Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be naturally born speakers while others hover in the background hoping no one will call on them for their opinion?
It is all about one word “self-confidence
”. We are not born with it but develop it from early childhood. Our culture, environment, parental upbringing, personality, role models, and many more factors contribute to our self-confidence. Nurture versus nature has always played an important role in how we view ourselves.
There is a belief that if you “fake it, until you make it”, works to improve our level of confidence. Speakers often feel insecure about their content, and their ability to move or transform an audience emotionally. Practice does not necessarily make perfect but it certainly raises the bar on excellence. The more research, preparation and rehearsing a speaker does, the more confidence they achieve in delivering the speech.
Self-confidence is the combination of your basic self-worth and your basic sense of competency. It’s the knowledge that you can cope with any problems you encounter and the belief that you deserve happiness.
Affirmations are short positive statements. Next time you need to boost your self-confidence try this exercise. Provide each of these categories with an affirmation. Then read them out loud before a presentation as a warm up.
1. Health Coach (Personal Trainer)
2. Accepting Friend
3. Hollywood Agent. (For Example: A Hollywood Agent might say to you prior to a speaking engagement that “You’re Fantastic!”
4. Rational Teacher
5. Compassionate Mentor
6. Kindly Aunt
Self-esteem and self-confidence is something we already possess—but it is constantly fluctuating. The balance is whatever resources you have to draw upon in daily life. Make peace with your inner critic.
Written by Bette Elly Klimitz
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