Self Confidence Through New Experiences

Self Confidence through New Experiences

Does trying something new make you nervous? It can be difficult to step outside of our comfort zones and embrace new experiences. If you are able to move beyond your initial trepidation and embark on a new journey, you can enjoy unexpected results, including increased confidence.

Think of the wildest activity possible, the one that you couldn't see yourself doing in a million years but that you'd secretly love to do. Well, what's stopping you? Create a plan and start working towards that goal, whether it's running a marathon, going back to school, or bungee jumping. If you are successful at something that was once seemingly impossible, you can certainly accomplish more mundane tasks at work or at home, and your confidence will soar.

"New" doesn't have to mean wild and crazy, though. Maybe you've always wanted to explore your artistic side. Signing up for a painting or pottery class would be an easy way to try something new. Maybe you just want to broaden your circle of friends. You could join a club, plan a neighborhood barbecue, or just make an effort to sit by someone new in the lunchroom. Whether your new activity is just for fun or for personal growth, you'll feel good about yourself for taking that first step in becoming more open to new experiences.



Do you have goals for your family, career or life? It's certainly easy to mesh the idea of trying new things with goal accomplishment. The goal could be the new activity itself or it could be that trying something completely new is the means to the end. If you can enjoy a new experience at the same time as you reach a goal, the benefits are doubled.

Are there any goals that you used to have that you've forgotten or overlooked? Think way back to your childhood years if necessary to discover something that you always wanted to do "when you grew up." Did you dream of being a dancer? It's probably too late to join the New York Ballet, but taking a ballroom dancing class in your community could bring a bit of that glamour back into your life. Doing something that you've always wanted to accomplish can boost your confidence tremendously. Once you've achieved one dream, you won't be able to wait until you can accomplish another one, and you'll go after it with the confidence that you can.

Is there something new that you could do to improve your performance at work? Maybe learning a new skill like web programming would increase your prospects for a promotion, or learning Spanish would put you first in line for a business trip to the company's South American headquarters. Learning new career skills will prevent stagnation and the lack of confidence it may bring. It can also lead to even more new opportunities and responsibilities.

Imagine the confidence you could gain by conquering a long-time fear. Some fears are good because they exist for a reason. It's a good thing that most of us have a fear of running into oncoming traffic because it keeps us alive. Unfortunately, many fears keep us from being our best. One common fear is a fear of public speaking. Think of all the educational and career situations where you may be asked to speak in front of a group of people. Now think of the opportunities that you would miss if you simply refused to speak, or if you were so terrified that you mumbled and muttered your way to a demotion. Alternatively, course, not every single fear can be fixed with a determined attitude. You should seek the assistance of a mental health professional if your fear is truly debilitating or otherwise interferes with leading a normal life.

If you take a few of these suggestions, you can proudly say that you're the type of person who does wild and crazy things. Well, if not actually wild and crazy, you are willing to try new things. You have a sense of adventure and an open mind. Doesn't that make you feel confident?