Category Archives: self improvement

Improve Confidence: 5 Powerful & Easy Ways To Do It

What does it take to improve confidence?…

A lot, someone with poor self-confidence might say. That same person might even think it’s impossible to boost self-confidence, that once it plunges down, there’s no going back up. But that’s not true at all. If you set your mind to it, this is achievable.Like some many things in life, confidence and self-esteem can be learned and developed. So, you really can improve confidence if you are willing to try and persist.

Here are five ways to help you improve confidence, to be ready to face the world’s toughest challenges…

improve confidence

You really can improve confidence and achieve your dreams.

  1. Look at your achievements. A good way to increase self-confidence is to look at the things that you have achieved in your life. These achievements–whether big or small–can certainly make you feel proud of yourself. Did you graduate top of your class? Did you put a successful business? Did you deliver a topnotch project for your company? Don’t just think about these things. Write them down. Whenever you’re feeling under the blue, look at what you’ve written and you’ll instantly feel much better about yourself.
  2. Think about your strengths. Next, point out to yourself the things that you’re good at. What are your skills, talents, areas of expertise? Are you good in accounting, interior design, sports, organizing events, cooking up a mighty feast, solving others’ problems, bringing people together? Whenever you find yourself slow down by a weakness, go over to your list of strengths and find the strength in there that you need to defeat whatever it is that’s putting you down.So, you use past successes to improve confidence in areas where you feel challenged in the present.
  3. Expand your horizons. Another effective way to boost confidence is to be more. How do you do that? Learn new things, engage in new activities, meet new people, travel to new places, and explore new ventures. Sometimes, people feel they lack confidence just because they don’t have anything to show for. They’ve stayed in the same place and done the same thing for the last 10 or 20 years. If you step out of your comfort zone to experience what’s out there and embrace the world, you’ll feel your confidence surging up even when you’re not trying.
  4. Practice positive self-talk. The first person that should make you feel worthy and confident is no other than you. Every day, before going out, look at your reflection in the mirror, and remind yourself the things that you’re good at and what people love about you. This would always start your day right. It will help you to improve confidence very quickly indeed.
  5. Be with the right people. Although you don’t need other people to feel good (it’s actually unhealthy to be constantly looking for other people’s approval), it would still be better to stay away from those that constantly put you down. Hang out with people who have positive outlook in life, and towards other people. These are the people that you should be spending time with, not those who’d incessantly ridicule you or make fun of what you do.

See, it’s not so hard to improve confidence. You just have to start within yourself—look at your strengths and achievements, broaden your knowledge and experiences, be with the right people, and talk yourself into feeling good about yourself. In this way, you can improve confidence with ease and achieve what you dream of in life.

Confidence Quotes to Motivate and Inspire

Confidence quotes can help in improving self-esteem and self-confidence.

It’s true that they say, being confident starts with oneself. And one of the most powerful ways to build self-confidence is through positive self-talk. If you do not have your own positive self-talk worked out, you can do well to memorize confidence quotes from famous people and use those.

Start your day by facing the mirror and enumerating the reasons you’re a great person. Be as specific as possible. Don’t just say “I’m a wonderful person,” say something like, “I am generous, and I go out of my way to help people.” Don’t just say “I look great!” say something like, “I have clear skin, a contagious bright smile and a silky hair that can turn heads wherever I go!”

Apart from that, you can also use confidence quotes like the ones enumerated below. These are inspiration quotes, life quotes and motivational quotes that all pertain to self-confidence, self-esteem and optimism. If you repeat these confidence quotes to yourself with emotion, they can only help to better your life in many ways.

Here are a selection from the best confidence quotes:

