Do you feel as if your going around and around in circles never getting anywhere?

This is likely due to you being in your comfort zone. This is a place where you feel safe and secure. Everyone likes feeling safe.

On the flip side your comfort zone could be limiting you. You could be missing fantastic opportunities. You could be missing out on love, fun, wealth and the thrill of life itself.

Expanding your comfort zone can bring a whole new world of excitement, passion, experiences, friends, financial opportunities, and knowledge into your life.

Life is full of changes.

Embrace change by developing the habit of finding good in it. You’ll become more comfortable with the changes in your life and will begin looking forward to new adventures and opportunities that await you. With this mindset, you’re ready, willing, and able to expand your comfort zone.

Here are 7 Simple Strategies to help you step out of your comfort zone:

Strategy 1 – Take Baby Steps:
Learn to tread lightly.  Remember the phrase you need to learn to crawl before you walk.  If you’re trying to immediately take large leaps and bounds fear will set in and you’ll go running back to your safe zone.

When a baby begins walking, they first let go of what they are holding on to.  Then they begin taking little steps without even realizing that they are moving. Then they fall.  Babies don’t give up and repeat the process until they can walk across the room.

Each step forward is just that: a step forward. These steps will add up to something big as long as you keep trying.

Strategy 2 – Do Something Differently:
Make little changes in your regular everyday choices and activities. Drive a different route to work.  Listen to a different radio station. Try a different type of soap or shampoo.  Use a different type of dressing on your salad.

Add vibrant colors to your living space.  Decorate with different curtains, throw rugs, table cloths, or pillows.  Arrange plants or fresh flowers around your home. Re-arrange your furniture or your kitchen cabinets.

Making these small changes can make you feel like you’re a brand new person in a brand new living space.  As you experiment you’ll find it’s fun stepping out of your comfort zone.

Strategy 3 – Try Something New:
You don’t have to do anything dramatic like jumping out of a plane (unless you really want too).  Try a new sport.  Play a new game with your kids, grand-kids or neighbor kids. Take swimming or tennis lessons. You could take a cooking class or try new exotic recipes.  Be brave and try a new food every day.  You’ll find lots of delicious foods you may have never thought of before.

Strategy 4 – Use Your Imagination:
When your stuck in a rut, in your comfort zone you are actually limiting your imagination.  Your imagination is a great source of energy and knowledge.  Using your imagination is a great way to exercise your mind and it’s so much fun!

Dare to dream. Dare to be a kid again.  Let your mind wander.  Let your mind dream big.  Daydream. Your imagination can lead you down the path of a fun wondrous and adventurous life.

Strategy 5 – Meet New People:
Be open to meeting new people.  Take a genuine interest in them by striking up casual conversations.  You’ll make new friends and acquaintances that can bring a fresh perspective to life.  They can help you step out of your comfort zone with new ideas and concepts.

Strategy 6 – Accept Help:
Your friends and family want to help you.  Let them.  They can help alleviate fear and stress in new situations that you may feel uncomfortable in.

Strategy 7 – Think Positive:
Everything begins with your thoughts and your feelings. When stepping out of your comfort zone you’ll probably  feel fear.  While you’re afraid you need to think positive thoughts ….

Wouldn’t it be great if … I’ll feel so excited when …. This is an exhilarating experience …

Have faith that this new opportunity will bring you to a new, comforting place.

The more you experiment with change  the more daring you will become. You’ll be ready to  tackle other areas of your life that have become stale and dull.

You’ll become more playful and adventurous once you consciously make the effort to step out of your comfort zone. Before you know it you will be living a happier more fulfilled life.

It’s a promise!

For assistance in stepping out of your comfort zone check out Coaching by Cindy

So many people think, “If I only had complete confidence ….

• I’d start my business
• Get married
• Find my dream job
• Move to another city
• Buy a house
• Ask so and so on a date
• Ask for a promotion
• etc etc …..

Many people think they need complete confidence right now to accomplish their dreams. This is what stops them dead in their tracks. This one belief is the reason they will never achieve their dreams.

Building Confidence begins when you take the first baby step.

Have you ever watched a baby as they learn to walk?

