Lack of Confidence and Its Effects
By
Douglas Woods
Confidence comes from within you. Confidence is also what you show on the
outside despite, or to hide, what you feel inside. You may have the tools
and skills to do anything you want in the world but without confidence
nothing will be done.
Okay, so we all know there are times when we may lack confidence,
particularly when we are faced with something new or daunting. Sometimes,
despite our lack of confidence, we do it and sometimes we don’t. This is a
temporary lack of confidence that can be overcome by experience and
learning.
What is really debilitating is when we feel we lack confidence to attempt
to do anything. This is more than just a temporary loss of confidence. This
is a total lack of confidence that may be allied to low self esteem and a
negative self image.
People who lack confidence will often also have a negative image of
themselves or their skills. They may also feel that they lack control or
direction in their lives, in many cases they may feel that someone or
something else is controlling or determining the path of their lives. They
can also feel that any success they achieve goes unrecognised or is
‘claimed’ by someone else.
These other people or forces controlling the person may be their parents,
schools or institutions, the government, their boss or company, or God or
spiritual force such as ‘fate’.
Often a lack of confidence may be cyclical or accumulative. That is to
say that a lack of confidence brings about a lack of achievement or
recognition for the sufferer. This lack of achievement brings about a
greater or deeper lack of confidence. This deeper lack of confidence brings
about more lack of achievement…etc, etc.. At its extreme, the lack of
confidence leads its sufferer to withdraw and not attempt things because
they feel they will not achieve or gain recognition and thereby come to lack
any motivation.
It is important to remember that few people lack confidence in all areas
of their lives. Some may lack confidence in their work, others may lack
confidence in their learning, or their relationships or their sporting
abilities. The lack of confidence in an area only becomes an issue when that
area becomes important or takes up a fair proportion of time in the person’s
life. Many people may lack confidence in, say, their sporting ability but
this is not an issue for them if playing sport is not a major activity in
their lives.
What does be come a problem is when a person lacks confidence in their
own self image or in their own belief in themselves. This is more serious
and in such cases the lack of confidence is likely to affect the person’s
performance in many areas of their life and hinder them in leading a
fulfilling and happy life.
It is my firm belief that coaching can help overcome a lack of confidence
in a person by combating low self esteem, promoting a positive self image
and supporting a person to recognise and reward their own achievements.
Douglas Woods is a qualified Life Coach, teacher and counsellor. You can
read more about his work on his website
http://www.dougwoods.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/
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