Confidence emerges when you are comfortable. When you're comfortable with yourself, comfortable with your environment, and comfortable with the things/people you're interacting with. How is all that attained? Get used to being in strange situations. In other words, make spontaneity, going against the grain, and doing the unanticipated a habit.
To be comfortable with yourself, the most emphasized part, you must know yourself in and out. You have an identity, make sure you have it figured out. Ask yourself some basic questions. "What are my views on religion? What are my views on morals? What is my primary goal in life? What are my beliefs about how I should treat other people?" When you have a good idea of your values and beliefs, making decisions becomes much easier. In the midst of a difficult decision, just break it down and figure out what choice would best fit your values. Decide what is important to you and what you believe is a good character.
To be physically comfortable with yourself, make yourself aware of what that takes and then strive to get there. Do you need to bulk up? Then head to the gym. New wardrobe? Try to manage it bit by bit if you don't have the money. If you don't like your hair, ask some people what they think about it. Make sure you're eating healthy. There are plenty of things you can do to make yourself look better and feel better.
If you're unsatisfied with your intellectual ability, try harder. I think one of the key differences between people who are at a higher intellectual level than others is that from a young age they've been taught to think about things harder and concentrate on them more, forming a habit of it. To develop your mind, excercise it. If you're struggling with a math class and want to do better, the simple answer is to work harder. Even if you can't finish a test in 15 minutes and ace it, the extra work will pay off and you will see the benefits. One of the greatest things you can do for your mind is read. Get a book about something you're interested in and read for 30 minutes each night before you go to sleep.
Form good habits. If there is something you don't like about yourself, FIX IT! If one day you watch a video you made with your friends and find out that you slouch when you walk, work on it (unless you like it...). If you make a conscious effort to improve, you will. If you don't think you're very funny during conversation, make the effort to be funny. Don't listen to the people who say "it's not funny when you try to be funny." Clever jokes are usually formulated. Learn how to read other people's body language, especially if you can't judge how funny you are or if you're making enough eye contact, etc.
To be comfortable in your environment again comes back to habit. Do you get nervous in crowded places? Then go to them. If you want to go to a club but are afraid of being embarrased because you've never been to one and don't know what to do, then go to one. Take the initial risk to overcome your fears.
To be comfortable with other people, you just have to be around them a lot. Talk to them. Make it an effort to leave a good first impression. When you meet someone through a friend, talk to them as much as you talk to the friend, if not more. Remember their name, and use it like you know them. Be the first person to say something in a conversation. BE ACTIVE! To become comfortable around people you might have to be uncomfortable with them initially. If you have an opportunity to go out to dinner with your friend and his buddies, do it (granted you are available)! You won't get to shore quickly by letting the wind carry you, you've got to do some paddling.
When you're comfortable with yourself and the things and people around you, the worries of life melt away and its fruits are infinitely more sweet.
To be comfortable with yourself, the most emphasized part, you must know yourself in and out. You have an identity, make sure you have it figured out. Ask yourself some basic questions. "What are my views on religion? What are my views on morals? What is my primary goal in life? What are my beliefs about how I should treat other people?" When you have a good idea of your values and beliefs, making decisions becomes much easier. In the midst of a difficult decision, just break it down and figure out what choice would best fit your values. Decide what is important to you and what you believe is a good character.
To be physically comfortable with yourself, make yourself aware of what that takes and then strive to get there. Do you need to bulk up? Then head to the gym. New wardrobe? Try to manage it bit by bit if you don't have the money. If you don't like your hair, ask some people what they think about it. Make sure you're eating healthy. There are plenty of things you can do to make yourself look better and feel better.
If you're unsatisfied with your intellectual ability, try harder. I think one of the key differences between people who are at a higher intellectual level than others is that from a young age they've been taught to think about things harder and concentrate on them more, forming a habit of it. To develop your mind, excercise it. If you're struggling with a math class and want to do better, the simple answer is to work harder. Even if you can't finish a test in 15 minutes and ace it, the extra work will pay off and you will see the benefits. One of the greatest things you can do for your mind is read. Get a book about something you're interested in and read for 30 minutes each night before you go to sleep.
Form good habits. If there is something you don't like about yourself, FIX IT! If one day you watch a video you made with your friends and find out that you slouch when you walk, work on it (unless you like it...). If you make a conscious effort to improve, you will. If you don't think you're very funny during conversation, make the effort to be funny. Don't listen to the people who say "it's not funny when you try to be funny." Clever jokes are usually formulated. Learn how to read other people's body language, especially if you can't judge how funny you are or if you're making enough eye contact, etc.
To be comfortable in your environment again comes back to habit. Do you get nervous in crowded places? Then go to them. If you want to go to a club but are afraid of being embarrased because you've never been to one and don't know what to do, then go to one. Take the initial risk to overcome your fears.
To be comfortable with other people, you just have to be around them a lot. Talk to them. Make it an effort to leave a good first impression. When you meet someone through a friend, talk to them as much as you talk to the friend, if not more. Remember their name, and use it like you know them. Be the first person to say something in a conversation. BE ACTIVE! To become comfortable around people you might have to be uncomfortable with them initially. If you have an opportunity to go out to dinner with your friend and his buddies, do it (granted you are available)! You won't get to shore quickly by letting the wind carry you, you've got to do some paddling.
When you're comfortable with yourself and the things and people around you, the worries of life melt away and its fruits are infinitely more sweet.
UMBASS!: