Having confidence means that you view yourself favorably. You know that you can do what you need to do, that you have the skills and talents to be able to handle yourself.
You trust that your instincts, thinking and abilities are sufficient. When you don’t have confidence it means that you struggle to accept who you are. You’ll lack confidence to do things because you simply don’t trust that you can.
You go through life feeling as if you’re not educated enough, skilled enough, smart enough, talented enough, pretty enough, or handsome enough. You judge yourself, often thinking of what you could have, should have said or done, and you always fall short.
What mindfulness does to help you change this and build your confidence is replace the feelings that you’re not enough with the trust that you are. Using mindfulness calls for you to not dwell on your past or on any negative experiences where you feel that you failed or fell short.
It helps you to not focus on the future or on what you hope to be and it helps train you to focus on who you are right now and see that who you are is good enough. You learn to accept yourself – and with that, a strong confidence in yourself is built.
Practicing mindfulness can also boost your self-esteem. Mindfulness can lead you to a life settled in the present. With living in the present comes a non-judgmental acceptance of who you are.
So many people have an internal voice that’s extremely ugly. This internal voice has been conditioned to speak this way by us. The disturbing results are that when we allow this internal voice to have a negative say, we can trigger stress, anxiety and even depression.
This self talk has a direct impact on how you feel about yourself. Learn to be aware of this negative self talk. If you call yourself names, that’s a sign that you’ve been engaging in negative self talk that can lower your self esteem.
Some people call themselves stupid or idiot. When they consider doing something, this internal self talk always tells them why they can’t. You’ll tell yourself things like “I’m not smart enough” or “I’m too dumb to do it.”
When you allow these thoughts to run rampant, you can get into the mindset that you can’t do something – that you’re unworthy – and then your feelings follow that internal self talk until it becomes a belief.
This habit can be so ingrained within you that the negative self talk plays constantly in your mind, so much so that it becomes like white noise. What mindfulness does is bring your attention to the inner dialogue that’s eroding your self esteem.
You learn what this internal conversation is doing to you and how it’s impacting your emotions. Mindfulness helps you learn to accept who you are without expectations or blaming. You’ll gain skills that you can use to learn how to raise your confidence and acceptance of yourself.
Are you feeling a bit confused by strategic thinking? You know it’s essential for your career and your business, but how do you actually do it?
Most people will know why they should be using strategic thinking, but knowing why you need to do it and how to actually pull it off are two completely different things, so let’s look at how you can get started thinking strategically.
Here are five questions you should ask yourself to really sharpen your strategic thinking.
Yes, there are probably way more than this, but by keeping it to five questions, this shouldn’t look too overwhelming.
The most important thing to work out is where you want to be. Everything—goals, strategies, steps, should all be pointing to your desired destination.
Do you want to be CEO, or be running your own company?
Get it all down on paper and think big! And don’t limit yourself at all; let your imagination run riot. Some ideas may seem silly, but it is really liberating to get it all down.
Once you have everything down you can start planning what you need to do to achieve it, but without an end in sight, you will probably never even get started.
Do a survey of exactly where you are right now.
What skills, resources, and assets do you have? What are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks in your current job or business?
What connections do you have? Map out your network and what value you provide to them, and what they offer you. Write up your self-inventory.
Think about what is in your control at the present moment.
This can include anything from training, networking opportunities, to investment advice or strategic career planning.
Take another look at your self-inventory.
If this is difficult or overwhelming, consider finding a mentor or life coach who can help you find your way.
It can be scary to even considering mentoring, but it could be the right move for you if you keep getting stuck on your own.
Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make, so at least consider it if you are struggling.
Really going for success shouldn’t make for a joyless life, totally focused on getting ahead.
Make sure you take time to have fun and do the things that give you pleasure.
Write down all the fun things you will do, whether it’s staying in 5-star hotels or being able to work for only half the year. Imagine driving your dream car. See yourself in your future executive suite.
See what elements of your future life you can start to incorporate in the present and build on those. Before you know it, you will be toasting your success!
Now, one of the biggest issues that stops you from planning and building for the future is by staying in the past.
Remember: the past doesn’t equal the future!
If you keep looking back, you will never move forward, so let’s look at how you can let go of the past and build a fantastic future!
You have probably read a lot about why you should let go of the past. However, it’s more important to know how to do it.
