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Confidence is one of the most valuable attributes a person can possess. Luckily, you don’t have to be born with it. Here are eight strategies that can turn even the shiest doe into a strong, self-reliant person.
First, know you can protect yourself. Learn the basics of self-defense. Start by walking down the street especially at night with your head up. “Looking down paints you as vulnerable,” says a martial arts expert. Stay away from doorways, alleys and other places where an attacker might hide.
If someone actually attacks you, scream like a hell. In addition to alerting others, releasing your fear and anger will enhance your feeling of power and prevent you from holding your breath or freezing,” say the folks at Resources for Personal Empowerment, a national non-profit organization that offers Street Smart seminars and self-defense courses.
Second, change a flat tire. Never again be a damsel in distress at the mercy of male passerby. Put on the emergency brake and grab the spare. Position the jack on the bumper or look for a jack notch near each tire. Crank the car up according to the instructions in your owner’s manual or inside the trunk lid. Use a screwdriver to pry the hubcap off and a socket wrench or tire iron to loosen the nuts. Slide the flat off, put the spare in the place, and tighten the nuts, let down the jack. You’re on your way! Practice this and other fast fixes in your driveway until you can do them in your sleep.
Third, make number crunching easy. Learning how to figure ten percent is a quick solution to many Math problems, says one psychologist. Just round up and move the decimal point one place to the left. Say, you’re bargain shopping and you find $4.95 fashion hair accessories and that’s 30% off. Round off the price tag to $5.00 and figure ten percent by moving the decimal point one space to the left triple it and subtract from the original price to get the sale price.
Fourth, learn to accept compliments. “Remind yourself that a person who compliments you is giving you a gift,” suggests a therapist. To refuse the gift would be uncomfortable for both of you. Instead, calmly say, “Thank you.” No ifs, no buts. “You may have to look in the mirror and practice until it’s automatic,” says another therapist. But that’s a small price to pay for putting yourself and others at ease.
Continued in Eight Steps To Be Self Reliant Part Two
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