Visualization

*Close your eyes and take a deep, slow breath in that goes all the way down to your abdomen. As you breathe out, imagine that you are letting out as much inner tension as you possibly can. Imagine at the same time that all your muscles feel heavy and your body is pleasantly sinking into the chair. Repeat this a few times.

*Focus your mind on your feet and calves. Pull your toes up toward the ceiling and tense your feet and calves as much as possible (but not so that it hurts). Hold that position for a few seconds. Now release and relax all those muscles. Notice how nice it feels to let go of the tension.

*Focus your mind on your thighs and bottom. Clench all the muscles in those areas. (It helps if you press your heels down at the same time). Hold for a few seconds. Now relax. Notice that those muscles are now so relaxed that your thighs and bottom want to sink into the seat.

*Focus your mind on your abdomen and chest. Tense all the muscles in those areas. Chances are, you will be holding your breath automatically as you do this. Hold it there for a bit, and then relax. You will naturally want to take a deep breath to relieve the sense of tension in your chest. So do that. Take a slow, deep breath in that you can feel all the way to your abdomen. As you exhale, imaging that you are releasing even more tension from your entire body.

*Focus you mind on your hands and arms. Stretch your fingers out straight and tense all the muscles from your shoulders to your fingertips. Hold for a few seconds. Now relax. Imagine that tension is flowing out through the end of your fingertips as the circulation flows back into your arms.

*Focus your mind on your shoulders and neck. This is where many people store a lot of stress and tension. Press your shoulder blades together and tighten all the muscles in your shoulders and neck. Hold briefly. Now let go and relax completely. Imaging that your shoulders and neck are totally loose and flowing with warmth and energy.

*Focus your mind on your face and head. Tense your forehead, squint your eyes, wrinkle your nose, clench your teeth, and pull back the corners of your mouth. Nice picture, huh? Hold for a second or two. Now relax all those muscles. Let your jaw become totally slack and your mouth open naturally.

*What is the main purpose with your life? Most people would probably say to be happy. When you build self-confidence you build up a state of happiness. Therefore the first step in a self-esteem improvement process is to do all you can to be happy every day. And how do you do that? You can start with smiling. In every situation you run into during the day, smile. This is just a start and you may need to do happiness exercises everyday to become happy and gain self-confidence. If you are unhappy try acting as if you were happy. Sooner or later you will become happy and thus build a higher self-esteem.

*Use your fantasy to visualize yourself as a positive person. Be enthusiastic in your visualization. Give yourself reasons to believe in yourself. Do things that you have never done before which means a real challenge for you. Self-esteem is based on your beliefs. The more rocks you are able to face on the road you are walking, the more you will believe in yourself and the more self confident you will become. Do a new and really challenging thing every day and soon your confidence will soar.

*Each time you start up with something whether it is a new project at work or a repair job at home, always look back and remind yourself of previous successful experience. When you uncover these memories, and really feel the good emotions associated with them, you will simply feel successful and you will act according to that; like a person with high self-confidence. You can even say to yourself: I am self confident, and it will immediately enforce a feeling of self-confidence. Just try it, say it out loud and repeat it to yourself. Say it many times a day and when it is not appropriate to say it out loud, just think it. When practiced consistently and often, these small simple tricks contribute to your self esteem and help it grow each day.

*We all have negative feelings from time to time. Look at these negative thoughts and feelings that inevitably will appear as challenges. Each time you feel a negative vibe, feeling or thought penetrating your mind, start to think of something positive like your previous successful merits whatever they are or repeat to yourself: I am self confident. Self-confidence is all about raising yourself above negative feelings, thoughts and miseries. If you follow these words of advice consistently each day, your confidence will grow equally.

*Now that you are totally relaxed, enjoy it! Take another deep breath, feeling it all the way to your abdomen. Imaging your whole body sinking into the chair. Notice that your body feels pleasantly heavy and warm, and your mind feels peaceful. Take three more slow breaths, open your eyes, and return to the days activities with a fresh new focus.