How to build confidence
Confidence plays a vital role in how we lead our lives today. It can dictate how successful and popular an individual becomes. It is not something that we are always conscious of, although low confidence will lead to nagging doubts about our ability or over confidence will lead to failure when our confidence betrays our ability. Many factors that affect our confidence are beyond our control and often it is other peoples’ perception of us or indeed our perception of ourselves that determines just how confident we are.
Many people have low or reduced self confidence and this can have detrimental affects on their lifestyles. It may lead to problems in succeeding in the business world, forming relationships and friendships and low self esteem. Confidence is often learnt and will be affected by many factors. Parents, colleagues and peers will all play a vital role in how confident we become. The love of a supportive family will boost self confidence.
As we grow we are encouraged to develop and if this development is allowed to happen in a nurturing envirnoment it will lead to a higher level of confidence. We all make mistakes as we grow and if our errors are unnecessarily highlighted, criticized and ridiculed it may lead to confidence issues.
If we are allowed to learn from our mistakes as we grow we will quickly grasp that mistakes are part of nature and will inevitably happen.
The alternative is to fear error and this will often lead to an individual not taking chances and to do their utmost to remain unnoticed and to blend into the background.
Social standing may also lead to confidence issues, if an individual feels inferior then the level of confidence may be affected.
Of course confidence can be a vital defense mechanism and over confidence can be just as damaging as low confidence. Low self esteem can be built upon and overcome. With application and assistance it is possible to beat low self confidence. Many tips are aimed and generally encourage an individual to feel better about themselves. Please also refer to the How To Be Confident post to learn couple of more “tricks” from my own experience…
These general tips you may want to consider:
1. Avoiding highly critical people or groups will begin to address the issue. Negative criticism will heighten low confidence issues and add to the problem
2. Take up a hobby or pastime that you are comfortable with and learn to accept praise when offered. This praise will often be justified and can boost an ego.
3. Act more positively and list the things you do well. Highlight them and read them whenever confidence may be fading. This reassurance may prove invaluable.
4. Perhaps it may be possible to seek professional advice, for example hypnosis, as this may often help to overcome confidence issues.
5. Relax more and try to avoid situations where your confidence may be tested. It is sometimes better to avoid situations rather then exasperate the already low confidence issue.
Here’s a good video tutorial:
Low confidence can be overcome, by avoiding others who expect too much of you or are highly critical the problem may be alleviated. You are what you are! Confidence is only a perception and it plays different roles in peoples’ lives Often people who believe they lack confidence will be perceived in a different light by others.