Vitality News Health Articles

Self-confidence can be defined as the power to believe in oneself and one’s gifts. This trait is integral to an individual’s successes throughout one’s lifetime. This strength enables people to know in their self-worth and that they can succeed in their actions. Even those who lack this attribute can start to build their self confidence.

Without this strength, the majority of individuals are unable to accomplish life goals. They may be ineffective in relationships, academic endeavors, and job situations. They frequently acquire a social phobia, and become awkward in social situations. People who lack self-confidence frequently hesitate to try to set or work toward goal accomplishment; they firmly believe that they are likely to fail. They are convinced that they are lesser or less capable than those around them. They often do fall short because they have a poor self-image.

In contrast, the person who is able to gain self confidence will find himself or herself able to correct this downward spiral and be able to find healing from this social phobia. Such a person then learns that building self confidence results in remarkable improvements in relationships and educational endeavors. Sometimes, a job promotion may be a product of steps toward boosting self-confidence.

People may have failed to boost self-confidence for several reasons. They may have had overbearing parents, or been teased frequently during their school years. Some struggled academically or socially. Others just were not outgoing enough to make friends or experience the affirming support of classmates, parents, or teachers. Many of these individuals fight against a self-image of inferiority and incompetence.

Too often, individuals who were not able to build self confidence during childhood struggle with building self confidence as adults. They have been unable to learn how to achieve this, and are able to learn only when they seek the aid and support of friends or professional helpers. Many people have difficulty admitting that they are hindered by such difficulties, and merely continue to strain all their lives.

A number of strategies have been utilized to assist individuals to build self confidence. Many types of counseling therapies, such as cognitive therapy or group treatments, may be used to teach individuals how to improve self confidence. Countless self-help guides have been published to help clients to improve self-confidence. Professionals offer instructional sessions and retreats designed to allow people boost self confidence.

Even though any of these strategies are sometimes helpful, two innovative strategies that are easily learned and incredibly successful for the majority of individuals who try them are confidence hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Professionals who employ confidence hypnosis are frequently capable of coaching individuals to acquire self confidence and drastically upgrade both their perspectives and their chances to succeed in life.

Classic hypnosis (using post-hypnotic suggestions) is often quite beneficial. It is most useful with those who are suggestible and easily led. This type of therapy typically is not effective with individuals who are more methodical or think critically.

For people described by the latter group, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP approaches work much better. These approaches are effective for effectively communicating with the unconscious mind, which is the seat of our emotions. This occurs because they bypass the resistance that analytical people have to the more traditional suggestion type of hypnosis.

An NLP strategy that persons are often taught for improving self confidence is known as anchoring. This is a natural experience. For example, if you hear an old song, and experience feelings of deja vu, this is because the subconscious connected the emotions in a past situation, with the notes of the song you were listening to at the time. Therefore, hearing the music once more, the unconscious triggers the emotions related to it. For this reason the song is an anchor for those emotions.

Through anchoring, persons are reminded of an instance that allowed them to experience the emotions of confidence. When they recall and relive those feelings, they learn to touch two fingers together. The unconscious then associates the emotions of confidence with the two fingers touching together. If the individual reports that he or she has no memory of having self-confidence, they may develop a fantasy where he or she does see himself having confidence, and then anchor that perception of confidence.

When the client has anchored the feelings of confidence, when they find themselves in situations that require self-confidence, touching the fingers together triggers memories of confidence for use in the present situation.

Another very powerful NLP technique known as the “Flash” is sometimes used to instantaneously replace painful feelings, which are typically related to low self-confidence. Because of this method, the individual uses the visual images that cause a negative feeling, to trigger mental images to create a positive feeling.

For example, the person directs the unconscious to employ the visual cues that cause feelings of uncertainty, as triggers for visual images that cause emotions of self confidence. It is our mental images that trigger our emotions.

We all have dreams, and aspirations. A number of individuals can work toward these to realize their aspirations. Sometimes, however, people allow their lack of self-confidence to defeat them. Although NLP does not successfully treat all clients, the large majority of persons who attempt this approach tell of great success in gaining self confidence. This strategy is in fact, more useful than alternative techniques for the majority of people.

Summary: People who lack self-confidence typically may struggle with failure in most areas of life. A number of components cause individuals to acquire social phobias or feelings of incompetence. Several treatment approaches can aid persons to boost self-confidence. NLP is widely reported to be highly successful by a large number of clients who have adopted this approach.

Alan B. Densky, CH is an NGH certified hypnotherapist. He offers NLP CDs for social phobias and self confidence. His self hypnosis for self confidence CDs were independently reviewed in the UK. Visit his Neuro-VISION self development site to watch free hypnosis videos.

- Alan B. Densky, CH