Building Self Confidence ~ Part 1

The results of the poll I had on this blog:


In which areas do you need the most improvement?

33.3% said they needed improvement in motivation
66.7% said they needed improvement in their confidence

Based on those results, I thought I'd post about confidence and how we can improve in that area.

Lack of self-confidence are the major blocks to success, freedom and happiness. According to Wiki How, here are 13 steps to help you build self confidence:

1. Recognize your insecurities. What does that voice 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.

2. 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.

3. Remember that no one 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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!

10. Stick to your principles. It might be tough, but if you don't have something you can believe in, you don't have anything. If you don't stand for something, you will fall for 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 best of your ability.

11. Help others. When you know you're kind to the people around you, and are making a positive difference in other people's lives (even if it's just being kinder to the person who serves you coffee in the morning) you'll know that you are a positive force in the world--which will boost your self confidence. Go volunteer twice a month at an elementary school. Bake something for your neighbor for no reason. Confidence that you have earned is the most long-lasting.

12. Stop worrying. What worries you today will be forgotten by you and people around you tomorrow. Can you remember what you were so worried about the same day the same time last week? If not, then you should not worry right now. You will not worry about it even one week from now.

13. Stand tall. Our body posture represents what we are at that particular time. Simple habit that we can learn and start to implement it are stand and sit correctly. Your great and nice body posture will speak for you. How you stand sends out a message to the World, and in turn, back to you.

Part 2 will contain positive tips that will continue to help with building confidence

Take Charge of Your Finances

“I am woman… hear me roar!” sang Helen Reddy back in the 1970s. Today women are roaring all right, but all too often it’s from the pain of addressing their financial state. Did you know that over 70% of women say that money is a source of stress in their lives today? Or that women are 2x more likely than men to live out their golden years in poverty?

It’s time for women to roar with financial strength.

I met Manisha and Sharon, who are co-authors of ON MY OWN TWO FEET on MySpace. Together they are teaching women to take charge of her finances.

ON MY OWN TWO FEET is all about teaching women how to live their lives from a position of financial strength. Learning a few simple yet powerful financial lessons while you are in your 20s and 30s will both increase your confidence today and your financial security tomorrow.

The shocking truth is that most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. That means they are waiting for their next paycheck to pay bills like their rent or mortgage. If an emergency should arise, most don't even have enough in their savings to cover the unexpected expense. It is suggested that one has 3-6 months in savings as an emergency fund.

From the American Payroll Association’s “National Payroll Week 2005 Survey.” In this 9/9/05 survey of 29,955 individuals, a whopping 73.9% of respondents said they would find it “very” or “somewhat” difficult to meet their current financial obligations if their paycheck were delayed by a week (americanpayroll.org).

Tip on how to payoff debt:
Concentrate on the smallest debt first. Pay what you can on it, over the minimum payment. Once the smallest debt is gone, add that former payment to the next outstanding debt payment...and so on...and so on (the "debt snowball").

On My Own Two Feet will Teach You:

• How much of your income to save
• How to avoid the perils of credit card debt
• How to create a budget you can live with (and still have fun!)
• How to invest wisely using a powerful, keep-it-simple plan
• How to deal with real life situations - such as figuring out how much home or car you can afford & how to handle money when you couple up with that someone special
  

Whether you are going to run a corporation, a household, or your own extraordinary life, women should learn how to be financially secure.

Check out their profile here

On My Own Two Feet Web site