Confidence & Courage Tips...To Help You Realize Your Dreams

How Executives Can Speak Fearlessly In Front Of Any Sized Audience

2011-04-02T01:37:00.005-07:00

I've just released a NEW Special Report entitled How Executives Can Speak Fearlessly In Front Of Any Sized Audience.

If you're an executive or business leader and you want to overcome your public speaking fears...as well as have a bigger impact on your audiences...you're going to love this Special Report.

To get your FREE copy, just go to the following link:

http://www.publicspeakingtipsforyou.com/report

Enjoy.

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How Are Your Public Speaking Skills?

2011-02-06T05:50:00.001-08:00

Where are you when it comes to your presentation or public speaking skills?

How calm and confident are you when speaking to groups?

And how well are you impacting your audiences with your presentations?

Find out by taking a FREE Quiz (which includes free powerful tips that can help you quickly move forward in your public speaking goals/endeavors) at:

http://www.publicspeakingtipsforyou.com/quiz_3

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FREE Public Speaking Tips Newsletter Is Now Live

2010-10-12T06:52:00.017-07:00

If you're an executive, entrepreneur, or professional, I highly encourage you to sign up for my recently launched and FREE Public Speaking Tips Newsletter.

You'll get lots of powerful tips to help accelerate your progress in the area of public speaking.

Just sign up through the following link:

http://www.publicspeakingtipsforyou.com/newsletter

See you in the inside.

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FREE Public Speaking Tips Newsletter Coming Soon

2010-09-15T00:10:00.011-07:00

If you're an executive, entrepreneur, or professional...and would like to take your presentation skills to a much higher level...you'll love my upcoming newsletter.

In it, I'll be sharing many of my best insights on the topic. Powerful tips and techniques you'd most likely have a hard time finding elsewhere.

In fact, if you haven't already downloaded my thought-provoking FREE Ebook, Public Speaking Fear Conquered: Your Fearless Presenter Within UNLEASHED!, I highly encourage you to do so, by clicking here. It will help you to speak/present to groups with more confidence and impact.

Plus, it will give you a fairly good idea about the type of information you'll get from the newsletter.

Well, do stay tuned as I plan to launch the newsletter soon.

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Build Your Self-Confidence With These 10 Tips

2009-12-04T02:52:00.001-08:00

Have low self-confidence? Want to boost your confidence level to a higher level?

Here's an article with great tips to help you in your self-confidence building goals or activities...

Just click here.

Enjoy!

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Public Speaking Fear Conquered: Your Fearless Presenter Within UNLEASHED!

2009-06-19T13:27:00.041-07:00

If you suffer from public speaking fear, performance anxiety, or stage fright, then you'll love my NEW Ebook, "Public Speaking Fear Conquered: Your Fearless Presenter Within UNLEASHED!" (It's completely FREE. And No Sign Ups required.)

Inside, you'll discover powerful information that will take your speaking/presenting skills to a whole new level. A much higher level.

And more importantly, you'll finally be able to say goodbye to all the physical or mental discomfort usually associated with public speaking (or speaking to groups of people).

(Of course, one of the biggest benefits you'll gain from the ebook is that it will help boost your confidence level in many areas.)

In fact, I believe that this ebook will shatter many long held beliefs about the topic. And that it will forever change the way many people look at public speaking.

So if you do any public speaking, presenting, or performing (whether occasionally or frequently), I strongly encourage you to download it from the following link...

Public Speaking Fear Conquered (Click Here)

You won't regret it.

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If Low Self Esteem is Limiting Your Success, Get This FREE Life Transforming Audio Program Today

2009-04-11T08:02:00.013-07:00

If you could use some help in boosting or building your self-esteem, so you'll have the power to achieve higher levels of success in life, make sure to visit the link below.

There, you'll discover how to get immediate access to the FREE life-transforming “7 Steps to Soaring Self-Esteem Audio Program” (in downloadable MP3 format) by internationally acclaimed self-esteem expert and best-selling author, Dr. Joe Rubino.

Go ahead and visit the following link. You'll be glad you did.

Click Here to get your FREE Audio Program

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Download This Empowering FREE Report

2009-03-22T06:23:00.009-07:00

Here's a FREE Report authored by personal development expert, Tohami, that I really enjoyed reading.

I strongly recommend that you download and read it. It will move you in a powerful way.

To download the free report, The Lost Emotion, which is in PDF format, just 'right' click on the link below and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" from the menu.

Click Here to get your FREE Report

Enjoy!

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Dare To Experiment With Your Ideas...And Reap The Rewards That Come With It

2008-04-26T19:37:00.023-07:00

By Ron Balagot

Creativity is inventing, experimenting,
growing, taking risks, breaking rules,
making mistakes, and having fun.

~ Mary Lou Cook ~
An excellent quality you'll want to develop in yourself, if you want to experience more fulfillment in life, is the willingness or courage to experiment.

It is one of the key qualities of highly creative people.

In fact, without this quality, many inventions, creative works, and more would have never materialized. They would have just stayed ideas in people’s minds.

And as a result, we would not have benefited from them.

I mean, think what would have happened if Thomas Edison (who has more than a thousand inventions to his name) had stopped experimenting after his 50th (or so) attempt at creating the light bulb? Or if he didn’t experiment at all? Well, we wouldn’t have the light bulb today, now, would we?

And that goes for so many other things we now enjoy.

Of course, besides the willingness to experiment, you need to be aware of other important factors that must come into play when experimenting.

What do I mean?

Well, it’s also critical when experimenting that:

You avoid prejudging the outcome (or avoid entertaining all kinds of negative thoughts). And you avoid worrying about the things you cannot control. Instead, you do your part by experimenting and then leave the outcome completely to God.
You remain in a highly focused state (where nothing else matters except the task at hand).
You make it a goal to enjoy the process (deciding ahead of time that you’ll do your best to enjoy, or have fun, experimenting—in other words, deciding not to take things too seriously—makes a big difference, because it puts you in an empowering state).
You be willing to make mistakes…even if it means you have to look awkward or foolish at times (Thomas Edison was said to have made thousands of attempts before finally inventing the light bulb…and he reached his goal despite the discouraging words of others).
You believe (without a shred of doubt) that you’ll eventually get your desired result (belief is a very powerful force).
You persist in experimenting despite internal and external resistance.

Another good strategy you can use is to make it a habit of asking questions like the following, whenever you come up with an idea: “What if I did this?” Or, “What would happen if I did this?” Or, “What if I…(then simply finish the question based on your situation)?”

Questions that start with “What if…?” or "What would happen if...?" are powerful questions.

(You see, those kinds of questions also motivate you to want to find out what will happen…in order to satisfy your curiosity.)

