Great Self Confidence

...to live the life you want

How to Deal with Fear

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Life is a constant journey through variables we cannot control, however well prepared.

fear
Tony Blair

Learning to tolerate uncertainty is the key factor in building great self confidence. Unfortunately fear of “what might happen next” – the feeling of uncertainty – can be very unpleasant.

Tony Blair, Driven by Fear

“On 2 May 1997, I walked into Downing Street as prime minister for the first time. I had never held office… my predominant feeling was fear.”

Tony Blair, Prime Minister in the U.K. for 10 years until 2007, published his memoirs (“A Journey”) earlier this year.  I haven’t read them, probably never will, but found it impossible to avoid the  discussion they provoked. What has startled many has been his candid admission that the principal driver behind many of his decisions was fear. In a excellent review psychologist Geoffrey Beattie  sums up:-

“Blair became a master at masking his true emotional state, hiding his terror with that masking smile.”

Yes, that “masking smile” – but hiding terror! What is most amazing is that Blair was always perceived as very relaxed and a great communicator. Yet, as he states, he “never relaxed for a moment.”  Even when he “kept a strong grip on himself” during the day

“I would wake in the morning with the hair on the back of my head damp with sweat. What I could control when awake was overpowering in sleep.” [Read more…]

Achieve One Goal

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If you have 1 minute 40 seconds to spare…

Simple, concise and to the point. Whether you agree with all he teaches (or preaches), Brian Tracy is a great communicator. And on this occasion, if you want to use goal setting this is a great technique to get you under way.

Its just over a year since I last wrote specifically about goal setting, as September 23rd marks the 100 day count down till 2011.

Finish the Year with a Bang?

In my post in 2009 I linked in with a promotion for Gary Ryan Blair’s “100 Day Challenge“.  As I say in that post, there is some useful free material made available – in the hope you sign up for his “challenge“.  I wimped out last year, I can’t see myself as an “UNSTOPPABLE POWERHOUSE” – can you?!!

One recurring theme of Gary’s is this accountability – the assumption being that having someone else hold you accountable is an additional driving force to achieving goals. At the end of that post I discuss how the success of organisations like Weight Watchers is their “group accountability”.

However… [Read more…]

Stress from Mobile Phones

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The other evening my wife and I went for a walk at a local beauty spot. It was a lovely, late summer evening and quite a few others were making the most of the occasion. But one thing got my attention. For about 5 minutes everyone we passed, young and old, had a mobile (cell) phone pressed to their ear!

Because of the advantages of phones, being able to contact help in an emergency for instance, we tend to view them as helpful, even essential tools.  A UK survey in 2008 introduced a new word to me “nomo-phobia” – fear or anxiety of being out of mobile phone contact! This apparently affects 53% of mobile phone users – 20% saying such a scenario would be as stressful as moving house or breaking up with a partner.

The same survey had 20% of the 2163 questioned saying they never switched off their phone, 10% saying their job required them to be contactable at all times. [Read more…]

How to Stop Yourself Becoming Another Stress Statistic

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Last week I started a series of posts on stress, and below I have included an article that gives a very good overview of the impact of stress on our modern world. It also includes a few “calming techniques”, but I will return to this in the future.stress epidemic

The article author, Jennifer Summers, is also the writer of “The Ultimate Guide to Health & Happiness“, one of the few books that I have reviewed and recommended.

The Stress Epidemic

The statistics are truly shocking…

  • Over 19 million Americans are currently suffering from stress and anxiety related disorders.
  • Up to 75% of people in employment are dissatisfied or unhappy with their jobs.
  • Stress related accidents are increasing year on year.
  • Stress levels have increased substantially in children, teenagers and the elderly.
  • The majority of people that are suffering from such stress disorders refuse to seek medical help.
  • Stress is now considered to be a key factor in health complaints such as stomach disorders, certain cancers and heart condition. [Read more…]

Stress – Learn to Switch Off

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I didn’t plan to, but I ended up having a summer break from blogging. Yet again I’ve tinkered with the format, design and overall direction of where I’m heading. The bottom line is that writing this blog is always going to be a pleasure rather than a stress. I hope you continue to enjoy reading it.

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Holiday from Stress, or a Stressful Holiday?

As I write this most schools in the UK have reopened after the summer holiday (or vacation).  My daughters don’t return to University for a few weeks and all three are currently enjoying themselves in hot foreign locations  on holiday.

Whilst holidays have always made a big hole in our family budget,  I have always been grateful that we have made the most of opportunity’s to go away on holiday as a family.  Its interesting how far out of our comfort zone we step sometimes when going on holiday.  [Read more…]