Motivational Whisperers

Much of the success in your career will depend on how well-established your work habits are.  Good work habits are in high demand; just ask any Human Resource personnel. It’s simply because people who have them are more organized, more efficient and are less likely to waste time and money. Form the following work habits are a must for the entrepreneur growing his business or the prorfessional looking to climb the ladder.

Use a “To Do” List
It's an old trick, but it never fails.  At the end of each work day, write down your 'to do' list for the next day.  Put this somewhere on your desk where you will find it first thing in the morning.  During the first 10 to 15 minutes of your day, review your list.  At the end of the day, refer to this list again to see how much you have accomplished.  Take note of what tasks still need to be done and write them down on another 'to do' list.

File
Filing is the simplest way to becoming organized.  By knowing where files are kept, you don’t waste valuable time trying to look for them.  Better yet, you are least likely to lose important documents if you know how to keep them in their proper places.  Learn the art of organizing and begin improving your performance at work. Remember, it’s just as important to keep things filed neatly in your computer, for easy access later.

Priortize
Determine the urgency of things that land on your desk.  Is marketing or social media more important? When should you answer email? Is that phone call really important – or is it a time waster? Do you have to review all the statistics or should you focus on customer getting activities?  Learn to recognize the things that need your attention first and then work on them in order of priority. Remember that every moment offers you choice, the right choices will get you where you want to go at a faster pace.

Organize
Keep important references and numbers in a notebook. Have handy access to names, phone numbers and email addresses.  If there is certain information and references that you always use, write them down in a small notebook or a particular file in your computer.  Things like passwords for various programs, which printer to use with which PC or other special considerations. Trying to memorize them may not be enough because memory can be tricky. 

Customer Service
Build relationships. Treat everyone as if they are the most important person on earth. Be prompt inreturning calls or emails. Listen to your customers  needs and wants, both spoken and unspoken. Answer the phone after the second ring and smile as you talk. Boost your company's image as you build good work habits.

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice.  Remember to  sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.

Is life a struggle for you? Do you fear making decissions? Do you say "Yes" to everyone even if your heart is telling you no? Is your self confidence bogging you down? Click here for your Confidence Booster Session to clarify your vision and develop a 3-stage action plan to transform your dreams into reality

If you are struggling to find your voice and your place in the world, you may be asking yourself "How do I get Self Confidence".

Self confidence is something that you already have. It is ever expanding and there is always room for growth. Think of all the things that you do on a daily basis that you feel confident in. These are things that you already do without even thinking such as walking, bathing, eating, driving, talking reading and writing.

To get self confidence what you want to do is expand on the things that you already do well. Think of all of your successes. What have you done that you can be proud of?

When you have confidence in your abilities you begin to see failures as obstacles to be overcome. Your confidence increases as you identify and conquer each challenge that comes your way.

Be grateful for everything that you have and everything that you can do. First thing in the morning when your feet touch the floor, be grateful that you can walk, for your hardwood floors or for the plush carpeting under your toes. As you brush your teeth, be grateful that you have teeth to eat with and that you have a sense of taste to enjoy every morsel of food that you consume. The more things you find to be grateful for, the more good flows into your life. With each good thing you gain awareness and confidence.

Get self confidence by NOT allowing others to influence you. You may be quick to listen to and believe everything other people tell you, especially those closest to you. After all you know that they have your best interest at heart and would never lie to you.

Keep in mind that even the closest person to you - DOES NOT KNOW YOU like you know you! No one else can feel your pain, know your aspirations, dream your dreams, know your intention or know your thoughts.

When someone tells you something, ask yourself the following questions and be honest with yourself:
"Is this true?"
"Does this serve any purpose in my life?"
"Do I choose to accept it as fact?"

For example if I told you that you have pink hair, your first instinct is to hit the "Reject" button in your mind.

However if I told you that you shouldn’t wear orange because it's too bright of a color, you might think - wow, I've been wearing orange all these years, I even get compliments when I've worn orange ... I guess I've changed, I better stop wearing orange!" or if I said you're not smart enough to run a business, you might think "Yeah, that's right I don't know why I am wasting my time trying to start a business, because I'm just not smart enough". For some reason you have chosen to press the "Accept" button.

