3 Keys to Boosting Your Inner Confidence

I've been coaching for a few years now, and the biggest thing I've learnt - both for me and for my clients - is that inner confidence is the key to it all.

There are all kinds of strategies, ways of thinking, patterns of behaviour and practical tips for improving your life and feeling better about yourself, but they're all redundant if the foundation isn't there. That foundation is the real you, the you that you know deep down you are. The trick is that it takes confidence to find that and to bring out who you are ? here are the three keys to real inner confidence.

1. Get To Know Your Values
Personal values are a big passion of mine and I often get carried away with myself when I talk about them. I make no apology for that though ? they're one of the most important things you can know about yourself and are vital in getting genuine inner confidence. Your values are ten thousand feet down inside you, right at the very core of who you are, and they're the building blocks, the foundations and cornerstones for you. A value is something in yourself, in others or in the world that's most important to you, and could include things like respect, progress, family, fun, nature, achievement or freedom.

Why is it that some people and situations leave you feeling angry, frustrated, demotivated or deflated? It's because one or more of your values is being denied, suppressed or repressed ? and we experience that as a negative experience because it's denying a fundamental piece of who you are. You know those times when you've felt really alive, amazing or buzzing? Those are the times when one or more of your values are being honoured, and you can get more of that by living according to them.

Your values are all yours, and no matter what happens nobody can ever take them away. You can have absolute confidence in them because they're there all the time just waiting for you to notice them and use them. When you get to know your values you can start to make choices and align your life around them ? it's so simple and it feels amazing because all that really means is that you're allowing who you are to live in the real world.

2. Trust Yourself
People spend too much time looking for signs that they're doing the right thing or on the right path. Sometimes we get that by hearing that we're doing well at work, sometimes it could be encouragement from a friend or loved one, and sometimes we get that feedback by seeing our material wealth or possessions growing.

But rather than looking on the outside for those signs, how about looking on the inside at what you're telling yourself? How about trusting yourself to do the best thing and make great choices? How about trusting your own insights and using your own intuition? I've seen those ideas scare the bejeezus out of people and you know why? Because it makes you accountable and responsible for what you get. If you trust yourself implicitly and you make the wrong choice you've got nobody else to blame.

But the fact is that we all make mistakes and we'll all continue to make mistakes. So how would it be if you could trust yourself to get through anything and trust yourself to continue making choices that serve you well ? even if sometimes you screw up? That's the kind of trust I'm talking about, and that's genuine inner confidence.

Start by listening to yourself and noticing what your intuition is telling you. Be aware of that little voice inside you or those gut reactions you get and pay attention to what they're telling you. Trust yourself to make decisions, trust yourself to adapt and trust that you're good enough to have, do or be whatever you want. True confidence will follow.

3. Exercise the Muscle
Confidence is a muscle, and like any muscle you need to exercise it so that it doesn't shrink and waste away. The problem is that unlike your biceps or glutes, which tend to stay in the same place, your confidence muscle can be harder to find. How do you develop your biceps or firm up your glutes? By doing exercises that are designed to work that muscle over a period of time until you see the results you were looking for.

It's just the same with confidence. Let's say that you're the kind of person that doesn't take many risks. The kind of person who goes through each day doing what needs to be done and doing it well, but not really stretching yourself. You might talk yourself out of doing something because it's too scary or because you think to yourself 'I'm not good enough', 'that's not who I am' or 'I don't really want it anyway'. That kind of person lives within what they know and what keeps them safe and comfortable. The fewer risks they take, the less confident they need to be and so the less confident they become.

To work your confidence muscle you need to be prepared to take risks ? big or small. You need to be willing to stretch yourself in an unfamiliar direction, to try something new or try something in a slightly different way. You need to open yourself up to the possibilities around you and push yourself to increase what you know, what you do and who you are. The more open you are to risk, opportunity and possibility the more confident you need to be, and so the more confidence you'll develop. That's your confidence muscle ? the question is, what are you going to do to exercise it?

About the Author
Steve Errey's free ezine 'Being More' shows you proven ways that YOU can have, do and be more than you thought possible. By signing up you'll also receive a special report titled '5 Little Secrets Other Coaches Won't Tell You' ? visit http://www.steveerrey.com now.

