Table of contents:
- What is self-confidence?
- Self-confidence can be manipulated by the brain
- How to train the brain to be confident?
- 1. The strengths of others as opportunities for self-development
- 2. Take advantage of your uncomfortable feelings
- 3. Don't shape your feelings based on how you were treated
Do you believe in yourself? In fact, no one is born with unlimited self-confidence. If someone seems to have a lot of self-confidence, it could be that that confidence was born after years of formation. Some literature also reveals that by training your brain to be confident, your self-confidence will slowly increase.
What is self-confidence?
Self-confidence or confidence comes from latin fidere which means to believe. In other words, self-confidence is the ability to believe in your own abilities, so that you dare to take on a challenge, be able to handle difficult situations and be responsible for the decisions you have made. In short, confidence is what you feel and think about yourself.
Having low self-confidence, can lead to a shy character, anxiety when socializing to other impacts that may affect your relationship with your social life and your career development. Low self-esteem can even increase your risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Self-confidence can be manipulated by the brain
The pattern of brain activity turns out to be able to provide a picture of a person's confidence. In other words, manipulating certain brain activities can increase the level of self-confidence you have.
The research, conducted by Doctor Aurelio Cortese, uses a process known as the combination of artificial intelligence with brain scanning technology or decoded neurofeedback, to 17 participants. Where each participant is able to increase the level of self-confidence in themselves that is detected in a brain scanner, the researchers will overwrite the memory of the moment by giving a gift or something positive.
How to train the brain to be confident?
But in fact, without the need for a brain scanner or overwriting with positive memories like the research above, you can train your brain to be confident in itself. Here are some tips provided by self-performance consultant, Graham Young:
1. The strengths of others as opportunities for self-development
When you see other people's strengths, you are used to giving reactions such as, “Wow! Ability public speaking it is better than my ability. " Without you knowing it, you often compare someone's strengths to the weaknesses you have. Give these reactions over and over and then train your brain to work with such a pattern. It slowly makes you begin to lose sight of the other abilities you have.
Let's value this condition from another point of view. Calm your mind, manage your emotions every time this moment comes. Instead of looking at it from the side as your opponent, it would be better if you saw it as an opportunity that you should further develop yourself in that ability.
2. Take advantage of your uncomfortable feelings
Analyzing your feelings of discomfort may be unpleasant, but being aware of the times when you feel uncomfortable and knowing why, without realizing it, can increase your self-confidence levels. By organizing the thoughts, feelings and actions you take when you feel the discomfort, you can identify the cause of your insecurities. You can start this cause-finding adventure with questions like:
- When do you know you've done a good job?
- What must be done to feel valued, loved, and happy?
- Have conditions like some of the questions above ever happened in your life?
3. Don't shape your feelings based on how you were treated
It's good to care about what other people think of you, but it can end badly if you judge yourself by those people's thoughts. In overcoming this condition, you can first instill in yourself that you have given the best attitude in treating others and make sure your goals are good when treating them. The rest is their right and beyond your responsibility. So that it is not an obligation for you to think about it, worry about it.
After that, whenever you begin to feel uncomfortable with other people's judgments of you, instill in yourself that no one knows you better than yourself.
Once you know what triggers your insecurities, even how you should train your brain to be confident and react to all of these triggers, don't forget to smile! This simple act can also fuel your self-confidence and maybe even others who see it.