They get stuck on actually taking steps to make it happen. So, let’s look at 7 things you can do to finally rid yourself of the past and to use it as a tool to help you mould a better future.
That is an important step. Your brain can latch onto something and is waiting for you to release the responsibility.
That release comes in the form of telling yourself to let go. If you can master this, you truly can be free of the grip that your past has on your life.
Is it easy? For many people it can be incredibly difficult, but if you can do it, the results are truly liberating.
There are learning nuggets contained within your past.
Anything you have done or tried before is up for grabs in the University of your past and there are so many lessons that you can use to grow into the future if you will let them.
The way to use them is to determine why they happened and how to avoid them in the future. All experiences are opportunities for growth and they don’t ll have to be labelled as “failures” either.
When you are relaxed, you will have an easier time of purging your past. One of the best forms of relaxation is meditation.
Don’t expect fast solutions with this. The key is to keep doing it until you feel the effects.
If you are a person of faith, you can try prayer too; the results will similarly give you a peace of mind and you can relax because you have shared your issues with God.
People try to pretend certain aspects of their past did not happen, especially the more embarrassing moments.
However, this may cause them to come back to you with a vengeance since they are bottling up within you.
Hiding from the past solves nothing and can cause bitterness to develop if you keep looking back at what you don’t have; instead look at what you have now and you will see that you have grown so much already.
Be as detailed as possible so you can refer to the journal when faced with similar circumstances in the future.
Don’t treat your journal as a bible, however. Just use the journal as a guideline.
Journaling can be a really great way to bring clarity and focus into your life and helps you to put things into perspective when you look back on them.
And if your life is worth living, it is worth recording, right?
And you can show these to your kids so they can learn from the journey that you have gone through during your life.
Your past habits may be difficult to break. Therefore, don’t try to change everything in one shot.
Give it time. It took a long time to develop those bad habits.
It’s okay to acknowledge that you made some mistakes but don’t get overly critical of them.
Sometimes, you may focus on your mistakes and mask the fact that you had some wonderful experiences in the past as well.
These are equally important. So, don’t forget to look over the good times too.
It appears that human nature is hardwired to dwell on the negative, but take the time to look at the positive things in your life and you can feel better instantly.
Just try it and I’m sure you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can make yourself feel better by focusing on the positive 🙂
OK, I hope this article will give you some pointers on using strategic thinking to move ahead in your life and also to help you to let go of the past if this keeps holding you back.
How many times have you told yourself that you must quit your job and try something else?
How many times have you paid for a gym membership, and yet, you haven’t set foot in the gym?
What if you could transform your life without actually making big changes? Think of it as a gradual process that you complete at your own pace. Here are six tiny steps to get started!
The first step is to open your mind and embrace change.
We are wired to resist any changes that disrupt our habits and living patterns.
Relax and be ready for whatever comes. Forget the old saying “no pain, no gain.”
Big, dramatic changes won’t necessarily produce big results. Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter.
Let’s say you want to relocate to a new city, but your parents disapprove.
They keep saying that you’ll feel alone, have trouble finding work, and waste a ton of money.
Stop caring about what others think of you. It’s your life, your decisions, your regrets. Focus on the things that make you happy, come up with a plan, and go for it!
No matter how much you want to change your life, be grateful for what you have right now.
Try to find joy in the smallest things, such as a walk in the park or the time spent reading a good book.
Negative thinking may be holding you back and increase your resistance to change.
The bigger your goal, the longer it takes to achieve it.
However, this shouldn’t put you down. On the contrary – take the time to celebrate and enjoy every step of the process.
The whole point is to be grateful for how far you’ve come.
Stick to the changes you have made. Don’t jump from one thing to the next.
Be consistent and take small steps toward your goals.
For instance, if you start meditating or practising yoga, do it every single day.
Want to build your own business? Do something in this regard on a daily basis. That could be setting up a blog, creating a Facebook fan page, or connecting with potential clients.
So, what are you waiting for? An awesome life is just a few steps away!
And to help you along the way, let’s look at some books that can really inspire you along the journey
Books have the power to change lives. Whether you’re getting ready to start a new career, leave your relationship, or start a side hustle, grab a good book that relates to your goals.
It might exactly be what you need to gain new insights and find your inner drive.
To help you out, we’ve made a list of the best books for developing small changes:
Habit Stacking: 127 Small Changes To Improve Your Health, Wealth, And Happiness
Need a step-by-step plan to improve your health, feel happier, and attract more money in your life?
Then this book is a must read! Inside, you’ll find a list of 127 small changes that you can implement on a daily basis. Most of them only take five minutes or less to complete.
The book also features nine routine samples that will boost your productivity and bring you closer to your goals.
You will learn the three types of habits you need to build and how to incorporate them into your life.
Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results
If you keep setting goals and failing to achieve them, then this book is for you.
Mini Habits relies on the premise that small changes drive big results.
It will show you how to consistently build small habits that will change your life for the better.
Over 95 percent of people fail to lose weight. If you fall into this category, it’s time to change your approach to dieting and exercise.
With this handy book, you will learn how to change your lifestyle and develop healthier habits effortlessly.
The strategies featured inside rely on extensive biological and neuroscience research, so they are sure to work. Your only job is to apply them and be consistent.
The Healthy Habit Revolution: Create Better Habits in 5 Minutes a Day
What if you could change your habits and build a better life in just five minutes a day? That’s what this book is all about.
The Healthy Habit Revolution will show you how to develop daily habits that support your goals and keep you motivated.
You will find out why your efforts have failed in the past and what it honestly takes to become more productive and reach your goals.
We’ve all heard the old saying Less is more. It applies to all aspects of our lives, including goal setting and the development of new habits.
The Power of Less will teach you how to create new, better habits by narrowing your focus.
By the time you finish reading it, you’ll work less and smarter, feel motivated, and enjoy a more fulfilling life.
Is clutter standing in the way of you doing your best work? Likely it is. In fact, it’s one of the biggest challenges to your productivity.
Are you constantly searching for client files, notes, or even something to write with?
Is it a nightmare to find a file on your hard drive or the cloud because you lack an organizational structure and/or an effective file-naming convention?
Do you have a dozen tabs open on your computer at any one time? Yes, that’s a form of clutter, too.
Are there stacks of books, papers, or even coffee cups or dishes sitting on your desk?
Are your file drawers crammed with paperwork that’s no longer needed and which belongs in the trash can?
No wonder it’s hard to focus or get anything done. And, even if you do accomplish anything, you’re probably not feeling your best when you work under these cluttered conditions.
Across the board, clutter is often fueling these uneasy feelings and your lack of productivity. It has a way of sucking the life out of you, distracting you from what’s most important, and derailing your success.
You can’t increase your productivity by reading a book or taking a class. You actually need to take action.
After that’s done, you’ll start to see the effects — increased productivity.
Let’s focus on some basic components of your work environment.
A cluttered and messy office is no place to expect your best work. And, while some people believe that’s where they get their best work done, imagine what they could accomplish if working in a completely upgraded environment! Here are some simple tips for helping you to create an environment for success.
Put away everything that belongs in your desk drawers or file cabinet.
If you find things that don’t belong in your office, then take them to wherever they belong and put them away.
Bonus tip: Discard anything you haven’t used in the past year. If you haven’t used it in that time, odds are you never will.
Clear everything from the top of your desk and wipe it down.
Prior to placing things back on top of your desk, evaluate each item to make sure you actually need it front and center.
If not, then put it away or throw it away. Reduce visual distractions as much as possible.
Bonus tip: Wipe down your desk phone and/or smartphone. They’re a haven for germs.
Gather all your Post-It notes and scraps of paper.
For the remainder, type them into a digital document for safekeeping.
Bonus tip: If they include items you need to reference, keep the one page document easily accessible on your desktop or stored in a top desk drawer.
If you have boxes or stacks of items on your office floor, go through them and discard everything you can. Again, if you haven’t used something in the past year, discard it or give it away.
Discarding is the better choice so that it can be recycled.
Bonus tip: Go through your bookcase and get rid of any books you also own digitally.
Box up any others that are outdated and either give them to the library or recycle them.
Technology produces its own brand of clutter.
Close down any tabs that you have open on your computer except for those that apply to your current work.
Bonus tip: Turn off any gadgets except the ones you need to do your core work tasks. You’ll get more done faster and easier without added distractions.
By implementing these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to clearing the clutter in your office and reducing distraction.
You’ll love the result. You’ll be more energized, less anxious, and more focused on your work. Investing a little bit of time today to prepare your work environment will make a noticeable difference in your productivity!