We would have missed out on so many wonderful inventions if Thomas Edison would have hit the "Accept" button when his teacher told him he was confused and stupid. Where would we be today if Henry Ford would have given up after his first failure or if the Wright brothers would have listened to people that told them that man could not fly?

Keep your “Reject” button handy and reject anything that does not fit with your dreams and desires.

Don't listen to other peoples opinions of you. Be yourself, nurture your unique talents and give the gift to the world that is within you!

Is life a struggle for you? Do you fear making decissions? Do you say "Yes" to everyone even if your heart is telling you no? Is your self confidence bogging you down? Click here for your Confidence Booster Session to clarify your vision and develop a 3-stage action plan to transform your dreams into reality. Plus my free get my FREE motivational Wall Paper.

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach.  She is the host of her own Internet TV show called "Building Self Confidence."Visit CindySense.com and sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering articles, affirmations, motivational tips and quotes.

A SMART Goal is Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Realistic and Time Bound

Specific
Specific tells exactly what you want to achieve by answering the why, how, when and where of your goal.  The clearer your goal, the better odds you have of achieving it. It should be so clear that a child would be able to tell you when you have achieved it. Remember Clarity equals Success!!!

Measurable
You should be able to track and measure your progress along the way. Each measured success builds momentum and motivation as it lets you know you are moving in the right direction.

Attainable
If it is, possible that one person can achieve this goal then YOU CAN too! Be confident that you can and will achieve your goal. The only goal that is never reached is the one that you give up on.  (A goal that would be unattainable would be something in the area of “I want to end hunger in the world” or “I will create world peace”.)

Realistic
 Your subconscious needs to believe that it is realistic and possible for you to achieve it. Continue to build your confidence in achieving your goal by reading your goal daily, affirmations, visualization and writing down what achieving your goal will look and feel like

Time Bound
Your goal needs a deadline. They help you to track your progress and keep you focused. Deadlines are not set in stone. Do your very best to achieve your goal on time, but be flexible enough to extend the deadline if you need to.

Click Here to get your Free SMART GOALS WORKSHEET

5  Tips to Set and Achieve SMART Goals

1. State your goal as a declaration of intention, not a wish. “I want a promotion at work”, is a wish. “I will be promoted at work by acquiring the skills I need” is a powerful declaration.
2. Break down long-term goals into several small short-term goals. “I will save $2,400 this year” can become “I will save $46.15 each week.”
3. Find your why? Why do you want to achieve this goal? What will it mean to you? Are there any negatives about achieving the goal? Do some soul searching. The stronger “WHY” you have to achieve the goal, the motivated you will be to succeed.
4. Be clear about what you want. “I want to find a job” is way too vague. “I will obtain a job in the legal field that will help me to expand and grow” holds more punch.
5. Do not keep your goal a secret. By sharing it with people you trust, they will be able to encourage you to keep on going when things get tough.

Read 18 Tips to Set and Achieve SMART GOALS

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice.

Remember to  sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.

What is a Master Mind?

A Master Mind is a group of like minded individuals who have similar, yet very distinctive goals and aspirations. There are several types of groups to choose from. Some have paid facilitators and some do not. Note that master mind groups without paid facilitators are normally a group of people that met at an event (either online or off) that decided to get together once or twice a month to brainstorm ideas. Large business owners often create their own group of master minds to focus on brainstorming new and creative ways to market their business.

The Best Master Mind Group integrate teaching and sharing with a paid facilitator. At each meeting the participants learn new strategies to grow their business and then have homework to put the strategy into action. There is also time set aside to brainstorm and ask questions related to their niche and business. In addition they may be partnered with another member, and often these partnerships lead to long-lasting friendships and brainstorming sessions.

 How Can a Master Mind Help You Succeed?

 Being in a group of like minded individuals is exciting and motivating. By promising to do something in front of a group, you are more likely to follow through so you can tell them how it went.

