There are times when your confidence may wane for various reasons. The good news is that everyone has a reservoir of confidence that can be used when needed to get you past the place that your fears and concerns are holding you back. You will need to access and build up your confidence on a regular basis, much like practicing for the big event to have it with you when needed.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau

Be You

There is only one you and your abilities do not include controlling how others think or their actions. All you can do is be in charge of yourself, no one else. Consider if you were to ask twenty people what they thought of you, you’d probably get twenty different responses. So, while knowing where you stand in the eyes of others is nice, it’s not necessary for you to know. Live the way you want to be and do not let your perceptions of how others feel about you stand in the way.

Cross the Comfort Zone

Anyone who has done anything of any importance has stepped out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals. The more times you leave your comfort zone, the larger it will become. This means one small step today can lead to taking much larger steps tomorrow when you have the courage to leave your comfort zone and find your true path in life.

Failure is Not an End, It’s a New Beginning

The old saying “failure is not an option” has real meaning, but it also should be kept in perspective. Everyone has failed, some more often than others and yet they also succeed. Thomas Edison had an estimated 10,000 or more failures before he invented the incandescent light bulb. When you consider just how long it took for him to reach that number before he succeeded, Edison demonstrated that the only true failure is giving up.

Forgive Yourself

It is far easier to forgive others of what they have done to you compared to forgiving yourself for what you have done. Sadly, too many people have not forgiven themselves so they can reach their full potential in life. However, when you make mistakes or even fail at something it is important to learn from what happened and not blame yourself. By not forgiving yourself for the mistakes in your life, you will never get any further than you are today. So, take the time to go over the past and forgive yourself for everything that you have done. You may need to do that more than once to move onward and become who you want to be.

No One is Perfect

It may seem like the phrases “no one is perfect” and “practice makes perfect” are contradictory. However, the truth is that no one on Earth is free from imperfections. But you can achieve so much more than you dream of if you apply yourself and reach for your goals. You have made mistakes before and you will again, so don’t worry about that. Instead, let go of thoughts that focus on your imperfections and instead embrace the possibilities of what you can become.

Physical Feeling of Confidence

There may be times when you feel confidence at a physical level such as listening to a certain song, scene from a film, TV show, or event, or something else that provides you with a real feeling of confidence. Whatever that is, be sure to keep it nearby so that you can refer to it during the time when you may need it the most. By reinforcing your confidence in this manner, you can help overcome whatever mental block or issue that you may be facing.

Practice Good Body Language

Confidence is more than a feeling. It is something that you can exert through proper body language. When you walk tall by keeping you head up and shoulders back, you move with a greater purpose that helps generate confidence. By smiling, making eye contact, and keeping your posture straight you can promote the feeling of confidence in your body and project it out to others. So, try to avoid slouching, folding your arms, or fidgeting which creates a negative impression.

Role Play to Gain Confidence

This is a simple, yet powerful technique where you imagine yourself where you want to be in six months, a year or more. You can also use this technique to address certain issues in your work or home life that will help change around your attitude. Role playing is a great tool to use that will get inside your head and change the perception of whatever might be holding you back.

Understand Your Fears

To overcome your fear, you first need to acknowledge its presence. You’ll also need to understand that fear is a normal feeling and in most cases a good one. Fear lets you know when you’ve reached the limits of your comfort zone. So, you when you feel fear the first step is to understand why it is happening and then press on once you have put it in the proper perspective. By understanding and addressing your fears, you will go further than you might ever expect in life.

You are Awesome

Everyone has the capability of going so much further in their life. You have an incredible potential that only needs to be tapped to achieve your goals. Create a list of what makes you special and refer to it from time to time as a reminder of your achievements and capabilities. Every time that you are feeling down about yourself or not sure that you are going to make it, pull out the list that reminds you of your capabilities. That will boost your confidence and help you to overcome challenges that stand in your path.

By practicing one or more of these techniques, you can greatly increase your access to the confidence that is waiting inside everyone. Just remember that nothing can hold you back once you set your mind on achieving what you want out of life.

“With confidence, you have won before you have started.” — Marcus Garvey

 

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