Self-confidence is a deeply-rooted feeling that you are okay, that you are loved, that you matter... that what you say, do and feel... matters.
When you are missing this key ingredient, life can be hell. So, let's turn the hell into heaven right now with these five keys that work to unleash your self-confidence, joy and creativity. And here's the good news: Your self-confidence is already in there, just waiting to be freed up and expressed.
1.Laugh, a lot, every day!
Laughter is the first key because this is the easiest way to get your self-confidence going. You get a powerful kick-start from laughter to get positive energy flowing. Make a deliberate practice of bringing more laughter into your life, every day. You might have to "fake it 'til you make it," at the beginning, but soon laughter flows naturally and spontaneously.
Every child is born full of laughter, and that includes you. Laughter provides many dimensions of benefits for your body, mind, heart and soul. It erases fear (you can't laugh and be afraid at the same time), unleashes your innate joy and creativity, and enhances all your relationships, not to mention bringing fun, relaxation and love into your world.
2. Meditate!
Practice the laughter meditation. Stage one:laughter. Stage two: Sit in silence. This is the easiest way to get into meditation and combines with the first key! The powerful effect of the laughter in stage one helps you drop deeper down, in the second stage, to discover the inner wisdom, silence and stillness that reside within you.
As a result of the laughter meditation, love, peace, creativity, joy, self-respect, and self-love arise, naturally and spontaneously.
Your self-confidence is innate in these qualities. You find the wisdom to know that what you say, do, and feel does matter. You don't need another person to tell you, you just know.
Then, whatever other people's opinions are, YOU know that you have something special to offer the world and your presence here is important. We all matter.
3. Love Yourself!
Loving yourself is much easier once you have started your laughter meditation practice. Love arises naturally from laughter. In fact, laughter IS love, isn't it? When you laugh, you open your heart and are in loving communion with others, and with yourself. Try it! Notice how you feel; notice how your own self-judgment is erased; notice how other people's judgments are dissolved;and notice how your inner joy arises and fills you to overflowing with love, creativity, and a positive outlook. What you focus on expands. Keep your focus on loving yourself no matter what, and your self-confidence will soar. It's true!
4. Love others!
A natural outcome of loving yourself is loving others. However, loving yourself has to be the first step. You must fill up your own well first, then loving others naturally comes from your overflow. However, pay attention: Loving others more than yourself creates resentment, which grows like a cancer within you. And I am not saying don't love others, I am saying keep a BALANCE and make sure the scales are tipped in your favor.
The more selfish you are, the more you have to give. This might not be in alignment with what you were taught. For centuries women, in particular, have been conditioned that everyone else in the household is more important. It's time to reverse that thinking and step into respecting yourself enough so that you know you deserve love as much as others. You cannot love others if you don't love yourself.
5. Follow Your Passion!
Whatever your passion is, do it! There is nothing that sparks your self-confidence more than immersing yourself in what turns you on, what brings you joy. The activity doesn't matter so much as your quality of presence and joy with the activity. It cannot be something that someone else thinks you should enjoy, it has to come from YOU. And it can be anything from scrap-booking, to roller skating, to travel, to studying Chinese.
Throw yourself into your passion and miracles happen. It can be your work or it can be something you only do at weekends, as a hobby. It doesn't matter. What matters is that you are enjoying yourself, coming alive, getting to know what makes you tick. Your self-confidence will soar!
Implementing these five keys transforms your life into heaven on earth. Do it... and let me know.
Follow Pragito on Facebook and her Laughing Buddhas Network (It's Free!)
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