Boost your confidence in 48 hours was written for people who’re feeling a bit nervous or scared about doing an upcoming activity. It may be defending your thesis, starting a new job, going for an interview, going on a first date etc. This article is to provide an easy, temporary fix to building confidence. This piece will give you all you need for the confidence you deserve to do the job at hand. If you’re looking for overall confidence boosting activity and tips you’ve come to the right place. Just look around and read the rest of the confidence articles on this site.
like ripples, confidence starts from the inside and extends outwards
It’s only the stress of this unknown situation that makes you feel unable to do it. When this stress builds up over time, bad hormones in your body join forces to make you feel anxious and scared. It’s this anxiety and fear that strips you of your confidence. You know you can do this, but fear is telling you you can’t. The first thing this confidence-building exercise asks you to do is de-stress. This is where your old collection of music comes in.
This requires you to not only play your ‘happy occasion’ music, but to make a list of the ones that bring back good memories of times when you felt loved, happy, carefree or excited. (Perhaps after this exercise you should keep the list, so you know just what to play in the future). This list could consist of the songs you danced to when you were younger, or the tunes you played for your children when they were little, (or the ones your parents played for you) etc. Listen to these and try singing along. I’ve worked out that if you wait for when you’re happy and relaxed to sing along to your favourite music, it wouldn’t happen often enough. Instead, sing in order tobecome happy. This will sound impossible only until you’ve tried it and see that it truly works. Not only would the music remind you of good times, but singing along helps you to take your mind back and mentally participate in these occasions all over again. Singing also helps you to breathe evenly (the opposite of how we breathe when we’re anxious). You’re preparing yourself to boost the confidence which has gone missing.
This is another thing you have to do in the run up this occasion causing you self-doubt. The day before your activity, spare some time to treat yourself. This works because now you’re feeling a little more relaxed, treating yourself makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Everyone loves a treat. It makes us feel special and needed. Feeling good is the start to giving the confidence a kick start. If you can’t afford a massage or special treat, give yourself a poor man’s facial (man or woman). In the evening, get a damp, wet towel and place it on your face. Not only will it soothe dry achy skin, but the warm moisture also absorbs stress and tension from your face. Stress causes us to unintentionally frown. Frowning often creates permanent frown lines which means that you look miserable and angry even when you’re not. Our faces somehow manage to remember each frown we’ve ever made, and makes us pay back in creases when we hit 40. We can’t have that now – nor then.
Now, the psychological benefits of having a tension-free face is that we really do mirror the people with whom we come into contact. Do you know a person who’s tightly wound? How do you feel when you’re around this person? And the laid back people? Do you tend to let your stiff shoulders drop and sit in a more relaxed manner when you’re around them? The people you want to ‘accept’ you on this occasion are the same people who’re going to react to the relaxed, calm and contented face you show them. If you’re anxious, they’ll be. Stress over this situation will show on your face and make you look unsure. They’ll mirror this back to you too. Stride in confidently and they will welcome you with open arms. The more open they are to you, the more confident you’ll feel.
In today’s society where people’s worth are measured by what they possess, it ‘s very difficult to keep your confidence when you’ve had a small setback. It has become acceptable to be as nasty and as cunning as possible as long as it can help us achieve material success and world-wide fame. However, you don’t want to be that person. You want desperately to hold onto who you are, but you feel that person no longer can measure up to the crowd’s expectations.
Give yourself permission to leave tasks uncompleted. Give yourself permission not to be able to answer all the questions thrown at you. You can’t concentrate fully on staying confident and knowing it all. It’s okay to say you don’t know the answer. In fact, if you promise to look the answer up and pass it on, most people will be fine with that. They probably don’t know the answer either.
No one even expects you to know everything. They do expect you to be confident when you give the answers to the things you do know. While striving to be a dependable worker, don’t fight too hard and stress over things which can be done later. This kind of attitude makes you lose the confidence you have in yourself. This is because you’re beating yourself up about not being able to complete everything. Of course, you can’t! No one can. I’m not saying to do as little as you can get away with. I’m saying that once you’ve done all you can do, you alone know if you’ve done your best. Confidence is not built by being able to do everything. Confidence is built by being able to do some things well. Make a list of the things you do very well and read them over to yourself. When the time comes, don’t jump around trying to fit into several boxes. Concentrate hard on pointing things towards your skills.
