When faced with a big challenge where potential failure seems to lurk at every corner, maybe you've heard this advice before: "Be more confident." And most likely, this is what you think when you hear it: "If only it were that simple." But what is confidence? Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem, add in the optimism that comes when you are certain of your abilities, and then empowered by these, act courageously to face a challenge head-on. This is confidence. It turns thoughts into action. So where does confidence even come from? There are several factors that impact confidence. One: what you're born with, such as your genes, which will impact things like the balance of neurochemicals in your brain. Two: how you're treated. This includes the social pressures of your environment. And three: the part you have control over, the choices you make, the risks you take, and how you think about and respond to challenges and setbacks. It isn't possible to completely untangle these three factors, but the personal choices we make certainly play a major role in confidence development. So, by keeping in mind a few practical tips, we do actually have the power to cultivate our own confidence. Tip 1: a quick fix. There are a few tricks that can give you an immediate confidence boost in the short term. Picture your success when you're beginning a difficult task, something as simple as listening to music with deep bass; it can promote feelings of power. You can even strike a powerful pose or give yourself a pep talk. Tip two: believe in your ability to improve. If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your abilities and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be developed, like a muscle? These beliefs matter because they can influence how you act when you're faced with setbacks. If you have a fixed mindset, meaning that you think your talents are locked in place, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not very good at. But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve, a challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Neuroscience supports the growth mindset. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice. It also turns out, on average, people who have a growth mindset are more successful, getting better grades, and doing better in the face of challenges. Tip three: practice failure. Face it, you're going to fail sometimes. Everyone does. J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up "Harry Potter." The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight, including some of their own, before designing a successful airplane. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges and setbacks in a constructive way. They learn how to try different strategies, ask others for advice, and perservere. So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. Give yourself a pep talk, stand up, and go for it. The excitement you'll feel knowing that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding. This is confidence.
Suočeni sa velikim izazovom, kada potencijalni neuspeh kao da vreba iza svakog ćoška, možda ste čuli savet: "Budi sigurniji u sebe." I kad to čujete, verovatno pomislite sledeće: "Eh, da je tako jednostavno." Ali šta je samopouzdanje? Uzmite verovanje da ste vredni, sposobni, poznato i kao samopoštovanje, dodajte optimizam koji imate kad ste sigurni u svoje sposobnosti, i onda time ojačani, nastupite hrabro i suočite se sa izazovom. To je samopouzdanje. Ono pretvara misli u akciju. Ali, odakle samopouzdanje uopšte dolazi? Na njega utiče nekoliko faktora. Prvi: ono sa čime ste rođeni, vaši geni, koji utiču na stvari kao što je balans neurohemikalija u vašem mozgu. Drugi: kako se prema vama ophode. Ovo uključuje društvene pritiske vaše okoline. I treći: onaj deo nad kojim imate kontrolu, vaši izbori, rizici koje preuzimate, i kako razmišljate i reagujete na izazove i prepreke. Nije moguće potpuno razdvojiti ova tri faktora, ali naši lični izbori igraju veliku ulogu u razvoju samopouzdanja. Ako zapamtimo nekoiko praktičnih saveta, mi zapravo imamo moć da negujemo svoje samopouzdanje. Savet 1: brzi lek. Postoji nekoliko trikova koji vam trenutno mogu pojačati samopouzdanje na kratak rok. Na samom početku teškog zadatka zamislite da ste već uspeli, nešto jednostavno poput slušanja muzike sa dubokim basom može izazvati osećanja moći. Možete čak i da zauzmete moćnu pozu ili da održite sebi motivacioni govor. Savet 2: verujte u svoju sposobnost da napredujete. Ako tragate za dugoročnom promenom, razmislite o tome kako gledate na svoje sposobnosti i talente. Da li mislite da su utemeljeni na rođenju ili da mogu da se razvijaju, kao mišić? Ova uverenja su važna, jer mogu da utiču na vaše ponašanje kad ste suočeni sa preprekama. Ako vam je način razmišljanja utemeljen, odnosno ako mislite da su vaši talenti zakucani u mestu, možda ćete odustati, pretpostavljajući da ste otkrili nešto u čemu niste baš dobri. Ali ako mislite da sposobnosti mogu da se razviju, izazov je prilika da učite i razvijate se. Neuronauka podržava ovakav stav. Veze u vašem mozgu zaista jačaju i razvijaju se kroz učenje i vežbu. Takođe, ispostavlja se, da su ljudi sa ovakvim stavom u proseku uspešniji, imaju bolje ocene i bolje se snalaze kad se suoče sa izazovima. Savet 3: vežbajte neuspeh. Priznajte, nekada ćete ga doživeti. Svima se dešava. Dž. K. Rouling je 12 izdavača odbilo pre nego što je jedan objavio "Harija Potera". Braća Rajt su nastavila istoriju propalih pokušaja letenja, dodajući i nekoliko svojih, pre nego što su napravili uspešan avion. Istraživanja pokazuju da oni koji redovno doživljavaju neuspeh i nastavljaju da pokušavaju, na konstruktivniji način reaguju na izazove i neprilike. Oni nauče da isprobavaju različite strategije, pitaju druge za savet i istraju. Dakle, razmislite o izazovu sa kojim želite da se suočite, shvatite da neće biti lako, prihvatite da ćete grešiti i budite blagi prema sebi kad se to desi. Motivišite se, ustanite i krenite. Uzbuđenje koje osećate, znajući da, kakav god bude rezultat, vi ste stekli mnogo znanja i razumevanja. To je samopouzdanje.