This document provides tips for improving self-confidence. It defines confidence as a feeling or belief that one can succeed or do something well. Some signs of low confidence are needing to overexplain, being indecisive, covering up mistakes, and changing behavior based on others' opinions. The document recommends stopping negative behaviors like comparing oneself to others, negative self-talk, second guessing decisions, and trying to be perfect. It suggests starting positive behaviors such as exercising, dressing well, taking action, and having confident body language.

1. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
October 2015 Character Education Lesson #2

2. DRSL’S
 What: Believing in yourself
 Why: Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Lifelong Learning,
Communication, Responsible Citizen

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
 “Self confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
Samuel Johnson
 Believing in you is another foundational component of learning. If
you don’t believe in yourself, it’s hard to grow and learn.
 Like knowledge, confidence can’t be transferred. The person that
needs to believe in you, is you. This is not about motivation,
tenacity or drive it’s about believing that you can do it.

4. DEFINITION OF CONFIDENCE…
 Merriam Webster defines the term confidence as “a feeling or
belief that you can do something well or succeed at
something.” Let’s break this definition apart.
 “A feeling” – an emotional state.
 Or belief” – something that you accept as true.
 “That you” – these feelings and what you accept as true are
happening inside of you.
 “Can do something well or succeed at something” – whatever it
is that you’re doing or thinking about doing, you can do it well.
Notice that it says “something”, it doesn’t say everything.

5. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
 This means that how well you think you can or can’t do
something is true, at least inside of you. It doesn’t say anything
about external or tangible items. So, it’s not about whether you
have or have not:
 Have the latest and greatest clothes or technology
 Have a lot of money
 Have many followers on your social media accounts
 Scored high on an IQ test

6. SELF-CONFIDENCE…
 This self confidence becomes the foundation that helps when
times are challenging. When those challenging times arrive, your
self-confidence helps keep you going because you trust yourself
and know that it will be OK.

7. SIGNS OF LOW SELF-CONFIDENCE
 Below are some signs of low self-confidence confidence. Do any of these
feel familiar?
 If you regularly:
 Need to over explain
 Are indecisive and second guess when you do make a decision
 Cover up your mistakes
 Are defensive
 Can’t accept compliments
 Change your behavior based on what others think
 If some of these resonate with you, try to figure out if it happens regularly or
only in certain situations?

8. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR
SELF-CONFIDENCE
 Improving Your Self-Confidence
 “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you
value your time, you will not do anything with it.” M. Scott Peck

9. 4 THINGS TO STOP DOING…
 Stop
 Comparing yourself to others – there will always be someone smarter or better than you at
something or many things. Get over this now, it’s only eating away at your own progress and
self confidence. On the flip side, you will always be smarter or better at something that other
someone else. So what? Thinking you’re better than others can make you over
confident. Just focus on yourself.
 Negative self-talk – You’re in charge of how you view something and the thoughts in your
head make a big impact on how you feel and perceive the world. If you can make these
thoughts more positive, it will make you feel better about yourself.
 Second guessing your decisions – when you make a decision, don’t worry what others
think. If it turns out to be the wrong decision, learn from this and let it help with your next
decision. The more decisions you make, the easier they become.
 Trying to be perfect – You’re not perfect and neither is anyone else! Part of the learning
process is to try new things that have the possibility of failing, but going for it. That’s the point –
you will learn and grow from that experience.

10. 4 THINGS TO START DOING…
 Start
 Exercising– releases endorphins that make you feel good. Even a brisk walk can
increase endorphins. Just get out there a few times a week and exercise for 20-30
minutes. This “good feeling” will seep into other parts of your life as well.
 Dressing well – what you wear can make a big difference in how you feel. So, put
on something nice or something that makes you comfortable and be done with it.
This will free up more of your mental capacity for other things that are most
important to you.
 Take Action – If you’re staying inside your box and not pushing yourself, you won’t
grow. As James Altucher says, “The only truly safe thing you can do is to try over
and over again. Without rejection there is no frontier, there is no passion, and
there is no magic.”
 Watching your body language – you can feel more powerful in 2 minutes by
assuming the “power pose.” Pose like superman! Have good posture. Walk
confidently. Just try it… research says it will help you feel confident!