This one is really a no-brainer. Most people who’re not confident in themselves are those wishing they could do or be what someone else has done or is. Each of us has our own beauty and talents. Find yours and be content with them. You can’t (no matter how hard you try) compete with yourself. Who’re you competing with at present. You only feel ugly because you wish you looked like (fill in the blanks). You only feel stupid because you wish you could do what (fill in the blanks) has done. If you desire it, there’s only 1 way to get it – work hard. The alternative is to be happy with what you’ve already got. We’ve already established it’s possible to have body confidence regardless of what you look like. You just have to be willing to notice what’s good and remarkable about you.
Overburdening yourself to strive crazily for what you don’t need (or have) will only raise your stress levels. You work, you enjoy life and have your family and friends. Never mind what others have, you personally have more today than you did this time last year. Next year you will have still more. Your life is improving, maybe not at the same pace as the person’s next door, but they may have started way before you or may have had a boosting head start.
When the time comes, hydrate yourself so you’re thinking straight. Watch you don’t have too much water, though. You don’t want to have to go to the toilet every 10 minutes. You know, water is underrated. Dehydration causes us to be confused and slightly delirious. Mixed with anxiety, this is not a good potion. Have you considered, water has always been a source from which life is born. A baby spends 40 weeks in a sac filled with water. In baptism, people are immersed to bury their old selves and to be re-born. Gardeners like myself instantly know when a plant is dying of thirst merely by the wretchedness of its stance. However, just a few drops of water could literally bring that half-dead living organism back to life.
In the process of diluting, water plays an essential role. Likewise, if lack of self-confidence is to be diluted, water can be of help. Before setting off to your special occasion, listen to running water in the garden, sit by a stream and read a book, (take your mind off it for a while) go for a river ride and hear the water lapping against the boat.
Start with these 48 hours, slowly at first, then pick up speed and keep on moving to achieve your self confidence. These tips above may seem simple, but try them. They do work! They will work for you, I’m sure. A set-back is just that. It’s just a step back with a pause before you go forward again. Stay on the right track and move forward.
However, moving back is still better than standing still because it may be the propeller you need to jolt you forward. In the end, what’s the worst that can happen if this occasion turns out only half as good as you wished?
Do you have other points to boost confidence on a short-term basis? Please share them in the comment boxes below.
i am all time try to make my self relax and have Confidence and i found this post and really so good information,thank you so much.
Hi Anne,
I really enjoyed reading your post. In particular, I really appreciated your point about music and singing. There are definitely certain types of music (for example the theme tune to Rocky), which help to increase my confidence. It’s interesting how this works.
Thank you.
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YOu’re right about the theme from Rocky, Hiten. It’s a real confidence booster. I really don’t know why these things work, but they do for me and a lot of other people I know. I suppose we don’t have to understand why or how, just that they’re tools we can use when we need a temporary boost.
Thanks for stopping by.
one cant boost confidence in just 48 hours, it takes time to build your confidence
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Ali, the article states that this is precisely a temporary activity for a particular task. I’d love for you to return to read the rest of the article to see what I’m saying about giving yourself this temporary boost. I’m sure you’ll find something useful you can use in the near future.
For overall confidence building, the rest of the articles on this site shows a comprehensive way to go about it. Thanks for your time. And as I said in the article itself, confidence cannot be built in 48 hours, but you can get a boost if you need one for something particular like an interview.
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[…] you can use your clothes (your exterior) to make yourself look confident. I know you’re still working on being confident. You obviously understand that confidence comes from within and does not depend on external […]
You will notice that this specific article deals expressly with a short term ‘plaster’ for LOOKING not FEELING confident.
The post was written for a short-term fix and definitely does not advocate using external ways to build up your confidence. This is just the starter, and it’s for a short term fix like an interview – for example.
Thanks for writing in such an encouraging post. I had a glimpse of it and couldn’t stop reading till I finished. I have already bookmarked you.
