New ways to Build Self-Confidence
Lack of self-confidence is the largest single factor that holds
people back, in the professional as well as personal sphere. If
you lack self-confidence, it means that you don't believe in
yourself and that you don't think your life can be what you want
it to be. This type of thinking limits us in all of our
pursuits; over time, it can also lead to serious problems such
as depression and hostility. That's why it's so important to
take the time to build self-confidence, both in ourselves and
our children. If you succeed in building self-confidence fairly
early in life, you will always benefit from it. That having been
said, it's also never to late to start to build self-confidence.
For some people, the best place to start is by taking a course
or workshop, or going to therapy for a while to work on
confidence issues. In particular, if you think your problem
stems from experiences you might have had when you were younger,
and if these feel deep-seated and intractable, therapy might be
the way to go to get you 'unstuck', so to speak. But for other
people, there are some ways to build self-confidence that you
may not have thought of.
The first is easy - or at least, it can be: Have fun with what
you do. If you are enjoying your work and leisure activities, if
they are really right for you, you are more likely to feel
confident and comfortable. Over time, the success you have in
these activities (and it is much more likely that you will be
successful if you are already enjoying what you do) will allow
you to build self-confidence - after all, when you are receiving
positive feedback from everyone, it is hard not to feel
confident. This effect may be temporary, but if it happens
repeatedly, it will make an impression.
Second, pay attention to your relationships. Do they make you
feel good, generally speaking? If you are with someone that
makes you feel smarter, better looking, and more fun than you
usually feel, chances are that the relationship is helping you
build self-confidence. For many of us, the opposite is true, and
those relationships are the ones you are better off without.