  •  “Self-confidence is the key to the universe.” Carrol Wrackley
  • “With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” Dalai Lamaconfidence quotes
  • “I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it.” Edgar Allan Poe
  • “Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.” Thomas Carlyle
  • “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” Arthur Ashe
  • “Smile, for everyone lacks self-confidence and more than any other one thing a smile reassures them.” Andre Maurois
  • “There can be no failure to a man who has not lost his courage, his character, his self respect, or his self-confidence. He is still a King.” Orison Swett Marden
  • “Trust yourself, then you will know how to live.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
  • “We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it.” Thomas Jefferson
  • “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” Samuel Johnson
  • “Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do. Because then they will act.” Jack Welch
  • “The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.” William Jennings Bryan
  • “It is only necessary to have courage, for strength without self-confidence is useless.” Giacomo Casanova
  • “What seems impossible one minute becomes, through faith, possible the next.” Norman Vincent Peale
  • “What we need are more people who specialize in the impossible.” Theodore Roethke
  • “What we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out.” Bertrand Russell
  • “Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy.” Brian Tracy
  • “When you are alone you are all your own.” Leonardo Da Vinci
  • “When you engage in systematic, purposeful action, using and stretching your abilities to the maximum, you cannot help but feel positive and confident about yourself.” Brian Tracy

Want to know how to build your confidence easily? Start by getting the inspiration you need. The confidence quotes above will provide you with the motivation to look at yourself and the world around in a more positive light.

Low Self-Esteem: Signs to Watch Out For

Low self-esteem can have an adverse effect on your life…

…on your career, relationships, family life, and even on your health. It’s a must to learn how to overcome low self-esteem before it does any permanent damage to your well-being. Without you knowing, it may hamper your career success or ruin your personal relationships with loved ones. You don’t want any of these to happen.

The first step in dealing with low self-esteem is to know that you have it…

You can’t solve a problem that you don’t know you have, right? Here are the signs of low self-esteem that should definitely raise a red flag.

Sign # 1 – Being overly apologetic

One of the most common low self-esteem symptoms is saying sorry all the time. There’s nothing wrong with apologizing, as it’s actually a tenet of moral values. However, done in excess (e.g. when you’re not really sorry, when it’s not your fault, or when there’s nothing to apologize for), it can be taken as a sign of weakness. Guilt and shame feed this force of habit that’s rooted from poor self-esteem.

Sign # 2 – Inability to say no to people

You’d think you’re just being nice when you find it hard to refuse people for favors. But it can be because you’re afraid to say no.

Sign # 3 – Sensitivity to criticism, even constructive feedback

People with low self-esteem find it very difficult to accept criticism, even those that can help them improve an area in their lives.

low self-esteem

A person with low self-esteem feels like nothing and thinks he/she is worthless compared to others.

Sign # 4 – Social withdrawal

When you’re not sure about yourself, you find it uncomfortable to mingle and socialize with other people. As a result, you’d want to keep it to yourself most of the time. Of course, not all introverts have low self-esteem.

Sign # 5 – Physical symptoms like insomnia, headaches, fatigue

Since low self-esteem can make you more stressed out than normal, it can bring physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. Negative thoughts can keep you up at night.

Sign # 6 – Negative self-image

Then there’s the negative self-image, which is the most obvious sign of low self-esteem. Self-esteem, which is defined as a person’s perception or judgment of his/her worth, can be considered low if that person always puts himself down, compares himself to others, and think of himself as inferior to other people.

Sign # 7 – Neediness

Another indicator of poor self-esteem is neediness. Because you don’t believe in yourself, you look for reassurance from other people. You spend your life thinking that you need another person’s approval to feel good about yourself.

Now that you know what the signs are, you can now work on ways to improve self-esteem. This will help you to terminate low self-esteem, have a better career, and happier relationships with other people.

Goal Setting: A Definitive Guide

Goal setting is an integral step in crafting a comprehensive career plan. Your short-term and long-term goals are your jumping-off point that sets your career plan in motion. These are what will motivate you to go through each of the grueling task mapped out in your plot, and to overcome all the hurdles that may come way your way. They’re like the light at the end of the tunnel, which you’d definitely want to reach no matter what.

Goal setting definition

Goal setting is defined as the process of formulating objectives that are attainable, measurable, realistic, specific and time-targeted. There are two primary types of goals: short-term and long-term.

goal setting

Goal setting is a major key to happiness and success in both business and life.

Short-term versus long-term goals…

What’s the difference between the two? Time frame, primarily. Long-term goals can be achieved within a few years from three to ten. One example is to get promoted from an entry-level employee to a manager. The time frame depends on the nature of your work and the policy in your company but since most would take years before you get a step higher in the corporate ladder, this is considered a long-term goal.