Every day we have choices to make. Wake up early and go to the gym, or get an extra hour of sleep? Pack a healthy lunch to take to work, or buy something when lunchtime rolls around?
Throw a little extra money in your savings account, or buy that new gadget or pair of shoes you’ve been eyeballing all month?
Deep down inside, we know which actions will yield the best results. Yet many of us struggle with making the best decisions – and fail to reach our full potential as a result. How do we overcome these challenges? Self-discipline is the answer.
If you want to be successful and reach your goals, self-discipline is the most crucial skill to master. Frequently, the best choices aren’t the fastest, easiest, or most pleasant.
Improving your ability to do what is best for you regardless of initial desire is the only way to make consistent progress in life.
As such, if self-discipline is your foundational skill, you grow more effective in everything you do.
When you develop a stronger sense of self-control, you can expect multiple improvements across many areas of your life including health, success, relationships and more, so it is a really important skill to learn how to master, don’t you think?
Here are 7 benefits of self-discipline.
First, improving your self-discipline leads to improved physical health.
Exercising control over the quality and quantity of food you consume, establishing a regular fitness routine, and drinking enough water help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your chances of illness and disease, and increase your chances of longevity and vitality later in life.
With better health comes increased energy and a better sense of well-being which will help you to get more done and have more success which leads us nicely into point number 2.
Next, self-discipline helps you make choices that lead to higher academic and career success.
Sometimes you must choose between studying longer hours and spending time out with friends, or staying late after work to complete a project and heading home to relax.
This is especially important if you are an entrepeneur/solopeneur; you must be able to focus on the long term strategy for your business and practice delayed gratification by ploughing any profits you make in the beginning back into your business.
Third, self-discipline improves your relationships because you become a person who follows through on your commitments.
People in your life learn they can trust you to do what you say you will, and they view you more favorably.
If you keep your word, people will respond to that but if you are someone who says one thing but does another, this will make people think you unreliable or maybe even dishonest, so having the self-discipline to keep to your commitments will really help all types of relationship flourish.
Next, gaining better control over your finances is another direct benefit of self-discipline and this one cannot be underestimated!
It is linked to point 2 above where you practice delayed gratification now to have a better reward later.
That’s not to say you pinch pennies and sacrifice quality of life.
Self-discipline isn’t supposed to make you miserable. Instead, it’s about weighing the pros and cons and making decisions that bring you closer to your goals.
Examples of financial self-discipline that don’t require total restriction include regularly putting a certain percentage of each paycheck into your savings account or sticking to a budget that allocates a certain amount of money each month for discretionary spending. You still get to enjoy the present, though, not at the expense of your future.
Another benefit of growing more self-disciplined is that you’ll have fewer regrets because you make better choices in the first place.
You’ll eliminate such problems as saying the wrong thing at the wrong time because you’re disciplined enough to think before speaking.
This will also affect how you live and enjoy life. You will need to takes risks occasionally, but they should be considered risks.
You don’t want to be one of those people who ends up saying things like “If only I…” or “What if…” and has so many regrets in their life.
Use your self-discipline to make informed choices and to make great decisions to move you life in the way you want.
With an ever-growing list of things vying for our attention, it seems that time is often in short supply.
One of the best benefits of self-discipline is improved management of your time.
For example, social media can be the ultimate time-killer if you don’t exercise self-control.
While it can be useful at times, you can easily fall into the trap of mindlessly scrolling through news feeds when you could be completing other tasks.
It is a real positive feedback loop which can have a dramatic impact on the way you achieve the things you really want.
Finally, self-discipline helps you complete tasks and projects that you start, even when you lose steam or desire.
Motivation is always high at the beginning of a new goal.
Whether it’s a new diet plan, a new business idea, or even new relationships to a certain degree, when things are fresh, there is nothing but excitement and stimulation ahead.
Yet over time, motivation fades, challenges arise, reality sets in, and its tempting to go back to something more familiar or move on to the next shiny object.
Exercising self-control and choosing to finish what you start, within reason, even when you lose motivation and desire means you not only have the finished project under your belt, but you’ve learned lessons and acquired skills you wouldn’t have had you quit.
As the American writer, philosopher and artist, Elbert Hubbard once said, “Self-discipline is the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”
These 7 factors may seem like small things when taken individually but they stack up and if you do manage to get a hold of your self-discipline, you should see a dramatic impact on the way you live your life and what you can achieve and isn’t that worth it?
