Confidence, in simplest terms, is the ability to behave in one's natural manner. The definition appears to be a very simple definition. However, when all the aspects of this apparently simple definition are considered it is found to be far more difficult to understand and comprehend. Consider this- we live in a world, in which, advertisements are creating false needs to market things, which very few of us actually need.
Every person desires to look good, have a good physique, or become rich. Ad makers expertly pick these vanity points. Many times people have to confront superiors, who may not exactly be in a cheerful mood, and trying to appear extra polite may rob the person of his or her ability to explain things. These are only two examples to depict the loss of originality. Real life throws numerous situations in which the first instinct of a person is to mould his or her natural behavior. While some amount of this is necessary, anything greater than this can produce inferiority complexes, and in more, intense cases depression.
Personality Development as a tool to develop Self Confidence
A natural corollary, to the aforementioned things, is that in order to develop personality the first step is to stop imitating others. The person needs to focus on his or her positive traits and stop comparison with a friend, neighbor, sibling or a celebrity. It is worthwhile to remember that a person can give his best performance in life only when he behaves in a natural manner. This is simply because he is most comfortable when behaving naturally - he does not need to be told what to do, he will figure it out for himself and this will invariably produce the best results.
Fear and insecurity, which stems from fear, are other hindrances to natural behavior. Once fear is conquered, by doing exactly that which the person is afraid of, the person will automatically develop confidence that he is able to do a certain act.
The person also has to draw personal psychological boundaries and not allow anyone to transgress in them - that is to say that this is his personal space and he will not tolerate anyone's interference. This may be a bit difficult to start with, but once it is done, it will produce long lasting results. This will also make the person more assertive and therefore naturally more worthy respect.
However, the thing to remember is that the assertiveness has to be based on concrete logic and should not be just for the sake of it. Assertiveness, of the mind, has to be bolstered with that of the body - the body language needs to be confident and the assertiveness inside has to be radiated through it. Finally, it is also important to realize that mistakes are OK. Rather they act as great teachers for the future.
As we get older and our activity levels drop, often our confidence drops as well. We fall into the rut of work, sleep, eat, work, sleep, eat and begin to feel like that boring routine is all there is to life. As we continually repeat this routine and don't find time to stay fit, our waistlines grow and our clothes fit tighter. All of this contributes to a lower self esteem and a negative outlook on life.
We've all seen the fitness gurus on TV and been slightly disgusted with their peppy attitudes and smiles. But what if they were onto something? The truth is?they are! Fitness and an active lifestyle do wonders for your attitude, and in turn, your self confidence. We often sell ourselves short when it comes to our bodies. We expect very little from them and they live up to our low expectations. It's when you really expect a lot from your body and challenge it that you see what you are truly capable of.
Pushing your body to achieve more, gives you a sense of pride. Your body responds to how it is treated. If you treat your body with disrespect it will not respond positively. However, if you challenge your body to do its best and reward it with high quality nutrition and activity, it responds with positive feelings and a healthy glow. Just like an expensive sports car, the human body needs maintenance to keep it running smoothly. You cannot expect the body to maintain itself when the mind is only focused on eating, sleeping, and working.
Exercise releases endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are hormones produced by the pituitary glad and create a sense of well being and happiness. Researchers believe these hormones are responsible for a decrease in symptoms of depression among depressed individuals who exercise regularly. What this means is there is scientific proof that exercise can make you feel better and happier.
Finding time to get fit can be difficult. A real check of priorities will show you that a high quality of life should be near the top, and we cannot have that without a healthy body. When you compare the other things in life that you make time for (television, computer games, etc), fitness should be taking a front seat.
Regardless of your situation, there is surely a fitness routine to fit your needs. Programs like Power 90 and P90X are tailored to push your body to its highest performance level. While 10 Minute Trainer and Slim In 6 are more for the people that can never find the time. Choosing a program that you can stick with is important to get the body you have always wanted and to maintain a positive body image.
Feeling good about your body changes your outlook on life and your quality of life. When you look good, you feel good and everyone can tell. Making yourself a priority can be hard work, harder than we sometimes think. But, once you make that change, and shift your outlook you can clearly see what you were missing the whole time.
Both Stephen Campbell & Tim Dillon are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.