Many people who are in a job search—particularly one that’s lasted for a few months or longer, complain of times when self-doubt creeps in. If this describes you and you’re lacking confidence, you may find this post helpful!
Step up self-assurance with your mind
One of the prime confidence-busting culprits is negative self-talk. We can be our own worst enemies. So, how can you change your thinking?
Use visualization to erase negativity. If you find that you are beating yourself up, sit quietly for five minutes and picture a loved one’s face. My client, Nancy, tried this and said it worked well! Any time she realized she was overcome with self-defeating thoughts, she sat in silence and conjured up images of her grandmother, mother, or husband. They were all Nancy fans—unconditional Nancy supporters. Studies back this method up. British researchers found that this spurs your brain to produce more oxytocin, a bonding hormone that helps fire up feelings of self-worth! And, just reminding yourself of someone who believes in you, can soothe away anxiety.
Ask yourself this one question: “What’s easy for me that’s hard for someone else?” Whether it’s your cooking skills, business savvy, athletic abilities, knack for technology—whatever your talents— pinpoint the areas where you excel. Doing this revs up your ego and amplifies your confidence, according to a recent study. Maybe because you’re not feeling so confident, you’re a bit unsure; you’re downplaying your abilities. Call your closest friend and ask her or him what your biggest strengths are; hearing them from another person can make you believe them! Also helpful (and actually a must in the job search) is to write down a list of your achievements. Seeing your accomplishments in black and white can spur you to achieve even more! And don’t stop with job-related successes. Include volunteer, personal and academic successes as well. If you’ve done assessments in the past, look at your strengths or compliments from others in a Reach 360 or similar feedback. Or garner accomplishments from prior performance reviews.
Draw out your internal coach. And crush your inner critic! It can be as simple as changing your internal dialogue from “I can’t” to “I can”! The way you talk to yourself is so powerful. It can be the difference between success and failure. In a recent study, volunteers who told themselves they could complete a complicated puzzle, did so in half the time of those who worried they couldn’t do it!
Use your body to reverse insecurity
Experts say that adopting the right body language can actually transform your feelings of doubt to those of empowerment!
- Tilt your head back! Try angling your face slightly upward. It changes your thought process by signaling your brain that you’re feeling upbeat. As a result, it produces more confidence-boosting hormones! An added benefit is that a slightly raised chin shows people that you are self-assured.
- Nod to believe in yourself! When you are having a conversation, try nodding your head a few times as you’re speaking. Researchers found this simple movement inspires your belief in what you’re saying, increasing your self-esteem by as much as 30%!
- Hone a powerful posture! One study shows that keeping a straight spine and holding your shoulders back enhances your faith in yourself! It just may be that slouching signals your brain that you’re blue; while keeping your spine straight tells it you’re more assured. And it can actually trigger you to act that way!
Most of us lack confidence at one time or another. While perfectly normal, lacking self-esteem will not serve you well in a job search. You need confidence to keep on keeping on! It’s good to know there are ways to combat these types of feelings!
Photo: The Welsh Poppy
