how are u today???????????????
You want to be confident and feel confident, but what if you're starting with little or no confidence?
How do you get from Point A to Point B? True self-confidence isn't an
overnight acquisition. It takes dedication to realize you are a good
human being that is worthy of respect and love.
The Steps
Recognize
your insecurities. What does in the back of your mind say? What makes
you ashamed of yourself? This could be anything from acne, to regrets,
to emotional abuse (past or present) from a loved one or friends at
school. Whatever is making you feel unworthy, ashamed, or inferior,
identify it, give it a name, and write it down.
Talk
about it with friends and loved ones. Wear it on your sleeve. Each day
chip away at it; wear it down. There's no quick fix. Get to the root of
the problem; focus on it and understand that you need to resolve each
issue before you can move on.
Remember
that nobody is perfect. Even the most confident people have
insecurities. At some point in any of our lives, we may feel we lack
something. That is reality. Learn that life is full of bumps down the
road.
Identify your
successes. Everyone is good at something, so discover the things at
which you excel, then focus on your talents. Give yourself permission
to take pride in them. Give yourself credit for your successes.
Inferiority is a state of mind in which you've declared yourself a
victim. Do not allow yourself to be victimized.
Be thankful for
what you have. A lot of the times, at the root of insecurity and lack
of confidence is a feeling of not having enough of something, whether
it's emotional validation, good luck, money, etc. By acknowledging and
appreciating what you do have, you can combat the feeling of being
incomplete and unsatisfied. Finding that inner peace will do wonders
for your confidence.
Be Positive,
even if you don't feel positive. Avoid self-pity, or the pity and
sympathy of others. Never allow others to make you feel inferior--they
can only do so if you let them. If you continue to loathe and belittle
yourself, others are going to do and believe likewise. Instead, speak
positively about yourself, about your future, and about your progress.
Do not be afraid to project your strengths and qualities to others. By
doing so, you reinforce those ideas in your mind and encourage your
growth in a positive direction.
Look
in the mirror and smile. Studies surrounding what's called the "facial
feedback theory" suggest that the expressions on your face can actually
encourage your brain to register certain emotions. So by looking in the
mirror and smiling every day, you might feel happier with yourself and
more confident in the long run.
Fake it.
Along the same lines of smiling to make yourself feel happy, acting
confident might actually make you believe it. Pretend you're a
completely confident version of you; go through the motions and see how
you feel.
Express yourself,
whether it's through art, music, writing, etc. Find something you
enjoy. Everyone is born with talents and strengths. You can develop and
excel in yours. If it's difficult to name two or three things you have
some ability in or just plain love to do, think about things others do
that you would like to do too and take some lessons or join an
enthusiasts club. When you're following your passion, not only will it
have a therapeutic effect, but you'll feel unique and accomplished, all
of which can help build your self confidence. Plus, adding a variety of
interests to your life will not only make you more confident, but it
will increase your chances of meeting compatible friends!
Stick to your principles.
It might be tough, but if you don't have something you can believe in,
you don't have anything. No matter what's happened in your life, you
can always lay claim to the fact that from this day forward, you've
followed your principles to the ***t of your ability.
