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C is for...Confidence
For many people, December brings good cheer and celebration. For others, it is a time of sadness and despair. While the season contains much joy, there are often stresses and pressures waiting to catch you off guard. It’s at those times you feel most vulnerable.
For that reason, we have decided to focus on C for Confidence as you work your way through the alphabet to Positive Impact.
An increase in social demands or a lack of social engagements can both impact on our confidence. We may have family commitments over the holidays, with all the complexities that these relationships bring. For some, the chance to be with family is a rare and wonderful treat. Love and support abounds. For others, spending time with family is a challenge too far. We leave our parents and siblings licking our wounds, saying, “Never again!”
There may be friends’ and work parties to attend, heavenly for some, hellish for others. Someone’s mantelpiece is heaving with an abundance of invitations, while another’s looks painfully bare. The lack of cards and invitations may leave a great dent in your self-confidence. Too many, and you may feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Exercise: To minimise the negative impact of seasonal challenges practice the following
 | Control your thinking. You can choose how you feel. You can choose how you respond to people and events. |
| Breathe. Deeply and slowly. Inhale to a count of five, hold for a count of five, exhale to a count of five. |
| Take time for yourself. A short break can rejuvenate a weary soul. |
| Demonstrate confidence. You don’t have to feel confident to behave with confidence. |
Remember: When you demonstrate confidence you feel in control. When you’re in control you feel calm and centred. Even if things go a bit belly up, by behaving confidently you’ll be able to face whatever comes your way.
Tip: Kick start your attitude when it needs a boost. Move from can’t to can do thinking. You’ll discover that the more you practice confident behaviour, the more confident you’ll feel.
Make !mpact with our December tip for taking control of your confidence:
Mirror the behaviour of people you admire who demonstrate confidence. Observe how and what they do and say. As long as their behaviour reflects your values you’ll be able to model your behaviour on theirs.
Behaving confidently doesn’t necessarily mean being the life and soul of the party. Confidence can be expressed in quiet and measured ways. Confidence is about accepting the wisdom of the universe, telling you that you’re ok just the way you are.
By behaving with confidence you can control how the world views you and how you view the world.
If you are feeling uptight in any way, you are very likely to be carrying tension in your body. You may stand with your arms folded tightly across your body. You may hunch your shoulders, furrow your brow, and clench your jaw or fists. Notice if there are any areas of tension, and allow them to release. These are not confident behaviours.
Smile. Think of something that gives you genuine pleasure and notice how the corners of your mouth rise and your eyes sparkle. A sincere smile brings a sense of peace, to us and those around us. And surely that’s what we want and need, especially at this time of year.
Final Thought: Trust yourself enough to let down your defences. There’s strength in vulnerability. When you demonstrate genuine confidence, you open the doors to giving and receiving. And isn’t that what this festive season is all about?
Wishing you all the happiest, healthiest, and safest holiday season and a new year filled with love, joy, and prosperity.
Ciao for now
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