It is common to say that confidence is the key to success. Indeed, that is true to the T. You need confidence no matter which profession you are in – a teacher, a salesperson or anything else, which stage of life you are in – a kindergarten toddler, a high school teenager, a professional, or a retired servant, and which aspect of life you are dealing with- personal or professional. If you want to use your potential to its best, self-confidence can help you touch the zenith.
The self-confidence spectrum is not a level playing field, however. Some people are born with and conditioned to oodles of self-esteem and confidence while others may not have it so easy. They may require putting in extra efforts to build their confidence. For my mates in the latter category, worry not! I have a guidebook to get you going and to help you live more confidently.
Take Charge
There are two kinds of people: one with an external locus of control and the others with an internal locus of control. The ones with an external locus of control believe that external factors are responsible for their success while the ones with an internal locus of control take responsibility for their actions and outcomes.
You are your own master. You got to have an internal locus of control to deal with your self-confidence issues. Don’t let others take charge of your confidence and your happiness. Be your own hero. Taking charge of you is the first step.
Fake it Until You Make It
You won’t wake up one day feeling all the confidence in the world. Working on your confidence is a gradual process. Until that day arrives, you got to fake it. Practise confidence. Body language communicates more than your oral language. The 7% rule by Professor Mehrabian says that 93% of our communication is non-verbal, of which body language forms 55% and tone of voice forms 38%.
Here are a few pointers that will make you feel more confident.
- Be Conscious of Your Posture: Stand and sit straight with chin up and shoulders high. Remember, don’t be too stiff. Your mirror is your best friend. Practise confidence in front of the mirror. The more comfortable you get in front of the mirror, the more it will appear in front of the people.
- Eye-Talk: Look into the people’s eyes no matter how awkward you feel.
- Dress to Impress: Dress to impress yourself. Wear what makes you feel good in your attire. Groom yourself. Because pals, if you are feelin’ it, it’s going to show up.
- Smile: A smile speaks a thousand words. Smile often!
Work on Articulation
It’s not just what you say but also how you say that is important. Form clear, brief sentences and speak with poise. In situations that don’t require impromptu conversations, think about how best you can express your thoughts. Also, think about the sentences you can use and the way you can articulate them. The more impactful your speech is, the more confident you feel and appear.
Polish you Skills
A lot of low self-confidence issues stem from the lack of confidence about one’s skills, be it professional skills or hobbies. Ace your area of work in your workplace, garner as much knowledge as you can about your favorite subject and master the areas of interest you have. If you feel you have the requisite knowledge and skills, you feel more confident talking to people.
Humankind is an unsatisfied race. We are on a constant lookout for something. Look for areas where you can improve yourself. Building yourself is the best way to build your self-confidence. And remember that this is not just about work, learning is beyond that. In short, be productive.
Look for Uncomfortable Situations
Going inside a shell may seem the most comfortable option for you, but it will only worsen your self-confidence issues. Look for opportunities that make you uncomfortable. Participating in the upcoming debating competition may give you jitters, but do it! Talking to the vivacious senior at the workplace may fasten your heartbeat rate, but go do it! Escaping people and situations ain’t an option. The more you face them, the better you will get at it.
Get More Organized
When I say organize, it applies to all the areas of life. Life will go haphazard if we don’t organize our plans, thoughts, and things. Have a schedule for the day, jot down your thoughts and plans, clean up your room, de-clutter your workspace because the messier the life gets, the more difficult it is to manage things.
Stop Lazing Around
No matter how attracted you are to your bed and pillow, you need to get over your addiction. All of us are guilty of the same crime but we know this is not helping. So, we got to push ourselves. Be active. Go out. It’s not so easy. Even when home, change places to study and work.
The 5-second rule can help you a great deal. Whenever any idea comes to your mind, you got to act on it within the next five seconds. If you follow this rule, trust me, you can do wonders.
Exercise
We fail to recognize how much our physical well-being affects our mental well-being. Hit the gym or go running or do an outdoor sport or go yoga-ing or join the most trending dance classes. Anything will do, but sweat it out! The results will show in more ways than you can imagine.
Be Positive
Have a positive outlook towards life, people, and situations. People are going to disappoint, life is not going to be fair. But this shouldn’t let you drop low and fall. You are too big an idea to fit into the boxes people have put you in. Going back to point 1, have an internal locus of control and take charge of your happiness.
So, hey my amazing lads and lassies, you are more amazing than you know. Don’t let low self-confidence stop you from being the best version of yourself and more importantly, being a happier version of yourself. Achieving self-confidence isn’t destiny; it’s a journey. Constantly working on yourself will help you stay confident. So, come join us in our course up the confidence lane.