Rice producers in India
Having confidence is an important part of being a successful sales person. This information offers great advice for building confidence. Thanks for the info.
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Hi Anne,
Music is the best healing medicine. Anxiety is one situation & depression is another. Listening to master pieces can relieve you from stress. “Comparison” works a s the poison for confidence. Never compare yourself with others. It will get you misery. Contentedness is the sweet seed of confidence which should be gardened with patience.
Yes, music seems to work for a lot of people for some reason. Of course, we have our own choices, loud music works for some, while quieter, more relaxed music works for others.
Hi Anne,
This is a great article! Relaxation is key to being confident, I think. Being stressed is the beginning of the realization that something is out of balance. I know that if I don’t take time to relax and de-stress, I’ll be fighting negative thinking soon. Thanks so much for sharing. I’m going to share this with my foster daughter who is visiting today. Sally
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You’re right there, Sally. Negative thinking is a lot harder to deal with and banish than stress because the thoughts affect our minds AND our bodies. We can potentially get into a vicious circle if we allow the negative thoughts to take hold.
Thanks for the share, Sally. I appreciate it.
You have listed some great tips here Anne!
I like the suggestion of playing music. Once I play some up beat music, especially from a time I can remember being happy it neuro links into my subconscious and I find myself dancing around the house. Oh yes, with my dog!
You also mention facial expressions. Oh boy do I see that so many times – people with frowns or stressed faces. Yes it gives you those lines on your face.
I happen to laugh a lot so I wear my laugh lines with pride!
Donna
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I’m glad you agree, Donna. Dancing around with your dog sounds like good fun.
I’d rather have laughter lines any day, than frown lines. Laughter lines make you look permanently happy, as though you’ve spent your life having fun. I like the idea this represents of me.
HI Anne, interesting post and I enjoyed these confidence boosting tips. One thing that really stood out to me was how you talked about the way people can see the tension in our faces when we aren’t feeling confident.
I used to work in face to face sales and occasionally I would have a client in front of me that made me feel uneasy or who I just didn’t gel with too well. I’m pretty sure that they were able to see the lack of confidence (along with some of the other emotions) in my facial expressions when they were working with me and I think it set the tone for our business relationship later on if they did decide to continue working with me.
It’s interesting how the way you feel inside can have such an impact on the way people percieve you on the outside… No matter how hard you try to hide it.
Hi Jill, thanks for your insightful comment. It’s great to see this in action in someone’s actual experience.
Yes, our thoughts determine our feelings and our feelings can influence your behaviour. It’s so easy for people to spot what we’re trying hard to hide. Sometimes we even overcompensate when we’re hiding something. This overcompensation screams even louder.
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I really like the concept of being happy with what you have. In fact, I think that that is the biggest thing one can do for their self confidence. How can one actually expect to feel good about themselves, if they do not appreciate what they have? I cannot begin to elaborate on how important this is. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of remaining mindful about this!
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excellent advice. i love all the water ilustrations.
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I really enjoyed reading your post too. i like your point of view about music, singning 🙂
Thank you
Hi Anne ,
Those tips are really true .
As for me , the cliche “look good, feel good” is one way of boosting my confidence for my daily routine. Its because if your appearance looks confident and at ease, your feelings will follow. So it’s important to pay attention to your appearance including your fitness, grooming and clothes. And keep the environment around you clean and ordered. These things create internal confidence.
Thanks for your input, Sabrina. This is great advice and a sound maxim. Take care of yourself properly and you feel better for it. Mind and body are linked inexorably.
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Hi Anne, I believe Rome was not built in a day. I enjoyed the articles about building confidence. Thanks for sharing the great experience. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Well, confidence is everything and with confidence, you have power to be the winner in life. Great tips for building or boosting confidence.
Hello, I am Wasee Haque. I am affected with a little depression. Good post, it helped me a lot. Thankyou
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One more I want to add. Don’t be afraid to confess you don’t know. There is no one in world who knows everything. Just learn what you don’t know. These are nice tips. Really helpful. Thanks Anne!