I can’t stress enough the importance of developing this quality in yourself...the willingness—the courage—to experiment.

Looking back at my own life, had I not experimented as much as I did, many of the ideas I had in mind would have stayed that way…just ideas.

That’s why I strongly encourage experimentation. Not only do I know that it works, I also know that it's highly rewarding. (It's a wonderful feeling to see an idea—something that was once only in your head—turn into something that others can benefit from.)

Again, just remember, it’s not enough to be willing to experiment. It’s also important that you don’t give up when there's resistance (resistance from within yourself or outside yourself…for example, the negative feedback of others). Because if you do, you’ll never achieve your desired results.

Persistence is a very important quality. In fact, so important that President Calvin Coolidge said the following:

Nothing in the world can take the place of
persistence. Talent will not; nothing is
more common than unsuccessful men with
talent. Genius will not; unrewarded
genius is almost a proverb. Education alone
will not; the world is full of educated
derelicts. Persistence and determination
alone are omnipotent.
So, let me ask you: What’s been playing around in your head for a long time? (Or lately?) What ideas have you written down? Or typed on your computer? What do you want to see materialize so that others could benefit?

If your inner critic is trying to hold you back, I suggest you completely ignore it.

Then just go ahead and experiment, experiment, experiment. (In fact, be a person who constantly experiments. Be an "experimenter.") And see just how far you can go with your ideas.

I can promise you that the emotional rewards will be great.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

Break Free...And Start Living Life To The Fullest

2008-04-19T20:58:00.009-07:00

By Ron Balagot

A musician must make music,
an artist must paint,
a poet must write
if he is ultimately to be
at peace with himself.

~ Abraham Maslow ~
Do you sometimes feel like you are chained up in a cage? Or feel like you are inside prison walls? If so, why do you think that is?

Is it possible that you are not being completely true to yourself? That you are living a lie?

In other words, could it be that you are not living who you “really” are? Not doing what makes you happy or what makes you at peace with yourself?

Listen...

Listen closely to the answer you get from within.

Do you hear a voice saying yes? Then you know something's not right.

Now, the question is...

When are you going to start paying closer attention to that voice? That part of you that's crying out for help? That part of you that's constantly begging to be set free?

And, more importantly, when are you going to start doing something about it?

When are you going to start doing what you love? What you enjoy? What gives you a deep sense of fulfillment? What makes you feel whole?

When are you going to put into practice William Shakespeare's good advice below?

~~~~~~

This above all: to thine own self be true.

~~~~~~
The truth is, you can start now...right now...just by deciding.

You don't need anyone's permission...except your own.

You can start doing and living what makes your heart sing.

(I'm sure you can remember many times when you felt intense joy...when you felt complete. When things just felt right...very right. When deep down inside you, a part of you said something like: "Yes, this is what I love. This is what I am meant to do." Well, there's no reason why you can't have that feeling all the time.)

You don't need to remain chained up (or to continue living a lie). You don't have to allow society or others to dictate the way you should live, the type of work you should pursue, the types of activities you should give priority to, and so on.

No, you don't have to stay helpless inside that cage...inside those prison walls.

You have a choice.

You can decide, here and now, to break free. To do what you love...and to do it as often as you wish.

Who cares about the past? Leave it behind you. That's where it belongs.

You can decide to live life to the fullest...starting today.

Remember, it's "your" life. And you don't have to give power to anyone (or anything) over it.

(Although others may be well-intentioned when they try to discourage you from pursuing what you love—thinking they know what's best for you—it is "you"...and not them...who will end up either happy or miserable...in the short-term...and in the long-term. I mean, just imagine what it would be like, if one day, in the future, you looked back and couldn't help but say, "I wish I had lived my life differently...pursued what I truly love. I wish I didn't allow others to dictate the course of my life. 'Cause then I wouldn't be so miserable today.")

~~~~~~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by
the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain ~

~~~~~~
"You decide" how you should live your life (of course, always making sure that your motives and actions are in line with what pleases God).

Life is short...fleeting...like a vapor. (George Mateljan knew this when he said: Life is too short to spend time doing anything except what you are passionate about.)

So live life to the fullest. Do whatever makes your heart sing...whatever makes you at peace with yourself. (And remember to contribute to others in positive ways whenever you can.)

Do it now...while there's still time.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

A Quote To Keep In Mind As You Pursue Your Dreams (Or Any Worthy Cause)

2008-03-15T20:09:00.008-07:00

First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

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Have you read this empowering book yet?

2008-03-05T07:16:00.006-08:00

If you haven't read Bruce Jenner's book, Finding The Champion Within, I suggest you do.

(In case you haven't heard of Bruce, he earned the title "World's Greatest Athlete" when he scored 8,634 points in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic games. In fact, you may have already seen him, since he has appeared on the Wheaties cereal box as an endorser.)

All I can say is I loved the book so much that I read it a couple of times.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book:

If you want to take your mission in life
to the next level, if you're stuck and you
don't know how to rise, don't look outside
yourself. Look inside. Don't let your fears
keep you mired in the crowd. Abolish your fears
and raise your commitment level to the point
of no return, and I guarantee you that the
Champion Within will burst forth to propel you
toward victory.

~ Bruce Jenner ~
Well, happy reading.

When Others Criticize You, Remember This Quote...

2008-02-26T04:58:00.001-08:00

Recognize that when
others criticize you,
they do so out of fear.
But you can be sure that
inside each of them is a "spirit"
secretly applauding you
for breaking free
and wishing they had the courage
to do the same.
Be their inspiration!

~ T. Harv Eker ~

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

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Another Inspiring Movie I Highly Recommend

2008-02-24T04:47:00.017-08:00

Another movie I highly recommend that you see is Ice Princess...starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Amy Stewart, and Hayden Panettiere (star of NBC's hit television series, Heroes).

It's very inspiring.

Even the movie's theme song, Reaching For Heaven (recorded by former American Idol contestant, Diana DeGarmo), is very inspiring.

There's a great lesson to be learned from this movie (as well as the movie, Rudy, which I recommended a while ago)...one you'll always want to keep in mind.

And that is: No matter what anybody else says, IT PAYS TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

Just Remember This Image Whenever You Feel Like Giving Up

2008-02-17T20:07:00.010-08:00

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A Great Quote To Always Remember

2008-02-15T07:33:00.002-08:00

It is not the critic who counts; nor the man
who points out how the strong man stumbled,
or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is
actually in the arena; whose face is marred by
dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again
because there is no effort without error and
shortcomings; who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions; who spends himself in a
worthy cause; who at best knows in the end,
the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst,
if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly;
so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who know
neither victory nor defeat.

~ Theodore Roosevelt (26th U.S. President) ~

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

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Have you watched this inspiring film yet?

2008-02-12T22:33:00.005-08:00

If you haven't seen the movie, Rudy, starring Sean Astin, I highly recommend that you do. It's an inspiring film based on a true story.

Trust me, after watching it, you'll be inspired and empowered to go for your dreams.

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Finally, it's here!

2008-01-15T08:33:00.026-08:00

My NEW, Life-Changing Ebook (which can help you to conquer performance anxiety or stage fright) has been launched.

And you can download it for FREE from the following link:

Unleash The Courageous Child Within

Powerful FREE Report That Can Positively Impact Your Life...

2007-09-17T02:26:00.006-07:00

I recently came across a free report by Kacper Postawski and I found it quite empowering. Now, I'd like to share it with you because I believe it can help impact your life in a positive way.

To download the free report (which is in PDF format), just 'right' click on the link below and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" from the menu.

(By the way, you may find some of the language a little offensive...but please don't let it affect you. Instead, focus on "the concept" Kacper writes about and on how you can use it to empower yourself.)

Download your free report here.

Enjoy!

FREE Ebook: Confidence & Courage Tips...To Help You Realize Your Dreams

2007-07-16T17:12:00.028-07:00

“Confidence is crucial to success and
achievement. Far too many lack that
ingredient to the degree needed.
Ron's ebook gives sound advice
and uncomplicated ways to get
confidence when it is needed.

I have used many of these principles
throughout my stellar career as a speaker
and best selling author and they work.
Read it now and trust that you, too, can
be confident in any situation because you
prepared with the tips taught in this ebook.”

  Jack M. Zufelt
  "Mentor to Millions"
  Author of the #1 best seller,
  The DNA of Success
  www.dnaofsuccess.com

____________________________
Here's a FREE ebook you can instantly download. It features 3 highly popular articles from this site. (Oh, and there's no catch. The time it takes to download the ebook is all that's required of you.)

Because it's a digital file, you could easily share it with family and friends via email...or give it away as a free download on your website (if you have one). And, of course, you could also print it out and share it offline with others.

Just read what more people have said about the ebook:

“Written in a simple, easy-to-follow style,
Confidence & Courage Tips…To Help
You Realize Your Dreams is grounded in
what works. Applying only a few of
Ron's strategies will significantly
improve your confidence (and reduce
your anxiety) when speaking. I very much
recommend it.”

Ken Warren
Professional Speaker
Queensland, Australia
www.kenwarren.com.au

“After reading Ron's ebook, Confidence
& Courage Tips…To Help You Realize
Your Dreams, I knew I would have to spread
his message with everybody I knew.

I have since shared the ebook with many
people looking for Stress Relief and have
always received excellent feedback.

And why wouldn't I?

Within the ebook's pages, Ron gives a
glimpse of how you can Unleash Your
Courage Within.

Ron's message is simple and effective.
I know by following the strategies
presented, you will experience a positive
change in your life.”

Michael Atma
Public Speaker, Author and Life Coach
Stress Management Techniques

____________________________
You may also be interested to know that several thousand people from all over the world...from all walks of life...have already benefited from the articles in this ebook. (In fact, reputable companies like Colgate-Palmolive and Lycos Canada have published some of the articles online.)

Download your free copy today and discover how much your life can change with the powerful information inside.

Click here to download your free ebook.

Or click on the image below...



Enjoy!

More Courage Quotes To Inspire And Empower You

2007-05-22T11:39:00.007-07:00

The more fear you confront and conquer,
the greater courage you will possess.

~ Chin-Ning Chu ~

Do the thing you fear, and the death
of fear is certain.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Fear is never so fearful
once you look it in the eyes.

~ Chin-Ning Chu ~

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

Powerful Quotes To Help You Conquer Fear

2007-05-10T02:14:00.003-07:00

Performing your duty
without attachment or aversion
is a great antidote
to the poison of fear.

- Bhagavad Gita -

If you are not concerned
about the outcome of a
circumstance, you will
experience no fear.
When you attach yourself
to expectations,
anxiety and fear
will overcome you.
The outcome will be
what it will be,
regardless of your
expectations and fears.

- Chin-Ning Chu -

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

Courage Quotes To Ponder

2007-04-24T23:20:00.007-07:00

One man of courage can fire
with his spirit a whole army of men,
whether it be military or industrial,
because courage, like cowardice,
is contagious.

~ Theron Q. Dumont ~

All the world loves a fighter,
while the coward is despised by all.

~ Theron Q. Dumont ~

(Want a FREE ebook copy of Theron Q. Dumont's widely talked about 1918 classic, The Power of Concentration? You can instantly download a copy by clicking here.)

For more confidence and courage related quotes, click here.

The Power "Rejection" (Or The Word "No") Has Over You Comes From You

2006-12-18T05:53:00.008-08:00

By Ron Balagot

It's true.

People may have the power to say "No" to your requests (by expressing it to you in some way), but the power to give it meaning is yours. Its meaning is in "your" hands.

Yes, you've always had the ability to "reject people's rejection" (the ability to suck the life force out of people's rejection). You may have just forgotten.

(The truth is, if you just stop to think about it, you’ll realize how silly it is to allow a "two-letter word" like "No" to affect you in negative ways...to let it stop you from continuing to ask for what you want. That's all it is...a "two-letter word." It has no power of its own except what you give it.)

The key is to "always be aware" of this power you have.

The next time someone rejects one of your requests, be aware of what's “really” happening. Then act accordingly.

Stay empowered by saying something like “wrong door...next” (“wrong door” could mean that you're either asking the wrong person or you're asking in the wrong way).

Then simply knock on the next door...and then the next one...until the right one opens...or until you get what you want.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

Rise, Knight...Slay The Dragons In Your Path...Then Claim The Golden Crown

2005-06-02T01:15:00.007-07:00

By Ron Balagot

The following is a powerful technique you can use to conquer your fears...and attain your dreams.

Imagine yourself being a brave knight, complete with armor, shield, helmet, and sword (or any weapon of your choice...ex. spear, bow and arrow, etc.). In other words, “act as if” you are a brave knight (one who has fought and won countless battles). You can do this with eyes open or closed...whichever you find more comfortable.

Stand the way a brave or fearless knight would stand. Breathe the way a brave knight would breathe. Gaze the way a brave knight would gaze. Feel yourself having the same kind of resolve and determination a brave knight would have.

And in your mind’s eye, focus on your target (your dream...visualize it vividly) in the distance (for the purpose of this article, let’s just use a “golden crown” as the target to symbolize your dream...when you’re applying this technique on your own, visualize exactly what it is you want instead of the golden crown), with such intensity, that you’re absolutely sure that nothing can stop you from attaining it. Better yet, believe that it’s already yours.