 You’ll get feedback on your ideas and goals. You can ask for help in overcoming obstacles you face and learn by another’s experience. Master Mind groups can often speed up your success because you learn what doesn’t work by other members so you can avoid some of the learning curve.

 Learn creative ways to market your business. It’s amazing what can come out of a brainstorming session. Bring your idea to the table during the session and be blown away by the ideas that come from group members.  Members also share ways they have marketed which can spark new ideas for your own niche.

 Position yourself as an expert in your niche. A group can help you to narrow your niche down to a targeted market of hungry customers. This includes tips on SEO (search engine optimization) that will give you a greater chance of being ranked higher in the search engines.

 Use social media to grow your business. When you belong to a Master Mind group, participants often help you build your brand by retweeting your tweets and talking about you and to you on Facebook and other social media sites.

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach.  Her webiste CindySense.com offers inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice. Sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter.

In addition to being an expert at Motivational Whisperers, Cindy is  the facilitator of the  Motivational Whisperers Success Charged Master Mind Group. 

1. Fake it

Act confident. Confidence is a habit of feeling a certain way. The more you act confident, the quicker your self-confidence will grow.  Like any habit it needs to be constantly repeated to be seeded into your subconscious. Think of it in the same way as learning something new Practice makes perfect - so Fake it Till You Make It!

 2. Be present

The only time you have is now. You can’t change the past, so don’t fret over what you should have or should not have done. You can’t change it. Its over. Let it go. The future is yours to create by what you do in the present moment. Make the most of every moment you have and be confident that you are right where you are supposed to be in the present moment.

3. Visualization

Visualization is a powerful tool. Take the time to dream about how your future will be. Where will you be? What will you see? Who will be with you? What do you feel? What do you have? Allow your imagination to flow just like it did when you were a young child. Dare to Dream! Visualization is rehearsing what you want your future to be. Visualize yourself doing the things that you want to do with self confidence.

4. Meditate

Take at least five minutes every day to meditate. Meditation helps reduce stress. When you feel calm, you feel more confident about what you are capable of doing. Meditation also gets you in touch with your inner-self which will guide you in the direction you want to go.

5. Affirmations

Repeat affirmations to yourself. Write them on cards and put them in places that you will see them. Stick some in your purse or wallet to read while standing in lines. Make them simple such as:
     * “I am strong and confident.”
     *  “Why am I strong and confident?”
     *  “My self-confidence grows every day.”
     *   “I have enough self confidence to reach my goals.”

 6. Self Care

Build your self confidence by being loving and kind to yourself. Dress nicely every day, you can wear sweats and comfortable clothes, just be sure they fit properly, are clean and free of stains. Bathe, brush your teeth and hair daily. Take time to exercise and build your strength or try a yoga class. Eat healthy; junk food can drain your energy and confidence levels. Get a massage, take long baths or showers, get your nails down, and just take time for you!

7. Gratitude  

Be grateful for everything that you have. Start a gratitude journal and write at least five things you are grateful for every day. This includes items like your carpeting, morning coffee, morning run, the air that you breathe and even the rain that is giving the flowers and trees the water they need. Be grateful for the people in your life and let them know how much they mean to you. As your grateful list grows, so will your self confidence, because your eyes will be opened to everything good in your life.              

8. Compliments

Learn to accept compliments graciously. When a person gives you a compliment they are being genuine. Don’t make excuses on why the compliment is not true. Take a few moments to appreciate and accept the compliment as truth. Another way to build self confidence is to compliment other people. It is scientifically proven that when you give some one a compliment, it boosts your happiness, their happiness and the happiness of everyone that overheard.

9. Take Baby Steps

Every day take a baby step that will build your confidence and brings you closer to living your dream life. If you fall, get back up and take another step. With each step you take, you will gain confidence and be motivated to continue on your path. Keep in mind the following quote by Confucius “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

10. Find a Mentor

 There are times in all of our lives when we need someone to talk to. A person that is non-judgmental and can help us grow and become the person we want to be.  A good mentor does not necessarily have to have gone through what you are going through; we all have different life experiences. A good mentor will listen, and help you find the path that is right for you.

