Go Ask Alice!

Today is Monday, so this post is on self confidence.

I spend a lot of time reading print publications and on the web researching ideas that relate to the five points of the Star Power model – Self Confidence, Personal Impact, Outstanding Performance, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Competence.  The other day, I came across an interesting site: Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University’s health Q&A internet site.  I’m a 60’s guy, so Go Ask Alice resonated with me right away – I must have played the Jefferson Airplane album with White Rabbit on it a million times during my days at Penn State.

Here is one of the questions directed to Alice.

Dear Alice:
I have a problem with self-confidence. Whenever a person complements me about something, in my head, I disagree with them. This has also affected my love life. When I am in a relationship, I can’t help but to ask myself, why is this person interested in me? Please help me by giving me advice.
Seeking Advice

Alice’s response…

Dear Seeking Advice,
It’s natural to doubt ourselves from time to time when we receive compliments or appreciation. Accepting compliments graciously can seem arrogant, or the compliment can make people feel undeserving.  But really it is about self-acceptance and self-respect. In fact, learning to accept a compliment may be a first step in building self confidence. For example, if someone says to you, "I love your dress!" instead of responding with, "Oh this? I’ve had it forever," you might say, with appreciation, "Thank you for noticing." After you say it, see how you feel. Also, notice the response you get. It’s possible that attracting positive attention is something you find challenging, and that can keep you down.
Perhaps you can identify reasons for your lack of confidence and self-worth. Can you recall a specific episode that led you to feel less confident or worthy? A turning point? Or, has it always been hard for you??
Loving yourself is a way to improve relationships with yourself and others. When you feel confident and secure, these qualities radiate through you, and influence your behaviors, so that you act confidently and securely. You then also attract attention, including compliments.
To counter negative thoughts, you might verbalize the reverse of what you usually tell yourself. In other words, reframe the sentences to reflect a more positive perspective. For example, if you think you’re a slow worker, instead emphasize how it’s because you are detail-oriented — that you focus on quality rather than quantity. When trying these approaches, pay particular attention to how you are feeling during those times, and record your thoughts and behaviors in a journal.
Another tool to use is visualization. For instance, imagine or picture yourself feeling confident and secure. How would you act, dress, walk, stand, and speak? Find a role model — someone you know or someone famous — whom you feel exudes confidence and well-being, and take notice of his or her behavior(s). Focus on the role models’ stature, and the way they speak and live. It may help to watch a video and/or read an (auto-)biography of them to learn about their personal adversities and how they learned to be their confident, gracious selves. If you can, ask them to help you learn about how they think, how they have overcome a tragedy or a challenge, or pick their brains to understand their thought processes and personal life philosophy.
You can also help yourself feel more capable, more worthy, by helping others and/or by providing community service or volunteer work, so that it takes you out of yourself. This way, you can think about others rather than focusing on (the negative part of) yourself. Volunteer at a shelter, soup kitchen, or a hospital, or tutor children or adults to read. The rewards are priceless, and you feel given to, not taken away from, so that you feel better about yourself.
Similarly, there is the "act as if" strategy. You act "as if" you are a secure, confident person, and then you find yourself living as though you are. The more you act "as if," the more you incorporate positive self-talk in your life, the more you can reflect this change to others, as well as own it for yourself, the more the confidence from within will build and start to shine through. So, give and accept those compliments — you deserve them!
Alice

Although this might sound like pop psychology, Alice makes some great points about building self confidence.  Here is a quick summary.

• Accept compliments with the words “thank you”.
• Reverse negative self talk.
• Visualize yourself as a competent, confident person.
• Help others.
• Act as if you are confident.

These are five great common sense ideas for building self confidence.  Put them into play and watch your confidence begin to soar.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.