Thursday, April 9, 2009

10 Ways to Instantly Build Self Confidence


From Dr. Mercola's web-page comes this excellent article on feeling good about yourself:
Self Confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things you can consciously do to build self confidence.

1. Dress Sharp

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. 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.

2. Walk Faster

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.

3. Good Posture

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.

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 whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. 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.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling onto others. Get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you.

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. 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

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

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 physical appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive.

10. Focus on contribution

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 your own flaws. The more you contribute to the world, the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.

6 comments:

Blogging and Bliss said...

Thanks Dolly you find the coolest stuff on the Internet...

Rhonda said...

This has got to be my most favorite post of the day! fantastic ideas and tips to feel better. I'm one of those people that NEVER speaks up in a group. Until recently, and I still don't love it but it helps to not be a bumbling idiot once or twice to have the confidence to keep contributing!

Lynda said...

What a great post!

Anonymous said...

Love this post. I needed all of these suggestions. They seem so simple, yet hard to do. I am going to check out his web page.

It all fits right now with how I have felt, over whelmed!

I need a good boost of Self Confidence.

Have a Happy Easter!

chelle said...

Great list. I need to get to church and sit in the front row! M

whoopsadasie said...

That was some great advise! Some of them I had never heard.