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Good post i hope it will help me to boost my confidence in blogging
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Valuable post so much for me especially this days.. See I have applied in the government as a public teacher (by the way I am a teacher by profession) and applying to them entails so much pain. Stress is overflowing my soul as my demonstration is approaching and I don’t have any idea if could render my lesson successfully. All I know is I need superior confidence to stand in front of a number of head school teachers and present my lesson successfully. I am truly afraid to have flaws, but after reading those lines on your post like ” no one knows everything” was such a relief. Anyways, thanks for this great post, I am planning to treat myself before my demonstration (like what you suggested), buy some shoes (I love shoes so much, they are my guilty pleasures) and outfit to wear. I guess having a good aura could also boost my confidence.. Just bid me a great luck for this month. So I say Aja!
Really helpful and Nice Article. Thanks Anne!
excellent advice. i love all the water ilustrations.
Very good post, you helpd me alot. thank you
thanks so much friend for sharing this article,,,this is very nice…
nice to meet u….
follow me back please…..
You really hit the point with the singing method because i always relax my self with it.
I feel like i am in a heavenly place and forget everyone.
Thank you for the great post.
All I know is I need superior confidence to stand in front of a number of head school teachers and present my lesson successfully.
thanks
Really nice blog
“Being happy with what you have” this point is enough to say boost you confidence as per my thinking
After reading some nice stuff in your article I really feel speechless, because it is quit pretty article. Beside this it is also a long lasting article. Thanks for giving me such type of useful information..
confidence is a vital thing in all we desire to achieve in life, so this piece is a great clue to that.
i found this post so useful, especially after flipping through the comments of some readers here.
Nice techniques i feel good and confidence on my self thanks for the article.
Hi Anne ,
WOW! You share very useful tips n that are really true.
Any one in this world can boost his/her confidence by just a little thing and that is “Daily Routine”. If one will be healthy n active, face reflects the glory. n the mind will sharp. Daily Routine Builds the real confidence in One’ Heart
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You also mention facial expressions. Oh boy do I see that so many times – people with frowns or stressed faces. Yes it gives you those lines on your face
Another wonderful article! So many great tips! I especially like and agree how powerful the right type of music is as medicine. Very relaxing! I also like how you said the key to confidence is to be happy with what you have, not what you don’t. That is so important! Thank you for sharing!
JoLynn Braley
The F.A.T. Release Coach
People call me short all the time. I loose confidence to do anything. I have nothing to do with being short. I am really brilliant, but I feel like I can not do anything because I am short. Your post helped me a lot. Now, when people call me short, I remind them I am smarted than him, which is true. Thanks A lot.
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I usually shy and try to change that.after reading your article.I will be more confident.Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Self confidence is important to get success in the life, because it plays a very important role in achieving goals.
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Great advice. I think Confidence is very important in life. You can’t let others opinion matter to you in a negative way. No matter what in any case or situation,you cant be bogged down. I like the concept of being happpy with yourself and realising that you are responsible for your own life and what you make out of it.
thanks for posting such a useful post for building confidence. i agree with your point that stress reduces confidence. i dont have the confidence to speak in a crowd and all. by reading your post i got somewat confidence
Very nice techniques thanks a lot.
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I have to learn for an exam and I wasn’t too confident about passing it, but this article helps me alot.
I will most definitely try the things you have suggested on your wonderful blog. I know I am in desperate need of a confidence boost.
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Well, you shared the most important thing for boosting confidence quickly is relax. In this case agree with this point because we need to relax our mind for boosting our confidence.
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Hi Anne, I have to agree wholeheartedly with the “comparison” comment. Comparing yourself with others is the fastest way to kill your confidence in any situation. Yes, it can help your self-esteem when comparing yourself with those that are less fortunate. However, more often than not, you’ll be looking at people who have more than you and that is a formula for disaster.
This page contains a lot of good informative information. Its been very beneficial for me and I will continue reading your blog in future.
Hi Anne,
thank you for tips about confidence. I know all of them, but this article is very good reminder. This blog is added to Google Reader 🙂
Alex
Hi Anne, first time on your site. Great advice…
I have a little problem with stuttering. Hope this helps
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