My 9 month old grandson just took his first step the other day. He will be holding on to something, and see something he wants a few feet away, begin walking towards and then he just stops. He looks confused and bewildered as he turns around and notices he can’t grab a hold of the object he just let go of. Usually he’ll just sit on the floor and then crawl to his destination.

Babies never give up. They see “big people” walking around and they instinctively know that they can walk too. They may fall down hundreds of times, but each time they get up. And it seems that each time they get up and decide to walk again they inevitably take a few more steps than they did the last time.

I know this is just the beginning for him. Within a month or two he’ll have the confidence he needs to be walking everywhere and exploring his new found freedom.

My grandson does not have complete confidence in walking – yet. His confidence will grow with each and every step he takes.

When you begin taking the necessary steps towards your goal – you too, will look back and say …  WOW, how did I get here?

How do you take baby steps?

Building confidence to land your dream job:

1. The first step would be to find out everything you can about the job. What knowledge and education is required to land the job?

2. Then you could sign up for a course that will give you some of the education you need.

3. You could even start applying for entry level jobs in the same industry.

Another example:

Building confidence to move to another city:

1. The first step will be to research the city. You’ll want to know the best areas in town, the crime rate, the medical facilities, the job market, the schools etc.

2. Then you could contact a rental agency or a Realtor and ask them to send you information regarding relocation

3. If you own your own home, you can contact a Realtor in your area to give you a free assessment on your home. How much can you sell it for? How much could you rent it for? What fees will you be responsible to pay?

4. Next you could visit the city you want to move to, to acquaint yourself with it. Drive around the neighborhoods. Find out where the locals go. What type of shopping is available?

5. Then you might want to check out how much it would cost to move; truck rentals, packing supplies, moving companies.

6. Next you should ask yourself the following questions: What would you take with you? What could you sell at a yard sale? What would you need to buy once you move to the new city?

As you can see in both examples the FIRST STEP is to research your goal. The more you research; the next steps will logically fall into place in your mind.

As you complete each step, your confidence grows. You begin to believe that you actually can have your dream job. The more you believe the more steps you will take which will lead you to your job.

What is it that you’ve been missing out on because you’re waiting for complete confidence?

Begin building confidence today by taking your first baby step.

When a baby enters into this world, they are the center of their universe. Babies are naturally attuned to their Authentic Self.

They do as they please when they please. They know how to get what they want/need. They know that crysing  will get their wet stinky diaper changed, will get food when they are hungry and they will get loved and held.

Young children are naturally curious and wondrous about the world around them. They take joy in the simplest of things – like chasing a butterfly. Their mission is to explore and do whatever feels right and good …. They are being their authentic self.

And then they begin to learn boundaries. Everyone knows that one of the first words a child learns is “No”. This is the first sign that they must conform to the people and the world around them. They learn what is “expected” of them. The morals, values, beliefs, likes and dislikes of their parents, older siblings and other family members and friends begin to get ingrained in their little minds as FACT.

AS they grow many children are not encouraged to use their imagination or share their feelings. They are told how to behave, think and act.

The Journey to Your Authentic Self begins with exploring these morals, values, beliefs and dislikes. Some of the most common beliefs passed down deal with money, religion, education, career, politics, diet and general lifestyle.

Ask yourself:

• Why do you eat the food you eat?
• Why do you dress the way you dress?
• Why do you handle money the way you do?
• Why did you enter into the profession you’re in?
• How often do you do things because they are expected of you?
• Do you seek the approval of others before making decisions?
• What are your political beliefs?
• What are your religious beliefs?
• What type of pets do you like?
• How do you celebrate holidays?

How many of these beliefs came from your parents? Does everyone believe the same way? What would happen if you explored other options? Even though these beliefs may have been passed down for generations – it doesn’t mean they have to be true.

The Journey to Your Authentic Self can be both thrilling and scary at the same time. It can be difficult to “let go” of beliefs that you have held on to your entire life. But what’s waiting behind the other door can be so much more exciting.

Know that you will never arrive …. The Journey to Your Authentic Self is a lifelong process. Learning to listen to your inner voice and becoming the person you were intended to be brings with it self-confidence, happiness and peace.

