Self Help Tip:
Self-Confidence Through Body Language And Posture

Self-confidence or the lack of it can be manifested in many ways, one of which is through body posture. Body posture is the way one carries himself. It is the basis for making first impressions which generally dictates the image of a person in the eyes of another. Making a good first impression can be very beneficial.

Imagine that you are walking in a room for a job interview with poor body language and posture: you slouched, your shoulder was drooping and head bowed down. What would the interviewer think of you? He or she would think that you are someone who are lack of self-confidence.

If you do the things that put your body in a nervous and frightened physiology. You are actually deciding to be looked as someone who don’t have a self-confidence. The first important step toward having a self-confidence is to learn to have the correct body image (ie. correct body language and posture).

Now if you change the way you use your body, your shoulders are back, your head is up and you put a smile in your face, you will now feel different and you will also look like you are someone who are friendly, approachable and have self-confidence. Implement this tip today!

I highly recommend you to check out this self-confidence ebook: “How To Improve Self-Confidence“. It only costs $17.

body language, body posture, self confidence

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Speak Up when the Truth Need to be Known

There is an old adage which says, “Silence is golden.” Of course this is not always true. The more accurate statement should sound like this: “Silence is golden when it is called for”. Therefore the following statement is also true: “Silence is NOT golden when it is NOT called for“.

Many people choose to be silent even when they are supposed to speak up. This is because they are afraid of being deemed confronting or defying to their seniors or bosses. Silence can be deadly when it is not called for. It can cost you your promotion, your health, your marriage or even a life.

I read the following story from a newspaper some times back…

“There was an arrogant doctor who never wanted to listen to other people’s opinions. When a nurse spoke up, he would ask her to shut up and be a nurse. Nobody dared to question him or give any suggestion. One day there was a patient who had undiagnosed meningitis. One of the nurses suspected that the patient had meningitis but she didn’t speak up. Two days later, the patient died.”

The nurse regretted her silence but it was already too late. She had been reliving the event many times. Imagine instead of shy away, the nurse stood up and said,

“I understand you don’t like to hear my opinion but I feel compelled to offer it because I suspect he has meningitis”.

This could have saved a life!

So the moral of the story is… Speak up when the truth need to be known!

If you’ve ever been to New York, specifically walked the streets of Manhattan, you will immediately notice everyone is rushing around, seemingly clueless as to where they are going. Typical of major cities, visitors always ask, “Where is everyone running to?” Actually, the question should be, “Why is everyone in such a hurry?” It’s all about time. She’s late for lunch; he’s going to miss the train or bus home; we’ll be late for dinner. No one ever stops to think about the amount of time wasted worrying about it. The realization that proper planning is the key to saving time has somehow eluded us. It’s important, then, to discuss time management techniques to effectively yield positive results.

Here are some of the time management techniques you can implement in your day to day activities:

Preparation:
Make a daily list of things to do, appointments to keep, and so on.

Don’t Be Late:
If you have an appointment, leave an hour earlier. Together with traffic delays and phone call interruptions, you’ll have plenty of time to arrive at your destination.

First on the List:
When making a list of things to do, begin with the most important item first. Then prioritize the rest as you complete your list.

Throw Perfectionism out the Window:
If you have an important engagement, wedding or other function to attend; don’t waste so much time over the minor things which will cause you to be late. You know the old saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” It happens to be true. Conversely, if you expect company for the holidays, don’t freak out because your kitchen floor isn’t spotless. No one cares but you. Friends are coming to your home to see you, not the floor.

Don’t Procrastinate:
If you’ve started a home project, but you have to pick up a friend at a certain time; drop what you are doing and go. If that doesn’t work, have your friend call you every 15 minutes until you’ve left the house.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say, “Sorry, I Can’t.”
Perhaps you are working on a project at work, and you must leave on time to pick up your children this particular day. Your boss asks if you can stay an extra hour. You feel torn about saying no for fear you may upset your boss. Stop! You are a hard worker; you’re very efficient, and you’ve always been there when your boss needed you. It’s time to think of you. Simply say, “Sorry, I can’t today.”

Time is important to everyone. It is a basic and important component in how we conduct our business; our lives, and even our free time. It should not be wasted nor squandered; but used for preparing our daily routines; our work habits; and our family responsibilities.

time management techniques

How Important Is Goal Setting?

A business manager of a major auto manufacturer has set a five-year goal for himself. At the tender age of 29, he has accomplished all but one; buying a home. “This,” he states definitively, “will occur at age 35.” If you ask, how important is goal setting? In his case, it is very important. His success met the five criteria for setting effective goals: express goals positively; set precise goals; prioritize the goals; write down the goals, and keep the goals small, thus easier to achieve.

Why do we need to set goals to achieve? Without goals, there is no direction; no focus; no reason to become involved in anything worthwhile. More importantly, controlling that which we wish to achieve is how we live; how we operate our business; how we win a race; how we can enhance our skills; our performance; and how we gain self-confidence. Goals must be specific; not unrealistic. To say you will become a millionaire in a year is a goal you may not meet. However, if the measure of success is reasonable, it can be attainable using your own standards for success.

