Confidence

Other people seem confident. So why do I feel so insecure? Some people seem successful at everything they do, so why am I afraid to try?

Confidence happens inside
Can someone else make you feel something? Why and how do we give other people more power over our own minds than we give ourselves? People can try to make us feel things, but the final decision is ours. Make a conscious decision.

Why increase

1. When you feel better about yourself… you feel better. It really is that simple. Life becomes more enjoyable.
2. “Attitude is everything” by Charles Swindoll
3. Improve performance – just by attitude? Yes!
      Mouse example
      Examples from athletics: Muhammad Ali, current Lakers
4. Attract people
      Including dates. (Article: What Women Really Want)

How increase

1. Do stuff
   Try something. Accomplish something. Do that thing that scares you, for example: public speaking, asking someone out, building a web site for someone, getting driver’s license, change your friends, apply for job, run for office, take opportunities available to you.
2. Clean conscience. There is nothing as good for your confidence as a clean conscience
3. Change your thinking
      Visualization
      Repetition
      Good decisions
4. Call the lies what they are…
   Some of you may have had people speak lies about you
   “Wimp, idiot, you’re so stupid, ugly, etc” – face those labels and call them what they are: LIES. Some of you are living the lie that someone told you – “If they say I’m an idiot, I’ll act like an idiot.”
      (Scene from Good Will Hunting)
5. Use other people.
      Hang out with nice people. You can be cool without being cruel.
      Accept compliments

What doesn’t work

Tearing other people down. For some reason people think that tearing others down will make them better and feel better, but it’s ridiculous when you think about it.

Practical tips – what can I do right now, today?

1. Practice, practice, practice. Or as we say in public speaking: prepare, prepare, prepare.
   Practice speaking, singing, designing, listening, your sport – don’t just play around, PRACTICE
2. Put a “Destiny changing” note on your mirror or by your bed.
3. Relax. Breathe, smile, try to laugh everyday.
4. Remember what you’ve learned:
      It’s OK to be imperfect
      A little fear is good
      Most nervousness can’t be seen

Exercises

1. Write out the lies and call them what they are
2. Write a “Destiny Changing” statement. Write you your real name/description
      One man's dream - in the desert, the knight was himself, scroll with descriptions/statements

Conclusion
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we graduate high school, or get out of our house, or get a job. Or when so-and-so gets their act together. Then we will feel better about ourselves. Then life will be worth feeling good about.

The truth is there’s no better time to be happy with yourself and your life than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. Happiness is a choice. Stop waiting to be confident.

I believe in you.

There’s no such thing as “can’t”, there is only “won’t” – Charles Swindoll