Short term-goals, meanwhile, can be anything from daily objectives to weekly or monthly targets to one- to two-year goals. It can include your tasks for the day (set up a meeting with clients, prepare paper works, clear your desk), for the week (finish the project plan, organize a team building activity, make several calls to potential clients), or for the month (set up the payroll system, update the monthly financial records). Goal setting lets you progress in all these areas.

It’s a common mistake for people to think that long-term goals are more important. Sure, they’re bigger and harder to achieve but you need to realize that without the short-term goals that make everyday steps possible, your long-term goals would be much more difficult to attain. But it’s imperative that all your short-term goals complement, or better yet, bring you a step closer to your long-term objectives.

Knowing the do’s and don’ts in goal setting

Do’s

  • Determine what your goals are, both short-term and long-term.
  • Focus on accomplishing one goal at a time.
  • Write down your goals using a goal setting worksheet.
  • Set a realistic deadline.
  • Learn time management.
  • Be specific in what you want to achieve.
  • Track your progress.
  • Reward your success.
  • Surround yourself with people who will be able to help you get a step closer to your objectives.

Don’ts

  • Don’t just sit there and wait for something to happen.
  • Don’t aim for too many things at a time.
  • Don’t let hurdles put you down.
  • Don’t rush into things.
  • Don’t prioritize quantity over quality.
  • Don’t ever lose hope.

Achieving success in whatever endeavor you pursue is not possible without goal setting. Goals motivate you to work hard by reminding you what it is exactly you’re putting all your efforts for. Learn to use goal setting establish objectives that will help you get closer to your ambition.

Building Confidence in Children: How to Raise Empowered Kids

Building confidence in your kid is one of your most important duties as a parent…

building confidence in kids

To have a happy self-confident person, it is important to start as young as possible!

As you know, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, meaning that building confidence in your kid is critical facing life’s realities as he/she grows up. The school and workplace are fierce and competitive environments. Not all the people they’ll meet are as sweet and kind as their families. And there are dangers everywhere.

Your child’s best defense against all these is a healthy and positive self-esteem and high self-confidence. Kids who recognize their strengths and weaknesses find it easier to feel good about themselves, handle stress and conflicts, and thrive even in a competitive place. Overall, these children grow up to be realistic and optimistic adults, ready to take on the world.

On the other hand, those with low self-esteem are easily stressed and frustrated with problems. Because they think they are “not good enough,” they don’t go out of their way to find solutions to these problems. As a result, they become depressed, withdrawn and passive. Don’t let your kid be like one.

Don’t worry. Building confidence in children isn’t that difficult. There are many building confidence exercises and self-esteem activities for kids that you can use to raise your own with a positive self-concept.

Start with these effective strategies for building confidence in kids…

  • Love unconditionally. It’s true that only a parent can give unconditional love, the kind that says, “I love and accept you for who you are no matter who that is.” This makes a child feel secure, that even with his faults and failures, you’ll love him no matter what.
  • Show your love and affection. Children who receive plenty of kisses, hugs, and I love you’s grow up to be more secure.
  • Don’t scrimp on the compliments. When you child does something nice, be sure to applaud him for that. Don’t be afraid that you might spoil him by appreciating the good things that he does. Of course, you don’t have to be on standing ovation for every little deed that he does. But for his more important achievements, be there to offer a praise.
  • Correct the behavior, not the person. When your child’s behavior needs correction, don’t hesitate to speak up. But do it so in a manner that rejects the behavior and not your child. Instead of saying, “You’re a bad boy” it would be better to say, “Don’t hurt your friend. That’s not nice.”
  • Give your child enough attention. Undivided attention can be difficult in today’s society plagued by work overload and technological advancements. But instead of hugging your child while you surf the internet, shut everything off and give your child your full attention. Doing so makes him feel that he’s important.
  • Don’t shut him off from the world. Just because you know it’s a dangerous world out there, it doesn’t mean it would be best for him to stay locked up inside the house all the time. Let him go out and experience what is out there (of course, with close supervision). Let him take healthy risks like riding a bike, meeting a new friend, trying a new sport and so on. Let him learn from his mistakes. Let your child experiment but within reason.
  • Avoid comparing your child to others. This is especially true if you have several children. Don’t compare your firstborn with your youngest or your middle child with his older sister. That would only make the child feel about himself.

These building confidence tips would surely teach you how to raise your child in a healthy and positive way so that he grows up to be a self-assured adult.