Confidence Builder

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Confidence Builder

I want to share with you the best way to build self-confidence.

Whenever you meet any new, challenging situation, recognise that you can take one of three mental attitudes to it. You can:

1. Step into it. Mentally, go forward to meet the challenge.
2. Not step into it. You can hang back from it. Mentally, you can stand still and do nothing, but wait for the event to strike.
3. Run away from it. Mentally, you can step back, or retreat from the situation.

1. Step Into It

Bearing in mind the three options, to improve your self-confidence you need to set your brain's default setting to "Step into it".

Unless there is a definite and real reason not to, then step INTO any challenging situation. Take the initiative. Go forward to meet the enemy.

Memorise these great lines: "If in doubt, go forwards" and "Step into it".

People who lack confidence have a mental default setting of either, "Don't step up to meet the challenge". Or even worse, "Run away from any challenge".

Let us look at what happens to a person who takes these other approaches.

2. Don't step up.

Hang back. Wait to see what happens.

This is the cautious approach. It seems to be "the safe option".

But long range, how safe is it?

If you don't throw your hat in the ring; If you don't put your name down; If you don't give it a go. Then you will have to content yourself with picking up the scraps that are left by the people who DID step up and therefore got there first.

Playing it safe all the time is one of the most dangerous things you can do!

That is one of the paradoxes of living on a planet where there are limited resources. If there were UNLIMITED resources then it may be okay to wait. But the truth is there is only so much of anything. For anything, there is a limited amount of time to do it. There are only so many places available. There are limited numbers of anything.

So, don't hang back. Go forward.

3. Even weaker is the EVADER approach.

This person's habit pattern is to run away from challenges. Run away and hide.

This is the "better safe than sorry" mentality. Again, there are many examples when "better safe than sorry" is good advice. But if one makes that the default setting in the mind, then, long range, it is also dangerous.

This mental attitude leads to lack of confidence, lack of courage, weakness and loss of opportunity.

If your mind's default setting is to run away from challenging situations, to run away from problems, and to run away from difficult people, then ultimately this will lead to failure. Mentally, spiritually, socially and financial failure.

Building Self Confidence

Be courageous and step up to the situation.

Meet life's challenges square on.

Don't wait. Don't run.

Step up to the challenge.

Say to yourself over and over: I will step-up to meet the challenge.

Step into it.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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Further Reading in Personal Development

• Why it is Good to be Ambitious
  When people are ambitious, they have positive goals, something to plan for and something to work towards. Planning towards a better future helps people feel stronger and more optimistic.
  Read Article >
• What is Self-Image?
  Our actions reflect our self-image, influencing choices and decisions. Self-concept sets boundaries, often self-imposed, guiding behaviour. People struggle when actions conflict with their self-image, feeling inauthentic.
  Read Article >
• Develop Your Mind, Body and Spirit
  Don't wait for random chance to operate in your favour, take action to improve your life for the better.
  Read Article >
• How can we continually improve our results?
  Results are the measure of our own performance. Your performance can be continuously improved by three elements; improving yourself, others and the systems around you.
  Read Article >
• Learn From Your Mistakes
  Criticism is good for you. Don't get upset when you receive negative feedback, instead use the criticism to make adaptive changes. Learn from your failures and you will be on track to succeed.
  Read Article >

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