Steve Errey is one of the UK's most successful coaches and specialises in personal growth for thirtysomethings - helping them with their careers, relationships and confidence and to get more fun, fulfilment and freedom. For more information please contact Steve on 0845 644 3001, by email at http://www.steveerrey.com or visit his website at http://www.steveerrey.com.

executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport car
In The News:

Getting virus alerts on your iPhone? Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to handle fake scam alerts and boost security.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says opening emails is safe, but risks arise from interacting with links, attachments or HTML content.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals four signs of compromised Social Security numbers and offers five steps to protect yourself.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how MAB Robotics' Honey Badger 4.0, a versatile robot, now walks underwater with amphibious skills.
An updated Android trojan called FakeCall hijacks bank calls. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Android phone manufacturers and Google need to step up their game on security.
The Massimo Modular E9 is a sleek, smart and comfy tiny home in 409 square feet. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at what the future of housing might look like.
Every stock trader should consider a virtual private network to safeguard their trading, according to tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson.
Apple recently announced its new lineup of Macs and rolled out Apple Intelligence, its latest artificial intelligence-powered feature for its products.
A Swiss-engineered robot can climb ladders, showing why it's at the cutting edge of autonomous robotic solutions for harsh industrial settings.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson presents the cities targeted most by robocalls, why this is happening and what you can do about it to protect your privacy.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares tips and suggestions for how to get the best use out of the updated Calendar app available with the latest iOS update.
Your Social Security number, your unique identifier used for many purposes, has likely been leaked on the Dark Web; here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Researchers have developed a new technology that creates strong, sticky fibers capable of lifting objects and capturing things from a distance.
Smart rings track the same things that smartwatches do, including steps, sleep and a general overview of your overall health, and they tend have more battery life than smartwatches.
Researchers have developed a robotic finger that can perform routine medical exams like those conducted by doctors, helping to address the growing shortage of trained professionals.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Insurance administrative services company Landmark Admin reported that a data breach from a May cyberattack affected over 800,000 people.
Sotheby's will auction the first artwork created by Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist created in 2019 by British gallerist Aidan Meller.
More than 250 million users of the Verizon Messages app will have to switch to another app. Verizon is shutting down Messages in the next month.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides a list of 10 celebrities who are the most targeted by deepfake scams, including Tom Hanks.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Vast's Haven-1, launching in 2025, transforms space living with human-centric design.
UnitedHealth confirms over 100 million Change Healthcare users had their data stolen. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals what happened and what caused the breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how iOS 18 brings new text formatting and animated effects to the Messages app.
Whether you're a social media veteran or novice, Facebook friend request scams are common. Kurt the CyberGuy provides tips to keep your account safe.

Hooray, You Failed!

So you vowed to make some changes - develop healthier... Read More

Marching To A New Beat

For our family, the Fall is filled with Friday Night... Read More

What Does YOUR Success Look Like?

What does success look like to you? Our culture often... Read More

Sentenced to Success

I once heard a speaker use the statement, "I have... Read More

Your Telephone Voice Makes Your Success

We speak every day without fully recognizing the impact our... Read More

Whats the Secret of Your Sucess?

I'm going to begin this article by sharing a little... Read More

The 5-Minute Success Strategy - Transform Your Behavior Easily and Painlessly

Recently, I coached a young woman whom I'll call Mary... Read More

Top 6 Business Success Strategies

"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More

Expect Success to Stay Self-Motivated and Get Great Results

If you called my office you will hear my voice... Read More

15 Success Secrets Of The Strongest Men In The World

The 2004 final of the World's Strongest Man METRx Championship... Read More

Success At Any Time?

It goes without saying that we are unlikely to experience... Read More

Top 10 Tools for a Strong Personal Foundation

Coaching is about living great lives. It's about living lives... Read More

Preventing Setbacks: Compulsive Eating, Binge Eating, And Eating Addictions

On your journey to moving past using food to cope... Read More

We Become What We Think About

"A man's life is what his thoughts make of it."-... Read More

Help Yourself To Success

If you help yourself, God and humans will help you... Read More

Top Seven Ideas For Success

1. Any work activity, unless initiated at the earliest will... Read More

Facts About the Art of Influence

All of us could work on our skills in influencing... Read More

Remembering What You Read - Nine Effective Strategies

Reading lots these days? Having trouble remembering and recalling? For... Read More

Want Better Outcomes? Check Your Perspectives!

In my work with clients, the issue of perspectives comes... Read More

Success Tips From Boxing

Ray Winstone, the London East End barrow boy, who became... Read More

Two Great Success Tips - Read And Apply What You Learn And Do It Now!

Today I was glad that I had bothered to read... Read More

Animal Teachers Reveal Success Through Pleasure

What the anteater and otter show us about success?It's been... Read More

Universal Success Secrets Shared

Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem... Read More

How To Create a Life Strategy for Business Success - Part One of a Series

Ask yourself the following:1. I have created a life-strategy plan... Read More

Don?t Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Whenever we have a bad experience or we own up... Read More

O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..