Your personal growth and willingness to learn and try new things is what will bring you joy. Growth is good. How much have you learned and grown in the past ten years? Would you want to be the same place emotionally and intelligently that you were then?

The Journey to Your Authentic Self is about listening to your inner voice, taking responsibility for your life, setting goals and taking action to accomplish them. It’s about being who you want to be ….

Are you living the life that you desire?
Are you ready to take 100% responsibility for your life?
Begin your journey now and Discover Your Authentic Self

You may feel that many aspects of your environment are out of your control; It’s important to remember the ONE thing you can control is your REACTION.

By building confidence you’ll have be able to maintain a more positive attitude which will help you to “Let Go” of things you have no control over. Learn to avoid obstacles that tear down your self confidence.

5 Tips to Building Confidence:

Building Confidence Tip#1 – Identify Your Skills and Strengths

You’ll want to take a long good look at your self!  Know what your strengths are.  Know what you enjoy doing.  A lot of people make the mistake of trying to build on their weaknesses …. Why do this?  It’s much more beneficial to FOCUS on your strengths and build upon them to become the GREAT person you are!

The solutions to your self confidence issues lay within you – NOT outside of you.  It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or believes.  In matter of fact you shouldn’t concern yourself with what others think.  They are creating their life’s.  You need to concentrate on your own.

YOU have talents that make you very uniqe and special.  Find your talents and learn how to use them.

Building Confidence Tip#2 – Associate with Winners

If you want to be a winner, learn to hang out with winners. The people you associate with can alter your mindset in a BIG way!  Hang out with winners and soak up some of their winning energy!!!

You’ve heard the saying “Misery loves company”, it’s so true.  If you’re surrounded by whiners, complainers, backstabbers and gossipers – guess what?  You’ll soon be whining, complaining etc.  If you can’t avoid being around them then you absolutely MUST spend just as much time if not more time with positive, energetic, supportive, successful, and honest people.

Building Confidence Tip#3 – Practice Positive Self Talk

You are talking to yourself every second of every day.  You just might not realize everything you are saying to yourself.   All self talk is – is your thoughts and you can learn to control them.

When someone compliments you, say “Thank You” and BELIEVE what they said.  You are a beautiful, incredible loving human being who is deserving.

Have you ever told yourself that you were unworthy, undeserving, stupid, unlovable or ???  When you tell yourself these false beliefs they run over and over in your mind – destroying your confidence.

Be conscious of your thoughts.  Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts.  Start telling yourself You are worthy, deserving, smart and lovable. 

You create your reality with your thoughts and words so choose them carefully.

Building Confidence Tip#4 – Set Realistic Goals

You know yourself better than anyone else does.  You know what you love to do and what you try to steer clear of.  Set your goals accordingly.  Goals need to be realistic.  You’re a smart person, you know if you’re 5′ 6″ that your not going to wake up tomorrow being 6′ tall.  You know that you’re not going to wake up tomorrow 20 pounds lighter.

Celebrate the achievement of each step of each goal when you reach them. Don’t set the bar too high or you’ll be disappointed and lose motivation to try again. 

“There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.” Tom Krause

Building Confidence Tip#5 – Be You

Feel your feelings.  Learn to express your creativity.  Evaluate you on reactions to your experiences.  Many of your reactions have been taught to you from “well meaning people in your life.”

Learn to listen to your inner voice.  Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say.  Tell jokes, write stories, place classified ads – Do what you need to do to express the true you. Tell people when they are behaving in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.  Saying what you need to say may mean hearing yourself for the very first time.

Finding your voice means being honest with yourself and portraying yourself honestly to others.  Sharing your thoughts and feelings may help others to avoid some of the pain you have experienced.

According to Jack Canfield, you will be able to “produce miracles” with the life-changing ideas you’re about to learn with Maximum Confidence: 10 Steps to Extreme Self-Esteem.  That’s because when you feel good about yourself, you attract the people and events that empower you for more success than you’ve ever dreamed possible.

In this amazing audio program, you’ll learn to develop winning habits that will pay off for you everyday. You’ll discover how to celebrate and capitalize on your strengths and how to accept your weaknesses without guilt or remorse. Get Maximum Confidence by Jack Canfield now.