Imagine the golden crown with a bright light around it...as if it were drawing you towards it like a magnet...as if it were saying to you, “Come claim me. I’m yours.”

Then, in your mind’s eye, walk confidently and courageously towards the glowing crown. (If you wish to ride a horse instead, then go right ahead. You can even fly and do all kinds of acrobatics...just like what they do in The Matrix. Use your imagination to the fullest.)

And on your way to the crown, imagine one fire-breathing dragon after another flying towards you...trying to stop you from reaching the crown. (Include as many senses in your visualizations as possible. Hear the dragons’ wings flap. Hear the noise they make...including the sound of their breathing. See their huge, red eyes staring at you. Feel the heat of their breath. And so on.)

As each dragon comes towards you, strike it with your sword. And as your sword hits each one, imagine it getting blown to smithereens—just like the vampires in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Blade. (If you wish, you can make it even more graphic. It’s up to you how you want to see the dragons defeated...how you want to see “your fears” defeated.) Use your imagination to the fullest. Don’t worry, no one will know you’re doing this. Remember, you’re merely visualizing all of this. So just go all out.

Let the glowing crown (your dream) in the distance inspire you to persist with courage and determination.

And when each dragon tries to breathe fire on you, simply use your shield to protect yourself. Imagine yourself being invincible as you continue to walk towards the brightly shining crown. Even though you feel intense heat all around you because of the fire coming from the dragons, it doesn’t bother you or make you retreat. You simply keep moving forward...with the confidence and conviction that nothing can get in your way.

Remember, you are a knight with absolute courage and unshakeable resolve. You are determined to get what you want...and absolutely nothing can stop you! In fact, nothing will stop you! The golden crown is as good as yours.

(Tip: As each dragon comes before you, you can label/name each one as a particular fear you may have. For example, as you look at the dragon before you, you can say, “Come on, rejection, let’s see what you’ve got.” Then without hesitation, strike the dragon with a quick swing of your sword...“POOF”...smithereens...like it was nothing. Or if a voice keeps playing in your head, telling you that you won’t succeed because you’re simply not good enough, bravely meet the dragon flying towards you and say, “You think you can stop me, negative critic? Well, you’re wrong! Take this!” Then drive your sword into the dragon’s body...“POOF”...smithereens. And continue to do this with each of your fears.)

Then after you’ve slain all the dragons, walk up to the golden crown and reach for it. Claim it. Hold it proudly with both hands and place it firmly on your head...knowing you deserve it. And as you do that, smile and experience the great feeling of victory.

Do this regularly or whenever you find all kinds of doubts, fears, worries, etc., creeping in. Then you will notice a difference in your attitude towards them...in the real world. You will feel like nothing can get in your way as you pursue your dreams.

So, now, I say to you, “Rise, knight. Slay the dragons in your path. Then claim the golden crown.”

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

How You Can Use Film/Television To Unleash The Courage Within

2005-04-11T21:07:00.010-07:00

By Ron Balagot

Have you noticed that when you watch a courageous or heroic character on film or television, you tend to put yourself in his/her shoes?

Of course you have. (I’m assuming that very few people, if any, put themselves in the villain’s or bad guy’s shoes.)

In fact, after watching a show with characters that exemplify courage, you most likely feel renewed strength. You feel more courageous...like nothing can get in your way...like you could conquer any mountain that gets in your path.

You probably even catch yourself sometimes moving (and thinking) the way the courageous character does. For example, after watching a movie like Gladiator, you would walk out of the movie theatre with a feeling of intense courage you did not feel when you first walked in (assuming, of course, that you didn't watch it at home). You feel like you’ve somehow merged with the heroic character—as if his courageous spirit was transferred to you.

Why do you suppose this is?

I would say, it’s because we can somehow relate to the courageous character. Deep down inside us, we know we also have that kind of courage...and that we’ve felt that kind of courage many times in our lives (as children, most especially—and as adults, for some of us)—and in different situations (of course, not necessarily in the battlefield).

At a subconscious level, we know we already possess absolute courage (due to the fact that “we are spirits living inside physical bodies”—something I briefly wrote about in my article, 12 Ways To Unleash The Courage Within), yet sometimes, we feel that we haven’t quite unleashed it (at least, not consistently) to the degree that we see in others. And that’s mainly the reason why we look up to these heroes, courageous characters, or role models of courage. (Would you agree that the trait you usually admire in others is the trait you want to see/have more in yourself? I’m sure you would.)

(This is most likely the reason why more and more film producers are coming out with movies such as Gladiator, Troy, The Last Samurai, Braveheart, and the like. They know that people become more in touch with the courageous part of themselves—thus are moved deeply—when they watch these types of movies.)

On the other hand, have you also noticed that it usually makes you somewhat annoyed, or even angry, when you watch a cowardly character who does not take a stand for what he/she believes is right? (Or someone who abandons his/her post at the first sign of danger? Or when the going gets tough?) The truth is, we don’t like to see that quality in others because that is the very quality we don’t want to see (or have) in ourselves.

Simply put, cowardice is not an admirable trait. It never has been, and it never will be.

One thing, though...let us not confuse feeling afraid/fear with cowardice...for a person can be afraid and still muster the courage to take action on what he/she thinks is right.

Here are some good quotes regarding cowardice:

Fear has its use but cowardice has none

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

To know what is right and not to do it
is the worst cowardice.

~ Confucius ~

When his duty is to face danger and he flees,
it is cowardice.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

It is any day better to stand erect
with a broken and bandaged head
then to crawl on one's belly,
in order to be able to save one's head.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Cowards can never be moral.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Some may feel that the last quote by Gandhi above is a bit harsh, but the point is clear: cowardice is a bad and undesirable quality. It’s something we don’t want.

What we want is to be more in touch with the courage within, so that we can reach our highest potential, achieve more in life, and make a positive contribution to society.

With that in mind, I would like to share with you a technique on how to use film or television to help unleash the courage within. (By the way, you can use this technique whether a show is based on a true story or not.)

You see, it’s not so much “what” you watch, but “how” you watch.

What do I mean by this? (You’ll understand in a minute.)

Basically, the technique goes like this:

Just before watching any show that has characters who exemplify courage (of course, nearly all shows have them), give a direct command to your subconscious mind to reinforce “courage” in your being every time you see and feel it during the show.

What you are doing is establishing a clear objective/purpose for watching the show—in advance (something a lot of us don’t normally do).

For example, just before a show starts, say the following to your subconscious mind (internally—not aloud):

“John/Jane (or whatever your name is),
reinforce courage in my being each time
I see and feel it.”

