Tricky nut!

Tricky nut to crack ....

I mentioned THE GREMLIN in one of my earlier posts ... only in passing though. It warrants some more attention -

I don’t know about you but every now and then my Gremlin tries to get me. The gremlin is behind that tempting feeling you get every time you either feel lazy, you procrastinate or you half-do something.  You've got a gremlin too - we all have. That's because we're human.

Your gremlin has won when it stops you doing something you know you should do. Your gremlin will be having a field day when this happens. Don't let it. It's not doing you any favours.

Here's why .... Your gremlin is to blame for trying to pull you back during those situations when you know you should actually be putting your view across confidently. Your gremlin will be trying to get in your way when a job comes up at work that you know you should do but don’t feel comfortable doing. Your gremlin will be trying to hold you back when an opportunity arises in your personal life that you haven’t quite got the confidence to seize. Your gremlin is a tempting but very damaging force.

Remember! ... your gremlin is not your friend and nice to have by your side to help you stay out of the limelight, or to make you feel it's OK to be lazy. The gremlin is your enemy. Your gremlin stops you doing the challening things that, in your heart of hearts, you know are right.

Think of this too - this gremlin can massively affect the way you come across to people. If you let it get the better of you, you’ll be seen as a person who is at best unhelpful and at worst lazy and not worth having in the team. The knock-on affect of this on your self-confidence could be catastrophic.  

You will know the next time your gremlin tries to get you. Be aware it’s happening and overcome it. It could be today, tomorrow or the next day. It could be at work or at home. Wherever and whenever it happens, don’t let the gremlin get you.  

Sorry for the lecture! It’s just that my Gremlin tried to get me this morning ….

Don't let yours get you!

Mike

Born Confident?

Are you born confident or can you learn self-confidence?

I lost count a long time ago of the number of people who ask me the question 'surely you're born with self-confidence?' They're convinced that some people are just lucky because they're 'born' confident. This just isn't true.

This is one of the best confidence tips you'll hear. The first thing to accept about building confidence is that at birth we're all born on a level playing field. We all start together at the same point on the path to self confidence. If you continue to think you're at a disadvantage to confident people because you weren't born confident, then the playing field that used to be level will turn into a steeper and steeper upward climb. So, it's important to come to terms with this and believe it. People with self-confidence aren't born confident.

Confidence is an attitude, a state of mind, that develops. It might be worth taking a few seconds to mull this over. Some people accept it but don't really believe it. If you don't believe it, it will become a convenient excuse. It then becomes a heavy burden that hinders you whenever you find yourself outside your comfort zone.

Now think of confidence as a skill that relates to your attitude and your state of mind. It isn't something concrete or something of substance that you can touch or put your finger on, but it is tangible. Controlling your state of mind, thinking positively and feeling that you can change for the better is one of the first steps on the road to increased self-confidence. Simple things like learning how to use your body language effectively can really help to build your self confidence. 

Remember - you can acquire self confidence at any stage in your life. You can learn how to feel and look more confident as you grow and mature. Everyone can do this. We all have the opportunity to build our self confidence as our lives move on. The key is to treat confidence as a skill. You really CAN learn how to become more confident.

Think back to other skills you've learnt as your life has moved on, for example reading, writing, riding a bike, or driving a car and treat confidence in the same way. 

Hope this helps ... Mike