1. Maximize Confidence 2

2. Each of us comes to this world for a purpose. What is your life purpose or mission statement? Are you (the true you, deep inside your heart) equal to what you do (jobs, titles, achievements)? Do you talk to yourself? Thousands of thoughts or self-talks a day. They certainly affect our mood and behavior. What you don’t like about yourself may also have certain kinds of functions. Accept them for higher self-esteem and express them in a good way.

3. I totally and unconditionally love and accept myself just the way I am. (The most powerful statement in building self-esteem.) This doesn’t mean you don’t need to change. By accepting the way you are, you can make yourself even better. Stop comparing yourself to other people, because you don’t know what really happens to them. Group practice: No matter what you say or do to me, I am still a worthwhile person.

4. Review of positive focus: baseball hitting example. The best athletes only have positive images in mind. In every negative event, there is a seed with equal magnitude of positive power and influence. Oscar Pistorius, the blade runner. Have your parents ever asked you to go back to your room and think about the mistakes you made? Wrong! You should think about what you should have done to make things right.

5. Example of missing numbers. There are lots of good parts about you, but do you take your successes for granted? Don’t let unreasonable and unrealistic expectations hurt your confidence. Practice and Homework: 1. Divide your life into three periods, and write down three successes in each period. 2. Write down at least ten good qualities of you.

6. Images are more powerful than words or plain thoughts. Visualization game: Your body cannot tell the difference between a real event and a vividly imagined event. Example of unnecessary self torture created by imagination. Having positive images will not only make you feel good but also drive creativity from the subconscious mind to make the images happen.

7. Guilt/regret/sorrow comes from mismatch between your belief and behavior. Your self image is so powerful that you cannot do anything that does not match with it. Practice: Eagle and chicken image/behavior. What do you feel when you have the image of an eagle inside but try to behave like a chicken? A good way to lose weight is to see yourself in the kind of body shape you desire. Use images to learn English too!

8. Love your body the way it is. (Miss-matched body and soul are not able to do anything.) Your body is just a vehicle which carries your soul. (When receiving a gift, do we care more about the content or the wrapping paper?) I do not mean that the body is not important. Start treating your body well (by eating well and sleep well). Homework: Look at yourself in a big mirror and express any dissatisfaction on your body. Then come back to appreciate the function of that part.

9. Background: Previous experience usually determines current confidence. How to get out of this trap? Rehearsal confidence: In an altered state; do it vividly; from different perspective. Acceptance confidence: Accepting the possibility of missing your goal. There is no failure, only feedback. Practical methods for enhancing performance confidence

10. Increase self-confidence and self-esteem by the following methods: Having family members or friends who can support you or give you suggestions. Knowing that you yourself are responsible for what you experience in your life. Accept and love yourself. Performance confidence techniques. Summary