REBEKAH FENSOME
Whatever a client’s specific needs may be, there is one issue I always stress: the importance of self-confidence. I’m not speaking about the fleeting sort of bravado that disappears at the slightest adversity or disparagement, but of the kind of true belief in oneself that can inspire a person to feel happier, less anxious and more in control of their lives.
With that in mind, here are my eight tips for boosting inner-confidence and ultimately making life more joyful overall:
1. Practice Self Appreciation
Write a list of the top seven qualities that make you unique. Carry these with you and read them regularly to remind yourself of who you are and what makes you special.
2. Note Past Successes
Reflect on the times in your life when you've been successful and compose a list of these moments. Remind yourself of how you achieved your goals in each instance, and remember the reward of how great these personal victories felt. Use these past experiences to fuel your self-belief and achieve future goals.
3. Don’t Put Yourself Down
Keep a tally of how often you speak negatively to, or about yourself each day. This will make you conscious of how regularly you put yourself down, and it will help to break the cycle of negative thinking and behavior.
4. Choose Positive Role Models
We can help ourselves by viewing others in constructive and positive ways, rather than drawing self-derogatory comparisons to them. Observe people who have glowing self-confidence, and note their healthy characteristics like individuality, integrity and kindness to oneself and others.
5. Accept Compliments
Accepting, believing and feeling good about compliments is crucial to cultivating a high self-confidence. The best way to respond to positive feedback is to look the person in the eye, smile and say, “Thank you!” Your positive acknowledgement will make your admirer feel good as well, but shying away from or disagreeing with their praise can make the other person feel uncomfortable. No one is a winner in that scenario!
6. Repeat Positive Affirmations
Using positive affirmations every day is very effective in communicating with your subconscious to shift negative thoughts. Pick three strong statements to turn negative self-beliefs into positive ones, and say them out loud while looking in the mirror to further strengthen your connection with yourself. If you believe that you’re not a confident person then, “I am a confident person!” should be one of your regular affirmations.
7. Use Constructive Self-Talk
We each have a rational and irrational inner voice. Use constructive questioning on yourself to ensure that the irrational voice gets less airtime. If you keep practicing, this will give you the invaluable sense of control to quiet your negative inner voice.
8. Take Care Of Yourself
Take time out to nurture yourself by eating well and drinking less alcohol. Go to sleep early and exercise, as these choices are indications to yourself that you’re worthy of being cared for. Remember, you deserve to take care of yourself and be to taken care of!