The biggest thing about getting a life is believing in yourself.
With the right attitude you can achieve great things so don’t let other people put you down or limit your options.
You need self-confidence to believe in yourself so here are some ideas for boosting your confidence levels.
- Think positively - When you have a negative thought, replace it with a positive one. Instead of thinking “I can’t do that” think “I’ll give it a try and see how I get on”.
- Take small steps – We often fail because we expect too much of ourselves so set small realistic goals for yourself. If you can’t face the day and want to hide in bed don’t lay there worrying about how you are going to solve all your problems. Instead just think about getting up and having breakfast then think about the next small step you can take.
- Remind yourself of your strengths - Give yourself credit for everything you try. Think about what you have done well rather than what didn’t work out. If something didn’t work out don’t dwell on it just think about what you can do differently next time
- Do something you’re good at - Take part in an activity, if possible join a club so that you have got other people to support you - anything you do well. If possible, do
something that holds your attention so that you forget about everything else. - Find out more about activities in your area
- Stop thinking about yourself - Low self-esteem is often accompanied by too much focus on yourself. Doing something that absorbs you and holds your attention can quickly make you feel better.
- Take part in sport – Ok you’ve probably heard this before but keeping physically active also improves your mental well being. Also it might also lead to “Doing something you are good at.
- Accept that it’s ok to fail - Dare to fail. You don’t learn by doing what you already know. You have to make a step further and try new things to get better. Think of failure as a lesson-building tool. You can build on your
experience to do better next time.
Why not give some of these a try ….. sit down and make a plan about what changes you could make in your life. We feel less confident when we feel that things are out of control so making a plan will be the first step towards taking control of your life.
Find out more about taking control of your life - And remember you don't have to do it alone ..... if you need a bit of help don't be afraid to ask your teacher, youth worker or connexions adviser.