(Tip: I found that it’s best to give your subconscious mind a name—usually “your” name—since you’re merely talking to another part of yourself. Also, when you give your subconscious mind a command, or an instruction, trust fully that it will carry it out. Avoid doubt at all costs. Belief is very powerful.)

What this technique does is reinforces the “feeling” of courage in your nervous system.

When you make it a habit of doing this, with all the shows you watch (we’re talking about the shows that include courageous characters, of course—again, nearly all do), you’ll notice a positive change in your life. In the beginning, the change may be subtle, but as time goes by, it will become more obvious.

By the way, this can be used for any trait/quality you want to reinforce in your being (ex. love, sense of justice, etc.).

For example, if you wish to reinforce many qualities in your being in one sitting, just say:

“John/Jane (or whatever your name is),
reinforce courage, love, and compassion
(add as many qualities as you wish) in my
being each time I see and feel them.”

(In fact, if there’s a particular show you like, one that has a role model of courage—you may want to access the DVD/VHS of that show and watch it several times, while applying this technique. It would be even better if you could fast forward the DVD/VHS and go straight to the “specific scenes” where you felt courage the strongest. That way, you don’t have to watch the whole show all over again. Besides, you already know how the story goes.)

As you can see, this technique can be highly beneficial, since you will not be watching shows for the sole purpose of being entertained. Instead, you will also be watching for the purpose of reinforcing a highly desirable quality, such as courage, in your being.

As time goes by, you'll be more and more in touch with the courage within. It will be unleashed more naturally and automatically when you need it.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

This Book Can Help You Attain Your Dreams...Faster (And Help You Avoid A Lot of Pain In The Process)

2005-03-22T17:22:00.002-08:00

Have you ever felt like you were going around in circles (perhaps even felt stuck at times)—not quite achieving the many goals you’ve set, despite having many good qualities? And despite the fact that you may have been exposed to all kinds of motivational, self-help, or personal development books/materials?

And because of it, you felt confused and frustrated...and felt like you’ve wasted months (or perhaps years) of your life in the process?

If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. And you can relax, because there’s a solution.

A while back, I discovered an excellent book that has made a positive impact on my life. In fact, I wish I had discovered it much earlier. It would have helped me avoid so much unnecessary emotional pain. And since I can’t go back in time, I could at least help you avoid going down that same road.

By sharing with you some information about this book, it will help you gain new knowledge that complements the information I’ve already shared with you (and, of course, the information I’ll be sharing with you in the future).

What is this book I’m talking about?

It’s called The DNA of Success by Jack M. Zufelt.

I can’t stress enough how inspiring and empowering this book is.

Jack talks about what he calls Core Desires (which, when identified, will unleash the Conquering Force within). These concepts on Core Desires and the Conquering Force have been behind all great achievements throughout history. Unfortunately, not many people know about them (at least, not “consciously”).

Instead of going into detail about these concepts, I highly suggest that you find a way to access the book and read it. (To save money, you may want to check your local library, first, in case they carry it.)

All I can say is that after reading this book, you’ll feel something different—something positive and powerful—like a whole new world has opened up before you. Things will be much clearer. You’ll have that “Aha!” experience. And in the process, you’ll feel more inspired to take action towards your dreams.

I’m serious! This book is a must read! In fact, the information I shared with you in my articles will not be complete without the knowledge you’ll gain from this book—most especially the knowledge about Core Desires and the Conquering Force.

To help give you a basic understanding of the concepts Jack talks about in his book, just click on the following links:

Jack Zufelt—Article 1
Jack Zufelt—Article 2
Jack Zufelt—Article 3
Jack Zufelt—Free Book Chapter

Once you’ve read this book, you’ll be glad you did. Your life will never be the same.

12 Ways To Unleash The Courage Within

2005-03-14T12:49:00.014-08:00

By Ron Balagot

What you are about to learn are very powerful ways to help you get from where you are to where you want to go. When you consistently apply the principles below, you will notice a dramatic and positive change in your life.

Before we move on, though, I’d like to explain why I use the word “unleash.”

I am convinced that courage is already within us all and only needs to be “unleashed.” There’s a part of us that knows this—whether or not we readily admit it. We only need to accept this fact.

For many years, we have been taught by society, and sadly, even by our well-meaning relatives or friends, why we should not do something, or why we should not pursue a particular goal. They try to discourage us in a number of ways. Sometimes, it may not be that they don’t believe in us or our ideas, but that they feel that if they were to pursue the idea/goal themselves, they wouldn’t have the courage to do it—they would be too afraid.

In other words, they pass on their fears to us unconsciously (and unintentionally). Unfortunately, we end up making fewer attempts as a result. And the less we attempt to do something because of fear (the fears others programmed into us) the less our minds believe that courage is already within us. And the less our minds believe that courage is already within us, the more it becomes true (a reality) for us.

In my first article, Run Freely (A Lesson About Courage), I shared with you an important lesson I learned, through observation, many years ago—and that is: Courage has always been inside of us from the time we were children. (And since we were all children at one time, courage is inside “all” of us.)

Courage is not something that comes from outside of us (although external factors or influences can help in drawing that courage out, or can help in getting us to be more in touch with that courage—and that's what I would like to share with you in the principles below), because absolute courage (or fearlessness) is the very nature of our “spirit” (at least here in the physical world—I say “physical” because in the physical world, nothing can harm a spirit...and another reason I stress “physical” is because others may say, “The devil is a spirit. Why, then, does the devil fear God?”).

I love the quote I read in one of Wayne Dyer's books years ago. (Wayne Dyer, by the way, is a highly recognized best-selling author and motivational speaker.) The quote was actually by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin...and it goes like this:

We are not human beings
having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings
having a human experience.
I figured, that's probably why kids (especially those at an early age) are so courageous (and less self-conscious). They are more in touch with that “spirit” part of themselves.

In fact, I believe that through the years, as people grow up towards adulthood, they have gotten less and less in touch with that “spirit” part of themselves due to the many self-created (or imaginary) fears—or due to fears that have been passed on to them by others (or society). These fears started to gradually cover up their fearless nature—their very essence or core—just like mold gradually covers up a piece of fresh bread left out in the open.

Keeping the above in mind, here, then, are 12 ways (I'll cover more in future articles) to unleash the courage within:

1. Reinforce in your being the conviction that you are a “fearless” spirit in a physical body. It's your true nature. It's your very essence. Accept this fact and your life will change in positive ways.

Detach yourself from the fear of the body, and the mind, clinging instead to the fearlessness of the spirit.

~ Chin-Ning Chu ~

It is in your power to discover that who you really are has nothing to fear, but that you make yourself fearful each time you look outside of yourself for some power to make you feel fearless.