If you’re looking for someone who can guide you, help you achieve your goals and encourage you to have the self confidence to step out of your comfort zone, Sign up for a Confidence Booster session with Cindy.

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice.

Remember to  sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.

Confidence is the key to achieving your dreams and creating the life that you want to live.

People who lack confidence stay "stuck" in their comfort zone. It's almost as if they are frozen in fear ...

• Afraid to be who they really are
• Afraid to take risks
• Afraid to fail
• Afraid to succeed
• Afraid to take action
• Afraid of change
• Afraid of struggles

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. You may be wondering what this means to you. It means that you create your own fear by your thoughts. You have imagined scenarios or events that have never actually occurred. You have become a prisoner of your own mind – frozen in fear. You believe it’s safer to stay in your “comfort zone” then it is to climb out of it and begin living the life you claim you really want.

The first step to obtaining unstoppable confidence is to look fear straight in the face and decide to take action regardless of how you feel. You realize that fear is a necessary struggle that allows you to emerge into the beautiful gifted person that you are.

Why are struggles necessary?

Think of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. The caterpillar is short, stubby and has no wings. The next stage of life is the chrysalis. During this stage remarkable transformation occurs. Then the butterfly begins its struggle to emerge. If she emerges too soon, she will not be able to fly. Allowed to struggle through the transformation - she becomes a beautiful butterfly that can spread her wings - A New Beginning in her life.

What is Unstoppable Confidence

• It's listening to your inner voice and trusting in it's guidance, even if it may not make sense to you at the time.
• It's knowing and trusting that everything will work out in your best interest, regardless how dark the day may be.
• It's the ability to take the required action necessary to reach your goals - regardless of the fear you may be feeling.
• It's accepting failures, knowing that each time you fail, you are one step closer to achieving your goal. You know that even though you will fail that you are not a failure.
• It's believing you will achieve your desired outcome without being attached to the "how".
• It's being comfortable with saying "no". You understand that every time you say "no" to one thing, you are in essence saying "yes" to something else.
• It's understanding and knowing that you are an individual with unique gifts and experiences that are al your own. You know that no one else can be you - no one can replace you. It's because of this knowing, that you don't feel a need to compete with others.

3 Techniques to building Unstoppable Confidence

1. Visualizing - Use your imagination to walk through the doors of the unknown. Look around, What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? Dare to dream big and remember the quote by Napoleon Hill "What the mind can believe, it can achieve".Your subconscious does not realize the difference between "real" or "make-believe". The more you "make-believe" the harder your subconscious will work to make it your reality.
2. Awareness - Be aware of your thoughts. What self-limiting beliefs are you holding onto that is making you lack the confidence you need to achieve your goals? Ask yourself if these beliefs are really true? Why or why not? Who would you be if you "let go" if this belief?
3. Affirmations - Reprogram your subconscious with thoughts by using affirmations such as "I am confident". If you say this and your inner voice is screaming at you that you are a big liar ... then try a softer approach "Why am I confident?" Your mind will not argue with a question - instead it will try to figure out a way to answer the question. By asking yourself, "Why am I confident", several times a day for at least 30 days, you will begin to feel more confident.

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice.

Remember to  sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.

I was honored to be a guest on my fellow expert Suzanne Rose's Empowering Serenity radio show -

What we discussed:

• What a comfort zone is
• Why people stay stuck in their comfort zone
• Why it's important to step out of your comfort zone
• 3 Techniques to gain the confidence to take that first step
• 7 Strategies to step out of your comfort zone

Listen to the Replay Now!

Here's a poem I'd like to share with you ....

MY COMFORT ZONE -  Author Unknown

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.
If you're in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice.

Remember to  sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.

Do you have friends or family members who have achieved immense success in their lives and you find yourself wishing you could have that the same? 

Are you filled with envy toward the people who have everything they want? 
Most of us experience these feelings from time to time, but instead of allowing jealousy to make you miserable and negative, you can create your own success. 
After all, you are the only person who can control how you define "success." So instead of spending your time feeling jealous, you can spend your time filling your life with success.

