Confidence

[jay05]

I'm 19 and although I get on great with people I know, forming new relationships-friendship or otherwise is hard for me...purely because I lack confidence and this really gets me down sometimes! Any ideas as how to improve confidence levels?

[lee_lee]

I have the same problem so i know how you feel.  just think positively about yourself and ignore what other people think. 

[lizzieoneill]

I would advise that you could join a group which included older people, you could also write down a list of affirmations posoitive statements about yourself which you recite every day. Over a period of time these positive .affirmations will remain in your mind and you will develop the attribute you are after ie.

1. I am a confident person. 2. I mix well with different people. 3.I casn talk to people on a variety of subjects. etc.I  

[twiglet4frog]

i suffer the same and one thing i would suggest is to push your shoulders back and chin up a little when u walk into a room of people, it makes me feel a bit taller and more confident instantly

[sammibee]

heya! totally agree with lee and andy, part of the reason ur probably less confident speakin to new people is because your worried what they'll think about you! well u shudnt at all, be yourself and theyll probably realise your genuine and hey if they dont like u no loss they not worth it. big yourself up when u leave the house or in the mirror to yourself say hmm i look good today etc, feeling good aboput urself will help as you wont be focusing on what people think about u, but what u r saying to the other person.

practice...meeting new people at clubs, gyms etc is all good experience you'll find new things to talk about and as your doing these things youve also got more of a life i.e. you have mroe to talk about to others.

andy's point vvvv good about askin them questions as everyone knows themself brilliantly and you will be takin the pressure off yourself and you'll get a bigger iunsight to the person.

i do know how u feel being 19 myself i think its harder especially meetin older people. keep telling yourself u shouldn't care what others think aslong as your happy with yourself then thats what matters and close mates will tell u that too.

good luck with the confidence building.x

[Andy008]

The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche stated that there is no logical difference between pretending to have confidence, and actually having it.