Self Confidence: YOU Power

Undoubtedly, there are instances wherein all of us wish we could go into a store and ask for "a pound of self-confidence please" (or rather, 500 grams of self-confidence!). And sometimes there are instances when it feels as if we could do anything, deal with any obstacle, take on any task or job. So what then is confidence and how can we obtain some of it when we've run out or just aren't feeling up to par?
 
Have you ever tried to look at yourself in the mirror and squirmed at your image? If you feel guilty of this habit, then I would recommend you to stop. If you are not contented with yourself, it only shows that you have no self-confidence. If you lack self-confidence, then how do you imagine others to have confidence in you?
 
Lots of people, old or young, have insecurities about several aspects in their lives. It could be of their physical appearances, speech, lifestyle, behavior, practices, work or even family. Even at interviews, confidence helps you in clinching that job. Consider a situation where two applicants go for the interview where one is confident and certain while the other is an anxious wreck. No rewards for guessing who amazes the interviewer and obtains the job.

Self-confidence is often listed as one of the qualities of effective managers. From your personal experience you can perhaps distinguish the difference between managers with a high level of confidence and those who seem less sure of themselves. Why then would self-confidence be so nearly related with being effective? It is probably because a person's self-confidence shows confidence in their own decision, and directs others to put their confidence, too, in this judgment.

It is also probably because self-confidence is frequently used to overpower the fears, hindrances, opposition and setbacks which can confront the best of plans. People with a high degree of self-confidence are normally more likely to be successful - all other aspects being equal - than those who work in a less confident manner.

It can be as (if not more) significant to take a look at how self-confidence can be weakened or lost as how to gain it. When people are catch out or tripped up that's the time when they will experience de-skilled, disheartened, discouraged, and unconfident. It only takes one incident where someone is humiliated, embarrassed, caught 'napping', quite uncertain what to do next, and any confidence they possess goes right out the window (and then is actually difficult to recover).
 
It's the complicated or risky circumstances that wear away confidence, and although it might be a beautiful fantasy to imagine going through life escaping such circumstances, it's basically impossible: they're out there prowling, waiting to trip you up anyway.
 
Once you determine the types of concerns and situations that weaken your confidence, and as importantly, recognize the things you can do to change those scenarios, then you are really on the way to building a stronger, more solid confidence.

Why Our Resolutions to Improve Ourselves Often Fail

"There is no value-judgment more important to man - no factor more decisive in his psychological development and motivation - than the estimate he passes on himself." -- Nathaniel Branden

Many people are frequently placing themselves on some new self-improvement program. They wanted to lose weight, quit smoking, begin exercising, read faster, or start aerobics. When most people enter on such programs, it is because they are discontented with themselves and believe that if they can modify some practices, they will be contented.

The false impression here is in believing that if their external changes, they will feel better on the interior. There is enough truth in that notion to lead them far astray. When they receive honors and degrees, a good feeling does complement the accomplishment, and they can conclude that by changing things on the exterior - by giving all the things that other people seem to like - their interior world will change.
 
But as a matter of fact it works the opposite. Most change begins on the interior and works outward. It starts with self-knowledge and self- enhancement. It has to do with changing our thoughts as well as our lifestyle; and if we can improve the way we think, if we can address ourselves and imagine ourselves differently, then an enormous deal of our behavior will definitely fall into place.
 
This article aims to provide steps for converting that inner world. Here you will discover simple, useful, logical, time-tested procedures that thousands of successful people have applied to change self-doubt into self-confidence. Some are daily exercises to build up your self-image; others are laws to fall back on when your self-regard is too reliant on your successes and failures.
 
We will also endeavor to uncover the nature of self-confidence and determine some of the ways in which self-confident people work. We will interrogate whether self-confidence is always a positive and helpful trait, and we will look at the relationship between self-confidence and ability. Lastly, we will recommend some methods of gaining, developing and building self-confidence.
 
We will teach you how to:

• Build an assurance about your self-worth or self-esteem
• Develop internal strength and capacity
• Develop your uniqueness
• Find a place to outshine
• Help others become more confident
• Improve your self-confidence without falling into the trick of self-worship
• Increase and build your network of love

Changing the way you feel about yourself cannot happen overnight, and it will not happen without any effort. But it is realistic, and confidence is a product accessible to everyone. Dr. Karl Menninger once wrote, "Fears are educated into us, and they can, if they wish, be educated out."

On the next page we will answer the key question: What Is Self Confidence?