Create Your Own Success

Many people spend their lives wondering when success is going to magically appear on their lap but, of course, it never happens this way.  If, instead, we spend less time dreaming and more time building, we'd be much happier and success will be well within our grasp.

Rather than waiting passively for success to whisk you away, it's time to create your own version of success. When you are proactively taking steps every day, you have a better chance of realizing your goals. After all, it's far more productive than watching other people achieve success.

A great way to create the successful life you have always hoped for is to set clear, actionable goals.

• How do you want your life to be defined?
• What do you want to be doing a year from now, five years from now, or even ten years from now?
• What sort of goals can you set for yourself that will help motivate you and keep you going in the right direction so you can reach out and grab what you want?

You will want to make sure the goals you set are attainable. The best way to do this is to start with short-term goals that help you work towards your long-term goals. This will help you move forward and build momentum without becoming discouraged. Besides, it'll help to keep your eye on the prize.  If you set goals that are too ambitious, you will be more inclined to give up before you even get started.

Building a "Success!" Attitude

Your attitude and thoughts determine your success, so make sure they are congruent.  If you have some negative or self-defeating inner dialogues, it will be much more difficult for you to achieve your goals and build the life of success you have always wanted.  That's why it's a good idea to use the power of positive affirmations to propel you forward.

Affirmations can help people from all walks of life reach great success, even if they started out in the lowest of low places. So remember that success isn't limited to the rich and famous!

Having a list of affirmations on hand can help you overcome those moments of self-doubt, envy, or even anger that you may feel toward others. 

Affirmations are simple thoughts like,

• "Each simple, completed task propels me towards success,"
• "I am worthy of great success."

These affirmations help to remind you of what your goals are and, in turn, remind you that you are worthy of all you desire, and more!

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach.  Her webiste CindySense.com offers inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice. Sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter.

In addition to being an expert at Motivational Whisperers, Cindy is  the facilitator of the  Motivational Whisperers Success Charged  Master Mind Group.

Trying to maintain harmony between your work and home life can be a serious balancing act. You want both to go smoothly, but sometimes you'll find that you're paying too much attention to one and neglecting the other.

Instead of just getting frustrated, tell yourself that it's time to stop struggling! There are some easy strategies you can use to help you.

Try these techniques to better balance your work and home life:

1. Use a planner.
You can save yourself a lot of time just by planning out your days. Include both business and personal commitments to ensure that you're using your time effectively. You can use the free calendars offered by MSN/Hotmail or Google or any other electronic device.

2. Be flexible.
While it's important to plan a schedule, include room for a certain amount of flexibility. If you're schedule is too rigid, it's easy to become stressed out. Leave some time for new commitments and have a Plan B in mind for tasks that could take longer than anticipated. If you feel inspired to do something that 's not on  your list, do it. Listening to your intuition has a huge impact on your inner peace and your ability to balance your work and home life.

• If you find that you've been spending too much time on work or home life one week, shift your focus over to the other one for the following week.

3. Maintain communication.
Many times you're not the only one who's suffering when you're having trouble balancing your work and home life. Let your work partners know when you need to spend extra time with personal commitments and let your family know when work will be taking up extra time and focus.

• Plan some extra quality time for the neglected party. For example, if you need to work late one day, see if you can take off early the next. If you can't spare the time, then plan some quality time with your loved ones to make your time together even more special.

4. Have backups who you can call on.
Even with good planning skills, sometimes things come up that tend to throw everything awry. This is when advance planning for someone to back you up will help you to stay on track.

• If you must be away from work for personal issues, have someone cover for you, if possible, so you're not overwhelmed when you return to your regular schedule.
• If you need to spend too much time away from home due to work commitments, plan some fun activities for the kids with relatives or friends and have someone agree to help with the housework. This way, you won't face a total mess when you return to your regular home life.

5. Take breaks.
Even on your busiest days, schedule in some time for yourself, even if it's only 15 minutes in a relaxing bath. This time gives you a chance to recoup from the stresses of the day and you can return to your tasks renewed and refreshed. Take short breaks at work, too. When you finish your break, you'll be more productive.

