- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 6
-
Sparkle (0)
When I lived and worked in New York, I had several occasions to fly the shuttle to and from Washington, D.C. If you've ever flown that shuttle you know of the kiosks filled with newspapers, magazines and books available for the taking and offered to keep your high-power business person brain filled with knowledge and information as you take the sky bus to work.
On one of these trips I picked up a small book called The Action Principles™ by Bill FitzPatrick. One of those principles that I've always remembered is "A-B-A-B" or, always bring a book. I always remember this when I'm headed out to an event alone or in uncertain circumstances and those four letters help me to always remember.
ABAB reminded me of a habit I developed when I worked in the music business. As a talent scout I would go to see bands that were often just starting out. As a result, many times they would take the stage dead last in the wee, early hours of the morning just before last call. Also, they were often really bad. As you might imagine, I could dazzle friends with my glamorous job and get them to come with me once and then the illusion of fabulousity was shattered and the mundane reality of my gig set in so more times than not, I went out to a nightclub alone to work.
Going out night after night alone helped build my confidence. But I'm rather shy so I got through it by bringing a book. Even though I looked like a supreme dork, I would find a corner with some light and read until it was time to watch the act I had come to see. Although it was a form of armor, a shield made of paper, it helped me develop the confidence to go out alone and swim in a sea of strangers.
I was reminded of how those skills I developed out of trial, error and necessity are keys to building confidence. Patricia Stark, who hosts Craving Confidence blogged some tips to building confidence when you are alone and don't have the security blanket of being surrounded by people you know. Her tips include going to concerts and nightclubs alone and always bringing a book.
Working on feeling comfortable alone can be a great way of building confidence. And ultimately the key to confidence is having faith that you, alone, are enough and worthy as you are.
How do you build your confidence? What makes you feel most confident? Do you have any tips to share on how we can all build our confidence?
Related Reading and Watching:
Sarah Dopp at Dopp Juice writes about developing confidence in her body in Thin and Fit are separate things.
One of my all time favorite pictures of confidence
Sara at OnSimplicity.net The Crux of Confidence: The One Question You Must Be Able to Answer Affirmatively
Somewhere in the years following high school, we begin to realize that confidence can’t be purchased or manipulated quite so easily as we once imagined. Often it happens we get everything we once wished for and find there’s no confetti parade waiting to congratulate us. In the end, confidence seems to come down to one question: do you provide value to the world around you?
BlogHer CE Zandria: Confidence: Hold Your Head Up and Keep it There
Maybe some of you are thinking, “Big deal. Her head was down while she was talking. That’s what you do when you’re listening and concentrating.” But that’s not it at all. Having my head down symbolizes a lack of confidence. I’ve worked damn hard over the years to increase my confidence -- to break free of the mentality of those church ladies from 16 years ago, who were trying to keep me...what? Humble? (Well, thanks for nothing, ladies. You made me think it was wrong to have self-assurance, and for that I’d like to travel back in time and kick you in the face.)
BlogHer CE Maria Niles may feel confident alone but would love it if you join her at PopConsumer