The pressures of society to amass great wealth in the shortest amount of time are based upon other’s goals and desires, not yours. You must have a clear understanding of what goals you are trying to achieve, and exhibit the skills and knowledge to achieve them. Achieving goals based on one particular event does not in any way ensure success in another.

Grabbing the brass ring can be difficult. It may be just out of reach, but is attainable. Use the same analogy in achieving your goals. Set them just out of reach, but within your grasp; giving you the determination and commitment to reach for it. Keep yourself healthy, fit and free of diversions. Focus on the goal; and never lose sight of it.

Ensure you acquire the skills needed to achieve the goal. Gather as much information and knowledge as you can. Ask for help whenever you need to; it is not a sign of weakness. Use whatever resources are available to you; make lists along the way. Many times ideas may crop up which will bring you closer to your goal. Never assume anything. Research every possibility. If a particular idea doesn’t pan out, try another; and another. Don’t give up; or give in.

If you have a goal in life, keep in mind sometimes life gets in the way of the very thing you are trying to achieve. It may be a momentary set-back, but don’t give up the dream, the goal, or the path that will lead you to it.

goal setting

The True Nature of Crisis is an Opportunity in Disguise

One of my Chinese friends once told me that the word “crisis” in chinese is made out of two characters “crisis” and “opportunity”. He said that the Chinese believe that the true nature of crisis is an opportunity in disguise.

The nature of a cirisis is devastating and most people are not trained to endure crisis these days. Most people will lose heart and blinded by emotion when faced with crisis. Hence most will not see an opportunity within a crisis. But there are some people who can endure the unendurable and seek an opportunity that exists within a crisis situation.

So if you are facing some kind of crisis in your life right now, don’t panic and don’t lose heart. Try your best to endure the crisis. It is within the process of endurance, opportunity will surface and reveal itself.

Mahatma Gandhi once wrote…

God is the toughest taskmaster I have known.
He tries you through and through.
When you find your faith or your body is failing you, and you are sinking,
He comes to your assistance.
He proves to you that you must not lose your faith…
I cannot recall a single instance when,
at the eleventh hour, He has forsaken me.

Self Help: Tips To Reduce Stress Through Breathing

Everyday we breathe without consciously aware how we actually do it. Breathing technique is very important in any form of exercise. During an exercise, experts always tell us to exhale upon exertion and inhale upon release. The reason for this is to lower the risk of getting injured internally.

A simple inhaling and exhaling act can be very effective to reduce stress. Next time, when you feel overwhelmed by something, try this exercise… Shift your attention to your breathing. Sit up with your spine straight and your head facing forward. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

As you inhale and exhale, feel your breath as it circulates your nose and mouth. Notice how your chest or belly rises and falls. This will immediately slow down your heart rate and calm you down. You will feel better and more prepared to cope with the situation at hand. This technique of reducing stress through breathing is simple to do yet very effective. Try it, it works!

A Few Easy Steps For Overcoming Procrastination

Does this sound familiar? You wake up in the morning; have your coffee; read your list of things to do today; then go back to bed.  Is this procrastination, or a more serious problem?  If it occurs more than once; it is.  However, people procrastinate for a variety of reasons such as; fear of failing or succeeding; poor organizational skills; and sometimes, a lack of self-esteem. In this post you will learn a few easy tips in overcoming procrastination.

Fear of Failing or Succeeding:
If you fall into this category, there are certain tasks you can perform to understand your resistance. Ask yourself what are you most afraid of; the task, the requirements needed to fulfill the task; the outcome, or possible failure? Perhaps it may go even deeper. Maybe you are afraid you will succeed. Most often, there is a tendency to sabotage a certain project because in succeeding, you are meeting the high expectation others have about you and your work. Thus, more pressure is being placed upon you; and therefore, no excuses can suffice in exceeding those expectations.

Fear of rejection can be another reason why you cling to procrastination. This may originate from low-self esteem; or a lingering uncertainty within your own mind. It can also be generated from a past rejection which has resurfaced by the task itself. Do not place so much importance on what others think; affirming confidence in your own abilities is the key to overcoming rejection. You may feel a slight twinge, but will be able to brush it off if you just remember who you are.

Organizational Skills: Create a Small List:
Instead of pressuring yourself by including twenty or more things to do on your list, create small lists of five things to do. Managing your life in this way will make it easier for you to complete the tasks; leaving you with a feeling of accomplishment. Do not allow anyone or anything to overpower you; your life; or your achievements.

Lack of Self Esteem and Motivation:
Lack of self-esteem prevents you from completing the easiest task. Why? Either because you do not feel you are worthy of the challenge, or because you feel you are not good enough to complete it. Motivation is a good place to begin. Start with an easy task first; then gradually work your way up to full completion. Your confidence will build; you will feel more positive about what you can accomplish, and you will be less likely to avoid the next task at hand.

Lift the Weight off Your Shoulders:
Here is an analogy which may help you. Food shopping requires a list, correct? Each time a product is placed in the shopping cart, you cross it off the list.  Well, following the same procedure with other tasks in your life will lift the weight off your shoulders, and the burden will disappear. The secret is not to overload your mind with tasks neither you nor anyone else can handle. Take it one step at a time. Remember, no one is testing you; there is no time-clock. There is no pressure.