumps in the road of life in stride.
The practice of
meditation has gained popularity for this
reason. You might want to look into Tai Chi, which involves
physical relaxation techniques.
Whatever method you decide on, take relaxation seriously. The
benefits are just too great to ignore. If you've never
considered relaxation important, think of it this way: if you
can attend to something that results in feeling good, how can
you not gain confidence in your personal abilities?
5. Make a list of everything you've ever accomplished.
Think small. An accomplishment is an accomplishment! Some things
you could put on your list: passed my driver's test and got my
license, scored a goal when I played hockey, managed to
save
enough money to go on a trip and so on.
These are just a few ideas you can use to gain confidence and
boost your self-esteem. Use these ideas as a base point and add
these things permanently in your life.
Keep in mind, people are not born with good self-esteem, most of
us have to work at it. It develops from your thinking and the
things you do daily to make yourself feel good.
About the author:
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced
a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing
Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available only
at: confidence
building