~ Guy Finley ~
2. Simply attempt. JUST DO IT. Avoid overanalyzing (which usually results in procrastination). Once you've decided to do something, just do it (avoid delaying unnecessarily).

Over time, this reinforces the feeling of courage in your nervous system. You'll be more and more in touch with the courageous part of yourself. And as a result, taking action (without hesitating) will feel more natural to you.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

~ Seneca ~

Do it like there's no one watching, do it like you don't need the money, do it like you just can't lose, JUST DO IT.

~ Nike Ad ~
In other words, do your best not to give fear (or excuses) a chance to creep in. Why? Because when that happens, the following is what normally results (as Seneca's quote explains):

A man who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary.
Also, as Publilius Syrus' quote explains:

Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back.
3. Give yourself permission to be courageous (avoid allowing yourself to be cowardly). And avoid giving others (or anything) permission to make you feel fearful. The key word here is “permission.”

Understanding this principle and applying it in your daily life will empower you in ways you may not have imagined before. It puts you in a powerful position because it gives you control (in other words, you won't be just a mindless punching bag to others). You are able to “consciously” decide whether or not someone will influence you in a negative way. As a result, you'll be more at ease in dealing with others, no matter who they are.

You see, the reason some people are bullied is because “they permit it.” They give permission to the bully to bully them. But the moment they no longer give permission to the bully to mistreat them, the bully loses his/her power.

(There's an excellent section on this concept of “permission” in Gerry Spence's book, How To Argue And Win Every Time.)

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Starting now, never again permit hard or disapproving facial expressions to intimidate you.

~ Vernon Howard ~
4. Reinforce the belief that the only power others have is the power you give them. Their power comes from you. In fact, it is your gift to them. Their power is merely “your perception” of their power (in other words, the source of their power is in your mind). And you have a choice at any moment how much power you will give them.

This very powerful principle can be applied to fears/anxieties you may have when dealing with others. As you regularly apply this principle, you’ll be more at ease when dealing with anyone, even authority figures or influential people. Also, with this knowledge, it will be in your power to give “less” or “no” power to those who like to abuse it (ex. bullies or difficult people in general).

This empowers you, and reinforces your courage at the same time, because you are in a position to make a “conscious” decision (just like principle #3 above). People won’t be able to abuse power because their power comes from you in the first place. At any moment, you can easily take back any power you’ve already given them...“just by deciding.”

(Again, there's an excellent section/chapter on this principle in Gerry Spence's book, How To Argue And Win Every Time.)

No human being has any authority over you. Your life belongs to you and to you alone. No scowling face or irritated manner, no challenging posture or threatening tone has any power to make you feel nervous or anxious, frightened or angry. This is a fact; and anyone who is tired of letting someone else tell them how to feel can use this self-liberating principle to win true and lasting independence. Your true nature answers to no man.

~ Guy Finley ~

No one can make you happy or sad or excited or angry unless you give them that power over your life. Decide right now to only give your power to those things, circumstances, and people that support you in getting what you want.

~ Marshall Sylver ~

Don't let the negativity given to you by the world disempower you. Instead give to yourself that which empowers you.

~ Les Brown ~
5. Reinforce the belief that the only power “anything” has is the power you give it. The power that events and experiences have over you will depend on the meaning you give them. (Two people can go through similar experiences but will respond in completely different ways, depending on what meaning they give those experiences.)

Again, just like principles 3 and 4 above, applying this principle will empower you because you will have the ability to make a “conscious” decision (it gives you the power of “choice”—you get to choose how you will perceive or interpret any event, experience, etc.).

Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through my conscious thoughts.

~ Anthony Robbins ~

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

~ Marcus Aurelius ~

Nothing has any power except the power that you give it.

~ Marshall Sylver ~
6. Apply the “calmness linked to fear” technique (a powerful technique that can help you remain calm in situations that would normally trigger fear/anxiety).

Imagine one of your biggest fears, whatever it is (a situation, a thing, a specific person, a type of person, etc.). Then imagine or visualize (in “associated” mode—meaning, you are seeing things in your surroundings from inside your own body...and not watching yourself as an actor on a movie screen) yourself being calm—being relaxed.

For example, if one of your biggest fears is having confrontations with certain types of people (ex. bullies or difficult people), imagine the bully in front of you (you can do this with your eyes open or closed—whatever is more comfortable for you), yelling at you—at the top of his/her voice, insulting you, putting you down, “commanding” you (like a dictator) to do things, etc. (imagine the worst case scenario). And while the bully is doing these things to you, “consciously” relax your body.

Be aware of any tension in your body, then think “relax.” Be aware of your breathing to make sure it's not shallow or too fast. Breathe naturally...in a relaxed manner. Feel your body becoming more and more relaxed as you imagine the bully doing his/her all to shake your foundation.

You could even smile...and I mean “actually smile”...or smile inside...while you're looking straight at him/her (as if you were saying to him/her, “Who are you trying to fool?”). Or even laugh inside...while you're looking at him/her. Whatever it takes for you to reach an empowering state—a “calm” or “relaxed” state.

The goal of this exercise is to link/associate the feeling of “calmness” or “being relaxed” with that particular fear (in this case, the bully) you're imagining.

If you do this exercise effectively (by the way, you can do it as many times as needed—although I’ve found that one or two sessions usually does the trick), when you are put in a situation where you have to face that particular fear (ex. the bully), you will feel calm or relaxed. Or, at the very least, the fear (or anxiety) you normally would have felt will have decreased dramatically to the point where it no longer bothers or paralyzes you.

7. Constantly work on increasing your self-awareness—your self-knowledge. As some would say: Know thyself.

The more you know about yourself (your strengths, weaknesses, fears, beliefs, goals, motives, etc.), the calmer, more confident, and more courageous you'll be.

When two people meet, the prize always goes to the one with the most self-insight. He will be calmer, more confident, more at ease with the other.

~ Vernon Howard ~

He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

~ Lao-Tzu ~
8. Make a list of the following, and review regularly, or once in a while (depending on the need), to serve as empowering reminders:

Your past successes/victories
Risks you've taken in the past
Your past courageous acts

By reminding yourself of past victories, courageous acts, etc., it helps empower you in the present moment. Basically, what you’re saying to yourself, as you face the present challenge, is, “I’ve succeeded many times before, therefore I can do it again.” Or, “I’ve been victorious many times in the past, therefore I can be victorious again.”

9. Surround yourself with others who help uplift your spirit. Avoid associating with those who like to bring you down or belittle your ideas (either because they don't believe in you or your ideas—or because they know they would be fearful in the same situation...and they want you to feel the same way so they won’t be alone in feeling that way). In other words, choose your environment (which includes the people who surround you on a regular basis) wisely.

