BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Self Development Confidence

I'm definitely one of the 'emotionally driven' ones! And I always seem to get entanged with the other type! YIKES!!!!

good idea!

You know... just thinking about confidence... i think our confidence may be poor in part because we think too often about our shortcomings, limitations, failures, and the criticism we've received, and not enough about our accomplishments and qualities.

What if we start reversing that habit and practice thinking better of ourselves?

What if we start by thinking of things we do well or have done well, and then learn how to use that to believe we can do other things as well, that perhaps so far we've lacked the confidence to try?

Okay! What kinds of things can you do well, and what things have you done well? ...and don't try to skip out and pretend you're not reading this thread anymore and not name things!!! That means YOU... Sue... AF... everyone!!!!!!!!!!

I'm confident in knitting and teaching. I can knit circles around even other knitting instructors (and some of them come to me for help!).

I also did really well in school... but not at first! I got off to a rough start academically... family problems interfered, and for a long time i had no confidence that i could get good grades and follow through consistently. But later i returned to college... for the third time!... and i was so determined to turn things around that time, that i did everything i could, and even though not all of my previous poor grades could be expunged, i worked so hard that i got on the honor roll and even made Phi Theta Kappa by the time i graduated (top 2%). I should remember that effort in particular with other areas of my life where i have experienced failure thus far. Failure in the past does not determine what tomorrow will hold for me, or for any of us. Sometimes failure just makes us more determined and focused, and we learn from our mistakes. I used to use the nickname, "dark horse." I should go back to that. (For those of you who haven't heard the term, "a dark horse" is a horse that was not expected to run well, but who wins the race by surprise, sometimes coming from behind).

Okay... so what are you good at? Come on...

I think we do dent our confidence by thinkingof past failures. But as Holly says, that need not be so. Remember past deeds of achievement. Yes.

I was brilliant academically.
Very good at drawing.
Very good at conversation and logic.

I didn't know you were good at drawing, too! What did you like to draw? Do you still like to do it?

No more. But yes, I loved doing that.
i was also good at singing.
I need to remember this when I get depressed.

I knew a woman who used to say, "Singing is good for the soul." And she also used to say (when i tried to bow out of singing carols)... that God gives everyone a musical instrument with the intention they will use it (the voice), whether or not we're good at it. hahhahaha... i wonder why i didn't find that encouraging? hahahhaa. Actually i'm not awful, at least i'm not tone-deaf and can carry a tune.

You should perhaps start singing again... even if it is just around your home when everyone is out. It would be good for you.

I am getting a new music system today. something very basic.

That's wonderful! Music is so good for our spirit.

I have noticed AF and Sue and others have not yet listed what they are good at... hint, hint!

Come on, don't chicken! You want to work on confidence, don't you? Let's give it a try.