Confidence is positive energy. Positive energy attracts positive results. It's as simple as that. If you want positive things in your life, you need to cultivate confidence in yourself.

Genuine confidence versus confidence pretense.

We all know that it's usually not possible to feel and display real confidence each and every hour of each and every day. What matters most is our underlying opinion of ourselves, our self-talk. Is it wrong to display a confident attitude when we don't necessarily feel confident? Yes and no. Yes, it is an error to display confidence you don't feel - if you feel that way ALL THE TIME. No, it is not wrong to display a confident attitude although you don't necessarily feel confident TEMPORARILY. If you do not have a positive attitude about yourself most of the time, you need to take the time to cultivate that attitude.

How do you get that positive attitude?

I'm glad you asked. You get it by acknowledging that you are a deserving person and by recounting your success stories over and over again. Pretend you have a tape recording going on in your head from the moment you wake up to the time you fall asleep. That recording should repeat stories of personal accomplishments all day long just as if you were bolstering a friend's sagging spirits by reminding them of their successes. (Because that's exactly what you're doing.) If a memory of a failure tries to pop up - immediately edit it out of the tape for now. There is only room on the tape for positive stories! These successes should be situations that you genuinely feel that you navigated successfully. If you have to, have a brainstorming session where you write down as many of these stories as possible, then you'll be ready to begin playing your tape. No success is too small. Did you make a good dinner last week? Put it in. Did you get the laundry done? Put it in. Did you get through work today and accomplish something on your list? Put it in. After a few days, begin to work into the mental tape, one additional success from the past few days and so on?? Remember, the Sonny and Cher TV show? Whenever Cher would 'get a good one' on Sonny, she would hold up one additional finger as they progressed through the show. This is what you are doing too - adding 'a good one' to your repertoire.

Another way to develop an outward reflection of your new positive attitude is to look at others and smile if you can. Here is where you may have to temporarily act out confidence even though you may not fully feel it yet. 'Putting on' your confidence is like 'putting on' a new suit, sometimes you don't feel like wearing the new suit but once you get it on, you walk a little taller. Start slowly with one person, then two, then three. The feedback you will receive will be your fuel to continue. It can also be added to your mental success 'tape'. Then you can even begin to give your new confidence a voice. Practice speaking more convincingly. This is confidence in one's self in action! Look in a mirror at body language and facial expression while trying to convince yourself of which came first - the chicken or the egg. Pretend you're in a debate to win a super prize. How convincing are you for each side of the argument? Why would you be swayed to believe one side or the other? Again, pay attention to body postures, facial expressions and your voice. If you have trouble getting started with this exercise - go to the mall and watch people talking. Try to identify people who instill confidence as opposed to those who don't. What do they do differently?

Above all else, when you feel those negative thoughts trying to take over again, (and they will!), knock those little devils right out of the ballpark. You're fighting for your life here - your successful life. There is no place for negative thoughts right now. Once you get your positive energy going, you'll be better equipped to handle the negative thoughts when they return by putting them in their place.

Confidence and a positive, successful life experience can be achieved no matter who you are. You do not have to be highly educated, male, female, of a specific racial background, living in a particular place, or anything else that you might use as a prospective excuse not to become self confident. Instead, it is based on what you say to yourself ABOUT YOURSELF on a daily basis. You wouldn't put your friends down by pointing out all of their failures and shortcomings so why should you do this to yourself? You shouldn't - you cannot afford to. Positive self-talk inspires self confidence and, in turn, attracts positive results. Try this for yourself and see the results beginning TODAY!

About the Author:

Gena Everhart,
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I have found that submitting articles to on-line magazines and sites is a wonderful way to share information with others who may find them helpful. I embrace this opportunity to help and inspire others but I also gain from this exercise as well. It's my therapy, it keeps my creativity flowing and it builds my self-esteem. I enjoy writing and hope to continue to build my skills. ~ Gena Everhart