• This is extremely important if you work from your home. Too many homeworkers opt to take a break from their business by doing the dishes or some other household chore. Breaks are "me" time. Read a book, take a short walk or meditate.

6. Stop  worrying.
If you're worried about home when you're at work, and worried about work when you're at home, then you aren't truly using your time wisely. If your head isn't in the moment, you'll have a hard time spending quality time to get things done and moving forward. Worry is mentally rehearsing the very things that you do not want to happen.

• Focus on what you need to do in each moment and get it done so there's more time left to do what you really want to do! Don't rush through it, learn to enjoy the process.

There are only a certain number of hours in the day, but you'll have time for the things that are truly important to you as long as you use your time effectively. Use these tips to help you balance your work and home life, and you'll find a greater harmony between the two!

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach.  Her webiste CindySense.com offers inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice. Sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter.

In addition to being an expert at Motivational Whisperers, Cindy is  the facilitator of the  Motivational Whisperers Success Charged  Master Mind Group.

Are you suffering from low self-esteem? Do you feel powerless to change yourself into the confident person you deserve to be?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, the good news is that strengthening your self-confidence is a task you really can accomplish with a little know-how and some easy strategies to show you the way. As you'll soon find out, some of these strategies are even fun!

Although your metamorphosis may not happen overnight, if you apply these strategies consistently, you'll be able to build up your self-confidence a little more each day. Make it a point to implement at least one confidence-boosting technique every day.

Soon, these techniques will become habits, and your spirits will soar as your self-confidence rises to new heights.

Use these effective strategies to give your self-confidence a boost:

1. Have realistic expectations. Even though it's important to aim high in life, if your expectations are totally unrealistic, you'll never know what it feels like to reach your goals. However, when you routinely succeed with realistic goals, it brings you great confidence.

* Tweak your expectations until you find a sweet spot where you're still pushing yourself, but you're also able to achieve. Once you know what it feels like to accomplish your goals, you'll feel more confident that you can achieve whatever you set out to do.

2. Surround yourself with positive people. They have a contagious, positive energy that lifts you up and encourages you, while negative people tend to bring you down and destroy your confidence. Build up your confidence by hanging around with positive people who make you feel good!


3. Develop your skills and talents. Perhaps your self-confidence suffers because you feel unsure about your abilities. Everyone, including you, has certain skills and talents that showcase the things they do well. Keep developing these talents and you'll find that your self-confidence will grow as you excel in these areas.

4. Stick up for yourself. When others speak out against you, remember that those words are simply their opinion. Your opinion is just as important. When you do what you know is right for you, feel confident that you've made the right decision, regardless of how others may feel.

5. Exercise or engage in physical games. Physical activities and exercise can calm you down and provide many benefits to your mind and body. When you engage in regular exercise, you feel more upbeat, which in turn makes you feel better about yourself as well.

6. Reward yourself when you achieve. When you've accomplished something in your life, whether big or small, it's important to pause and reward yourself. If you go out of your way to make yourself happy, you'll feed your drive to persevere and succeed.

7. Use positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are a great way to boost self-confidence. They allow you to communicate with your subconscious mind, strengthening your confidence one thought at a time. Check out your local bookstore or online for some effective confidence-building affirmations.

8. Avoid dwelling on the past. If you keep your past self-confidence issues in mind, it will be more difficult for you to get over them. Your past certainly doesn't have to be your future. Focus on the present moment, with pleasant thoughts about your future. Picture everything going well.

You'll soon find that there are endless ways to boost your self-confidence. And remember: If there's something you want to pursue in life, go after it with all your heart and feel confident that success will be yours!

Cindy Holbrook is a Certifified Professional Confidence and Empowerment Life Coach. Visit CindySense.com for inspirational tips and articles on how to build your confidence, find the power to say "no" and follow your dreams by listening to your inner voice. While you are there, sign up for her free Bi-Weekly Inspirational and Empowering Newsletter filled with empowering affirmations, motivational tips and quotes to help you create the life you desire.