How To Build Self Confidence

There are only a few individuals who could call themselves perfect and be right. The majority of us have to build self confidence today, but many just either ignore the issues or focus on the negatives: stress, jobs, worry, money problems and relationship issues. Concentrating on these areas drains our self confidence instead of enhancing it.

Building self confidence is an important part of successfully coping with stress.  If you could improve your self confidence you can make more money, look and feel better physically, or only be more relaxed with other individuals.  Below there are five simple techniques that have been proved to help on how to build self confidence. 

1. Talk to yourself.   This may sound crazy but it actually works.  All of us have a running monologue continuously in our heads, whether we understand it or not.  Everything we see, hear or touch sparks off an instant dialog in our thoughts.   

For those who lack confidence this monologue is full of negative messages a lot of which are the negative side of adverts from television, radio, advertisement boards, newspapers, and only overhearing other people speak. 

These negative thoughts virtually suck energy from our minds and bodies and block the flow of positive messages.  You have to listen to the positive messages as they will build self confidence today and raise your self esteem.  Take control.  Use your inner thoughts to talk to yourself in a positive manner, as frequently as you can.   

As an example one of my regular proverbs is "I like myself, I like myself, I like myself".  I only repeat it for a few of minutes.  It sounds cheesy, but it works in building self confidence today – You can try it yourself.  I bet that if you look at yourself in the mirror right away and repeat out loud "I like myself!" fifty times, it will be impossible to keep from smiling. 

2.  Dress as smartly and as classily as you can.   You will not feel at your best if you don't look your best.  You will be surprised at how much more confidence you will have just by looking your best.  It just feels good when you're wearing your best clothes, are well groomed, and are surrounded by a clean environment.  So what if it is Saturday, you have to build self confidence now, not next week.  Put on some nice clothes, wash the car, style your hair.  A hairdresser once told me "Everyday is show time!" 

3.   Increase your self esteem.  You can increase your self esteem even more by thanking what you are, the way you look, and what you are doing.  Say "thank you" to yourself to everything you see, all whom you meet, and every smile that you get.  

4.   Stand or sit properly:  How you stand sends out a message to the World, and in turn, back to you.  These results will enhance the way you feel about yourself and will increase self confidence today and each day forward. 

There is scientific evidence that shows how posture has an effect on our mood.  Avoid slouching.  When you slouch, you are generating a down mood.  By slouching you are telling the world and yourself it doesn't matter, you don't matter.  Standing tall and upright will in fact raise your mood.  Help increase your confidence by pulling back those shoulders, end that slouch, and walk proud.   

5.   Smile.  People often forget what a powerful stress management tool smiling is.  Smiling will help you feel better about yourself.  Try to smile as much as possible and you will notice that things will appear better somehow.  Practice smiling frequently and get your facial muscles used to the physical act of smiling.  Go to the mirror and make yourself smile.  Not a grimace, but a proper smile.  If you think you can’t smile, then try this:  

1)  Open your eyes as wide as you can - (try and get your eyebrows right up to you hair line) 

2)  Slightly open your mouth  

3)  Pull the corners of your mouth back to your ears (If you’re unsure pull them back with your fingers so you understand what it feels like and then try again without your fingers).   

4)  Repeat these steps about 50 times.  Get your facial muscles accustomed to smiling and you will smile more and encourage smiles from others.  This will make you feel much happier and with that you'll build self confidence today.