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Insecurity: that awful feeling that somehow, in some way,  you are just not good enough. We’ve all experienced insecurities, and they’re difficult to shake due to the fact that they’re embedded in our habitual ways of thinking...
The first step in conquering them is to identify and change these unhealthy thought patterns.
We’ll lead you through several techniques for achieving this, focusing on two major areas where people tend to lack self-confidence.  Make over your self imageA less than healthy self image can be crippling, whether it saps your self-confidence at work, causes you to avoid the beach in summer, or persuades you to stay home at night because you just don’t look ‘right’. Here are five steps towards sending that attitude packing.
1: Listen to what your inner critic is saying. Would you say those things to other people? Probably not. Next time that inner voice starts to put you down, replace it with the kind of encouragement a good friend would give you.
 2: Write down at least ten things that you like about yourself. Whether it is your best features, the things you’re good at or your personality strengths. 3: Stop comparing yourself to other girls. Instead of thinking, ‘I’m not as pretty or clever or stylish as she is,’ focus on the amazing things you wrote down in the list above. No one will ever have your particular talents or ideas or beauty. Make the most of it! 4: Learn to accept compliments. When someone praises you, your immediate thought shouldn’t be, ‘Oh, she’s just being nice.’ Instead, think, ‘Wow, she’s right! I do look gorgeous tonight.’ 5: Commit to practising your new way of thinking for a month. It takes about 30 - 40 repetitions of something to set a new habit.  Cultivate confidence with othersOther people are one of our biggest sources of insecurity. Who doesn’t feel a little nervous at a party where they don’t know anyone? New social situations such as job interviews or the first day of university can also shake our self-assurance. Here are five tips for boosting your confidence:
1: You don’t have to be a smooth talker for people to like you. Making friends isn’t about showing off how great you are—it’s about becoming interested in other people. After .jpg) all, it’s hard not to like someone who genuinely listens to you and takes an interest in what you’re saying. 2: Everybody says or does embarrassing things. Instead of focusing on a moment when you put your foot in it, think about the times when you did connect with another person or manage a social situation well. 3: Fake self-confidence until you have it - it’ll make talking to others easier. People feel more comfortable if they sense that you’re confident, which in turn will put you more at ease.  4: Set aside time to follow your own interests. Keep up with current affairs. You’ll always have a conversation topic at a party, and others are more likely to take an interest if they sense that you’re passionate about something. 5: Make eye contact. Smile! You’re okay.
Rebecca White
Remember that if you ever feel as though you’re insecurity issues are more than you can handle, you should seek professional advice – your local GP is a good start. |