Remember: Courage is contagious. And so is cowardice.

We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity.

~ Barbara De Angelis ~

To succeed in life, you have to forget about most people. If you want to rise to the top, you have to disregard the opinions, reactions, and warnings of others.

~ Ken Roberts ~
10. Get used to dealing with the unexpected (or uncertainty). In other words, don't wait until you have all the answers, or until you know it all, before taking any action. Don't wait until all conditions are perfect before taking the necessary steps you know you should take.

By mastering this skill, you’ll be able to go out there in the world with courage and confidence, taking one action after another, no matter what the conditions may be. You’ll be so used to dealing with the unexpected (having the ability to handle anything that comes your way) that even during times when you are not quite 100% prepared, you’ll feel confident in taking action.

The number one characteristic of students who later become heads of companies is the ability to withstand uncertainty.

~ David A. Thomas
Dean, Cornell Business School ~

It is the individual's ability to deal with the unexpected that characterizes the difference between success and failure.

~ Ross Perot ~
The following quotes explain why it’s usually not a good idea to wait until “all conditions are perfect” before taking action:

If you wait until the wind and the weather
are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.

~ Ecclesiastes 11:4 (Good News Bible) ~

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome.

~ Samuel Johnson ~
11. Simply decide that fear will not get in your way no matter what. If you happen to feel fear, for whatever reason, do what you have to do anyway. Act in spite of fear. You don't have to wait until the fear is gone. Like Susan Jeffers' book suggests: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway.

In spite of fear, do what you have to do.

~ Chin-Ning Chu ~

Courage is acting in spite of fear.

~ Howard W. Hunter ~
12. Apply the “I have nothing to prove” or “I don't have to prove anything” attitude. Avoid feeling the need to prove yourself to anyone. Just be your natural self. Express your true self.

In fact, always make it your goal to “express,” not “impress.” When you’re focused on “expressing,” you’ll be more at ease.

Your true nature never needs to anxiously prove itself to others, but lives in calm command, like a popular king.

~ Vernon Howard ~

The real acid test of courage is to be just your honest self when everybody is trying to be like somebody else.

~ Andrew Jensen ~

The time men spend in trying to impress others, they could spend in doing the things by which others would be impressed.

~ Frank Romer ~

Naturalness is the easiest thing in the world to acquire, if you will forget yourself—forget about the impression you are trying to make.

~ Dale Carnegie ~

This above all: to thine own self be true.

~ William Shakespeare ~
[In addition to the 12 principles above, read my article, How To Be Confident And Relaxed When Speaking Before A Group Of People (Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Highly Effective Speaker/Presenter), if you haven't done so already. You'll find that many of the principles in that article can be applied to life in general.]

I would like to end this article with a beautiful story I read many years ago.

Michaelangelo, the world famous painter, sculptor, and architect was once asked how he could carve such magnificent statues. And he answered, “The perfect statue is already there within the block of marble. I simply chip away the excess.”

And so it is with courage. It's already there within you. You only need to create or devise ways (like the ones I shared with you above) to chip away—or get rid of—any unnecessary fears, worries, apprehensions, etc., so that the courage within you will be unleashed more fully.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

How To Be Confident And Relaxed When Speaking Before A Group Of People (Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Highly Effective Speaker/Presenter)

2005-02-16T12:08:00.013-08:00

By Ron Balagot

1. Prepare thoroughly.

Prepare the message of your speech thoroughly. Know exactly what it is you want to bring across to your audience...and why. Knowing the purpose of your speech will help focus and organize your thoughts, thus allowing you to be relaxed when it comes time to make your presentation.

In addition, others find it helpful to rehearse their presentation “physically” (or aloud—as if they were actually giving out a presentation...the only difference is, they are speaking to an imaginary audience) before their presentation. While others prefer to rehearse “mentally” (visualization exercises). In fact, most or all peak performers (from speakers to athletes...you name it) perform visualization exercises before their actual performance. (This could mean days, weeks, months, or even years in advance depending on the type of performance—and these exercises are usually done on a daily or regular basis.) Use what works for you.

(For those who are not too familiar with the term visualization, which is sometimes called mental imagery or mental rehearsal, basically, what you do is you imagine in your mind's eye the kind of performance you would like to give...with as much detail as possible...and also, the kind of end result you would like from your performance. And it can be done with your eyes open or closed.
Note: Visualization exercises are much more effective and powerful when done in what is called “associated” mode [meaning, you are seeing your surroundings from inside your own body—for example, imagining the audience in front of you...imagining how receptive they are...while you are feeling confident and relaxed where you're standing...and so on—and not watching yourself from a distance]...and with lots of intense and positive feelings. Even better when you can include as many of your five senses as possible in your visualizations.)

Of course, prepare what you’re going to wear, as well as, the materials (ex. visual aids) you plan to use in your presentation. Also, if you need to get directions on how to get to the venue where you’ll be speaking, do this way ahead of time. That way, you will not feel rushed at the last minute.

The more prepared you are overall, the more relaxed you will be before and during your presentation.

(Of course, if it’s going to be impromptu or extemporaneous speaking, then just do your best to organize your thoughts as quickly as you can with whatever time you’re given. Focus on your purpose for speaking. Ask yourself, “What’s the message I want to convey? Why do I want to convey this message?” And stay relaxed as much as possible. You’ll learn more about how to do this in the information that follows.)

2. Wear something appropriate and comfortable for the occasion.

When you look good (or when you know you look good), you tend to feel good. When you are less self-conscious, you tend to be more at ease. Whether we admit it or not, the way we look somehow affects the way we feel.

Of course, don’t forget proper grooming.

3. Be convinced that what you have to say matters.

Be convinced of the importance of your message. Doing this will put you at ease and will make you appear more confident (and above all, congruent).

In fact, do your best to speak only about things/topics you truly believe in or are passionate about. Your conviction and passion will naturally shine through (and applying Principle #9 below will help even more). This will make you much more credible to your audience. Remember, your listeners will only believe you if they first sense that you believe in what you are saying.

4. Put yourself in a “confident” state.

There are many ways to do this. One of the best ways that I’ve found is to “act as if” you were already confident (that’s if you feel you’re not quite in the “confident” state yet). Walk and talk the way you would if you were already extremely confident.

Sometimes, it helps to ask yourself the following questions:

“How would I feel right now if I were absolutely confident?”

“How would I breathe?”

“How would I stand?”

“How would I walk?”

“How would I talk?”

...and so on.

Another excellent way would be for you to imagine a time in the past when you were completely confident...then bring that state to the present moment...and speak/present while in that state.

Ask yourself the following:

“When, in the past, was I absolutely confident?”

“How did I breathe?”

