Ray's Daily

If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.

Author Unknown

One of my great concerns during these difficult times has been the effect that it has had on the self-confidence of so many people. Job loss and money shortages can destroy us if we let them knock us off our game. In reality confidence has always been an important precursor to success and without it opportunities are often lost.

 Fortunately the lack of confidence can be cured. Here is an edited list of traits from The Confidence to be Yourself: How to Boost Your Self-Esteem written by Dr. Brian Roet.

These aren’t just traits of self-confident people; they’re actually ways to build confidence and boost self-esteem.

Traits of Self-Confident People:

Taking on these traits of confident people will boost your self-esteem automatically. It’s the classic “act as if you’re confident and you’ll feel more self-confident” scenario.

• Self-confident people believe in themselves and what they do. Self-confident people believe that they are in control of their life (boosting self-esteem is trusting yourself).
• Self-confident people accept responsibility for their actions. You can boost your self-esteem by taking ownership of your life.
• Self-confident people have flexibility towards people and situations they encounter. Boosting self-esteem is not about being rigid.
• Self-confident people aren’t governed by ‘shoulds, musts, and ought tos’. Improving self-confidence involves impulsivity and flow.
• Self-confident people are able to evaluate themselves realistically.
• Self-confident people are ‘straight’ with their opinions and discussions. Boost self-esteem by being honest.
• Self-confident people have nothing to hide about their personal beliefs. Improving self-confidence is about being open.
• Self-confident people don’t need to be critical and judgmental to boost their ego. Improving self-confidence involves being supportive.
• Self-confident people are good listeners and not overly concerned about what others think of them. Improving self-confidence is about being authentic.
• Self-confident people say ‘why not?’ when offered an opportunity – not ‘why?’
• Self-confident people accept change as a normal part of life. Improving self-confidence involves rolling with the punches.
• Self-confident people make eye contact when speaking or listening to other people.

Can you see how the above traits of self-confident people also boost your self-esteem? Pick a few traits, practice being self-confident, and your self-esteem will rise.

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I have learned to accept who I am. I do the best I can and avoid pretending to be something I’m not. I also know that there is no one else better at being me than I am. I have learned over the years that when you take control of your life and develop confidence in yourself magic things happen. And you know what? if you do too you’ll find that living with yourself is much more fun.

Ray

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Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Eleanor Roosevelt

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A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long weekend to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years before. Because both had jobs they found it difficult to coordinate their travel schedules, so it was decided that the husband would fly to Florida on a Thursday, and his wife would follow him the next day. Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. In his Room there was a computer so he decided to send his wife an e-mail back in Minneapolis. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her address and sent the e-mail without realizing his error.

In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband’s funeral. The dearly departed was a minister who had been called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, Expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted. The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife

Subject: I’ve Arrived

You’re probably surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P. S. Sure is hot down here!

Dick

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Teacher: “Why couldn’t your brother spell ‘Mississippi’ when I asked him this afternoon in class?”

Boy: “Because he didn’t know if you meant the river or the state!”

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In Mississippi, a guy sees a sign in front of a house: “Talking Dog for Sale.” He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt sitting there.

“You talk?” he asks.

“Yep,” the mutt replies.

“So, what’s your story?”

The mutt looks up and says, “Well, I discovered my gift of talking pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running. The jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a batch of medals. Had 18 wives, too many puppies to remember, and now I’m just retired.”

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

The owner says, “Ten dollars.”

The guy says, “This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him, so cheap?”

The owner replies, “He’s just a big liar. He didn’t do any of that stuff.”

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A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.

Charlotte Bronte

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A new man is brought into Prison Cell 102. Already there is a long-time resident who looks 100 years old. The new man looks at the old-timer inquiringly.

The old-timer says, “Look at me.  I’m old and worn out. You’d never believe that I used to live the life of Riley. I wintered on the Riviera, had a boat, four fine cars, the most beautiful women, and I ate in all the best restaurants of France.”

The new inmate asked, “What happened?”

“One day Riley reported his credit cards missing!”

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People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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Stay well, do good work, and have fun.