Create Your Own Confidence Bank Account
This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when you first hear
about it (and doesn't seem at first to get much better as you
read on) but WORKS, which is what counts, if you apply it to
your life. The idea is to "open" a Confidence Bank Account for
yourself. Bear with me on this!
We all feel at times that our confidence could be at a higher
level than it is, whether that is in the moment or over a period
of time. By using a CBA, we can build our confidence back up to
where we would like it to be.
The principle behind the idea is this; every time you do
something, big or small, that adds to your self confidence, you
make a deposit into your CBA. As you start to do more and more
actions that give you confidence, your CBA begins to grow.
You don't need to write down your account but that may be
helpful to you. Lay out our account as if it were a real bank
account by using a spreadsheet or simply a sheet of paper. Start
the account with an opening balance. Decide at what level your
confidence is, at present, on a scale of 1 to 10. For every
level, give yourself 100 bank credits. In other words, if you
rate yourself at 6 on the confidence scale, add 600 points to
your CBA.
Now that your account is open, start becoming aware of the
things you do in your life that improve your self confidence.
This is the key to the technique. It makes you look for the good
things you do at times when your focus may be elsewhere.
Every time you notice doing something that is positive, in any
area, rate that deed on a scale, and award the points to the
account. Not everything we do on a daily basis would have a
major impact on us, so be careful not to miss the small things.
A couple of examples of points scoring would be as follows. Let
us say that today you have just delivered a presentation at work
in front of a sizeable number of your colleagues and strangers
from another company. This would be an action that deserves a
high number of points, so you could award yourself 200 credits.
On the other hand you also smiled at someone in the supermarket
whom you are attracted to. This is not the biggest thing that
has happened in your life, but it should be rewarded. Give
yourself 25 points. The most important aspect of this system is
in encouraging you to spot the small stuff.
As time goes on and your account fills up you will begin to
notice an improvement in your level of self confidence. If you
find that there are specific areas that you would like to build
on, then open a CBA solely aimed at that subject. You could have
an account for relationships, work, friends, strangers, anything
you decide upon.
Your CBA has no overdraft limit, therefore you can't take out
more than you put in. If you do something that you feel has
reduced your confidence, don't be too harsh on yourself. Even if
what has happened seems like an almighty disaster at the time,
just remind yourself that you not only own the account but you
own the bank as well.
Try this technique for a few weeks and see if it works for you.
Even if you keep the account in your head rather than on paper
you should be able to feel a difference in your life.