Developing your self confidence

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." To start feeling good about yourself, try thinking of a time when you felt content and happy. This process of taking control of your thoughts and emotions will have an impact on your self confidence and other areas of your life.

Self confidence is something you can sense about a person when he or she enters a room. It is evident through body language and speech. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. You don't have to be born with self confidence, you can create it. It's like most other things, it can be learned.

Following are 6 ways to boost your self-confidence:

STEP 1
Think back to when you did something new for the first time. Learning something new is often accompanied by feelings of nervousness which is part of the learning process. This is perfectly natural.

STEP 2
Do something you have been putting off. Like writing in your journal, calling a long lost friend, cleaning your room, finishing the book you started, making a healthy meal - do something that involves you making a decision, and following through to the finish.

STEP 3
Do something that you are good at. How about swimming, running, dancing, cooking, painting, writing.If possible, it should be something that holds your attention and focus to get you to forget about everything else. Consider doing this particular activity at least once a week for a happier and healthier you.

STEP 4
Stop thinking about yourself. Yes, this sounds strange, but low self-esteem is often accompanied by focusing too much on your self. Doing something that absorbs you and holds your attention can quickly make you feel better.like helping your mother fix dinner, or helping your little sister or brother with their homework. Even immersing yourself in a craft can help.

STEP 5
Get relaxed. If you are feeling low, or lacking in confidence, the first thing to do is to stop thinking and relax. Some people do this by exercising, others by involving themselves in something that occupies their mind like Yoga or Tai Chi.

STEP 6
Remember all the things you have achieved. This can be difficult at first, but after a while, you'll develop a handy mental list of self-esteem boosting memories. Things like passing your driving test, doing well on exams, playing a team sport, getting fit, saving money for something, trying to help someone in need, etc.

Consider making these 6 steps a permanent part of your life. Remember that self confidence is a result of the way you think and the things you do from day to day.