PERSONAL SPECIAL..... A shift of mind

A shift of mind



Here are some simple tips on how you can replace the noise of self-doubt in your head with unshakeable confidence

We have all had those paralysing moments where our palms are sweating more than a marathon runner and our heart is hammering at a million times a minute. You've also probably bitten the bullet and pushed those feelings down, just to get through a presentation or take on a terrifying new venture, only to have them pop up again next time. But what if you could tell that nagging voice in your head -the one that says “you can't do it“ or instills  fear in your heart -to keep quiet. Harvard psychology professor and TED Talk star Amy Cuddy who extensively studied why certain people are able to take more risks and have a confident demeanour.

She has a piece of advice to offer.

She found that every thing from body lan guage to simple daily thoughts can allow you to get rid of fear in the moment and replace it with belief in your abilities. Here's how you can reprogram your brain:

Make-believe

We've all heard the phrase `fake it till you make it' in passing, and maybe even rolled our eyes to it. But numerous studies back up the fact that faking it actually improves your chances of making (or becoming) it. And it's a self-perpetuating cycle -the more you `pretend' to know what you're doing, the more you actually know what you're doing, boosting your confidence even further. So if you think you don't have the skills or knowledge to get it done, go ahead and pretend that you do. What you eventually know, will completely surprise you.

Focus on mindfulness, not perfection

Cuddy also highly recommends mindfulness as a way to boost self-confidence. According to the Harvard Business Review, it's a way to learn to stay present, participate in regulating your own nervous system, and eventually, develop free and helpful ways of interacting. Basically, instead of sweating and blindly feeling like the world's going to collapse, you pay attention to the situation at hand, and assure yourself that things will be under control soon. Note that you should be mindful of what you have an influence over, and what you don't, and only focus on the things you can change.

Pretend you're a superhero

You convince yourself, and that allows you to convince others. Your body language can make you look more confident, or in some of our cases, can make you look like you have no idea what you are doing. What you may not re alise is that standing tall not only makes you look confident, but it releases a surge of chemicals that make you feel more confident. On the other h a nd , i f you hu nch over or look down fre quently, you will come across as insecure or depressed. Pay attention to what poses your body naturally goes into, then make a conscious effort to open up and display your confident self.

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