Gaining Confidence
We are not born with confidence and nobody can take it away. It is merely a skill that we develop by stepping beyond our comfort levels and recognizing our accomplishments.
Stepping out of your comfort zone will raise your confidence. Go to a new location, video call someone that you normally wouldn't, wear the shirt in your closet that you're not sure others will like. These small actions will start leading to a greater confidence level and you will find each new experience becomes a little easier to do.
Start each morning with gratitude, look in the mirror and be thankful you are alive. Be thankful your body works to keep you healthy, thankful for the people in your life, be thankful for your bed and food and shelter. Remember you have more than others in this world can only dream to have... that is a gift in itself and should remind us to embrace each day to it's fullest.
Why our thoughts matter
The way we self talk within our own minds, vastly changes how we feel. Learning to control how we initially respond or think about a situation, can help develop the skill of becoming more positive in any circumstance we face. After all, a thought is just a line of words until emotions get attached.
One simple example of this: if you were to get insulted by someone, but they spoke a language you didn't understand, you wouldn't get offended. This is because you wouldn't think to attach the negative emotion to their words. So why are we allowing ourselves to get upset every time someone says something we don't like. Of course we need to take certain opinions or criticism into consideration, but in general nobody's opinion should hold our happiness.
Start smiling at people and people will smile back. Make small talk with people in line and see how you can influence someone's day. Send out happiness and you will start to notice it around you more often. Concentrate on what you want to see.
Recognize your accomplishments
Another way to start gaining confidence, is to realize how many times you have already overcame fears. How many obstacles you've overcome.
Do you find it intimidating to walk into a room that is full of new faces? What if I told you chances are you have already done this multiple times. Every new school year, new teachers, new peers, new studies. That anxiety level the first day of each new school year, yet after a week or two we realized it wasn't that bad. It was how we were thinking about the situation, that had us stressing out about it.
Learning to talk, walk, ride a bike, swim, sports, any hobbies we enjoy. By doing these thing repeatedly, we became good at them. That is with anything in life. Find your strengths and develop them. This is more than physical strength. Are you a good friend, a good listener, do you enjoy helping your family or neighbors? All of these are great attributes, give yourself praise where it is due!
Know your worth
You are born worthy, you come into this world with your own set of things to offer and do in this life. Look at yourself with love and realize it is being unique that makes you great. If every person looked, acted, dressed, thought, worked, or did anything else just as everyone else did...we would live in one boring world!
It is learning new things, meeting new people, and having new experiences that spark our passions and bring joy to life. Not everyone gets along and that's ok. Just as I'm sure there are some places, people, foods, music, or any other variety of things that you may not enjoy. We do not have to be everyone's friend, but we do have to show up with our own values and put our best forward.
Start gaining confidence today, by giving yourself one small challenge. Even if nobody else sees it, you will know you did it, therefore creating new thought patterns that will start those positive connections. Keep small promises to yourself and, you will gain the strength to, start staying on track to meet your big goals.
