Article by Judith Ward
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there” Theodore Roosevelt
It’s one of those days when you need to be somewhere and you are experiencing a total confidence slump. Maybe it’s an important presentation today at work, a job interview or a social event you must attend. You just aren’t feeling it today and would rather hide under the duvet at home. You tell yourself, “come on I’m in my 40’s, I should know better by now!”
So how can you quickly boost your confidence and get yourself feeling more confident and rearing to go? Here are 7 tips to re-boost your confidence levels and dazzle your intended audience.
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Change your body posture
A well-known Harvard Researcher called Amy Cuddy states that we can boost our confidence within two minutes by adopting a power pose. Sounds good?
So how does this work?
An example could be that you want to ask your boss for a pay rise and feel you need a quick boost before you step into their office. It’s simple, a couple of minutes before you go in, adopt a power pose similar to Wonder Woman. (yes really!)
To do this, stand with your hands on your hips, feet apart, shoulders back. This has a positive effect on your body of reducing your stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline and increasing testosterone and serotonin. You will feel a surge of confidence and have more chance of getting that pay rise you deserve!
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Visualise your way to success.
“I used to walk into a room full of people and wonder if they would like me. Now I look around and wonder if I’m going to like them”. Anonymous
Visualise yourself going into the situation you are dreading and this time imagine it going well. Put as much detail as possible into your visualisation. Keep practising this every day in the build up to the event and this will make you feel calmer and more in control.
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Dress to impress.
This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on a new outfit, it can mean planning your wardrobe so you wear something that makes you feel good. When I wear bright colours, it makes me feel confident. Something in red or a bright blue always does it for me. It can be one small change that can make you feel that extra spring in your step.
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Focus on solutions.
Use your energy to focus on solutions instead of the problems. Focusing on solutions is one of the best ways to boost your confidence quickly. Saying things like, “I hate my job or “I look a mess today” aren’t helpful comments. How can you solve that?
Book an appointment with a recruitment company or make a commitment to yourself to check yourself in the mirror before you walk out the front door.
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Smile
This might seem obvious but it works! I know I feel instantly better when I smile and science has shown that people are predisposed to be drawn to happier smiling faces. We call it the happy face advantage.
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Speak slowly
A person who speaks slowly comes across with authority and confidence. Try slowing down your speech at home and practising it and it will come more naturally. I find reading bed time stories or nursery rhymes are a good way to start.
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Remember praise.
I find when I’m having an off day, it’s good to remember times when people have given you a compliment or praise. What did they say to you? Maybe you did a good job on that last project or organising your son’s birthday party. Don’t talk yourself out of believing it. Instead, upcycle it into confidence. You did a brilliant job which means you can do it again.
Other people want to see you do well. Now you just need to believe them when they say you are worthy.
Lastly and above all, remember to be yourself. Be true and authentic. You are unique and capable and worthy.
Imagine yourself stepping into shoes of someone that you know and admire who is confident. Believing in yourself is the key to becoming the more confident version of you.
Thanks for Judith’s tips on how to feel more confident.
About Judith Ward.
Judith Ward is an award winning clinical hypnotherapist. She practises a modern form of hypnotherapy called Solution focused hypnotherapy. It can be used help anxiety, depression, confidence, self-esteem, stress, phobias and enhancing general well-being. She is available via Skype or at her clinic and can be contacted at www.judithwardhypnotherapy.co.uk.
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Loved that piece, thank you. I will be employing every one of those!
Me too especially the power pose. I’ve read a few articles lately about the power of how you stand and it really does work.
Great tips. The only one I would add is to have a “did” list. That way you can see how far you’ve come on a project. Great confidence boost from that.
Yes great idea. Rather than focusing on your to do list (which can seem never ending) look at your ‘did’ list.