“How did I stand?”

“How did I walk?”

“How did I talk?”

...and so on.

(It’s very important that when you ask these questions, and when you do these visualizations, you are not imagining yourself outside your body as if you were watching yourself as an actor/actress on a movie screen. You must be in your body...seeing things in the outside world from inside your own body.)

Also, when asking the last few questions (while imagining a past confident state you were in), all you need to do is imagine a time when you were absolutely confident...and it doesn’t matter what you were doing at the time, as long as you were absolutely confident. It does not have to be a past speaking situation...although if you could remember a time, that would be great. (Your main goal is to bring that past, empowering state into the present moment so that you will be in an empowered state to perform at your peak in the present moment.)

5. Keep your attention/focus away from yourself...at all costs.

In other words, avoid being self-conscious at all costs...because self-consciousness is one of the biggest causes of nervousness. Focus instead on the message you want to bring across to your audience. Focus on why you are there...why you are speaking to them.

Also, avoid or interrupt any negative or disempowering internal dialogue. Immediately interrupt the pattern when you hear the negative voice inside of you saying things like: “Oh-oh! They’re all looking at you...checking you out...measuring you up...judging you...blah-blah-blah.” Come up with an effective way to stop that negative voice in its tracks.

Sometimes, just ignoring it and immediately changing your focus works. At times, it may help to internally yell, “STOP!” or, “STOP IT!”...and then immediately change focus. The key is to interrupt the pattern as soon as you catch it. Don’t give the monster a chance to grow. Avoid giving it any power over you. Squash it while it’s little. Then change your focus immediately.

By the way, I’m curious. I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, but it’s happened to me quite a few times when I was in my teens. You’re just walking along, naturally, without a care in the world, and then someone comes along...someone you admire/like appears out of nowhere...and then you lose your “natural walking rhythm” or the way you walk feels out of sync (a very awkward feeling), all because, all of a sudden, you place your focus on yourself (or you become self-conscious). Has this ever happened to you?

Well, what I eventually learned later on was that, unconsciously, I was saying to myself , “Oh boy, I better walk nicely because I want to give her the impression that I’m cool.” In other words, instead of just expressing the natural me, allowing the natural me to just shine through, thus allowing the way I walk to be natural, I ended up putting on a performance/show (because I was trying to prove something or trying to gain approval), and that negatively affected my natural walking rhythm.

6. Breathe naturally and in a relaxed manner.

In the beginning, you may need to monitor your breathing once in a while to make sure you are breathing naturally—and in a relaxed manner. (I say this because there are probably a lot of people out there who are not even aware of their breathing patterns...especially when under pressure…or when the heat is on. Besides, it only takes a second or two.)

You can usually tell if you’re not breathing naturally, because when you are nervous, your stomach muscles either tend to tense up unnecessarily, or your breathing tends to be shallow/fast...or both. And as a result, you feel uncomfortable—which is a disempowering state. And that's not beneficial to your performance.

After a while, though, you won’t have to monitor your breathing as much. In fact, as time goes by, you will get used to breathing naturally—and in a relaxed manner—even under pressure.

In the beginning, it will help a lot if you could make a comparison between the way you breathe when you’re relaxed and the way you breathe when you’re tense or nervous. Be aware of the difference. (Meaning, whenever you catch yourself being tense or nervous, with your heart beating fast and everything, be aware of the way you breathe...then do the same when you catch yourself in a relaxed mood...for example, while talking to relatives or close friends—people you are already very comfortable with.) Once you are more aware of the difference, you will naturally use what is more beneficial to you, more often, and unconsciously.

(Note: Although, in the previous section, I suggested not to be self-conscious, this awareness of your breathing patterns will not violate that principle. Remember, you will merely be doing this in the beginning until such time when you no longer need to do it as often...or at all. And when you do put your awareness on your breathing in the beginning, it's best to do it during a period of inactivity...ex. a pause between phrases or between making a point. If you feel you're in the flow while making a presentation, then you don't really need to monitor/check your breathing anymore. It means you're doing fine. Just move on with your presentation.)

7. Speak as if you were speaking to a close friend or loved one (in a conversational manner).

Look at individuals in your audience, eye to eye...as if you were conversing with them individually (as if you were sitting across the table/room from them). Talk directly to one person for a few seconds, then move on to someone else...and keep repeating this. In fact, when you do this, you will feel more relaxed because you will feel like you are talking to individuals (just like in a conversation) and not to a “group” of people. And not only will you appear very confident and relaxed, your audience will automatically feel comfortable and relaxed. As a result, they will be more receptive to your message. (Remember, confidence and being comfortable are contagious.)

(An excellent book that covers this principle more thoroughly is entitled You Are The Message by Roger Ailes. I highly recommend that you find a way to access it and read it. In fact, you can always try your local library, first, if they have it. That way, you won't have to spend anything. Another excellent book that is closely related, which I highly recommend you read, is entitled You’ve Got To Be Believed To Be Heard: Reach The First Brain To Communicate In Business And In Life by Bert Decker.)

8. Always remind yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes. It’s perfectly okay. You’re only human. Even the highest achievers in the world make them. In fact, everybody makes them. (Make the decision ahead of time, before speaking in front of any group, that you will allow yourself to make mistakes...to look awkward or foolish.)

Basically, what I’m suggesting is that you go out there and do your best, or give your all, while at the same time, know that you are willing to forgive yourself (and willing to continue to accept yourself) whatever the outcome may be. It does not make you a bad person or a fool if you make mistakes unintentionally. (If you do it intentionally, then that’s a different story. Besides, who in their right mind would “plan” to make mistakes in advance?) Learn from your mistakes, then move on.

By giving yourself permission this way, you will become more relaxed. Why? Because what creates tension, stress, or nervousness in the first place is when a part of you is saying, “You must be perfect. You must do this perfectly. You can’t screw up no matter what happens or else people will see you as a failure.” While another part of you just wants to naturally go with the flow...not giving a care for anything. This kind of inner conflict (between the different parts of you) is what causes tension, stress, or nervousness.

9. Express yourself fully and freely...with your whole being.

Let your conviction, enthusiasm, and passion show. Unleash them fully and freely. And let it be felt by your audience. (If it helps, you can imagine rays of light emanating from you, penetrating each of your audience members.) Avoid holding back. Just let go. When you do this, you will naturally become more confident.

When you are speaking from your very core, just allowing your natural feelings to flow outward, for some reason, you tend to forget about fear or nervousness. And doing this usually results in peak performances (being in the “flow”).

10. Be completely in the present moment—in the here and now.

While you are speaking, keep your thoughts away from the past or future (since focusing on the past or future can create anxiety through the pouring in of negative thoughts—ex. negative experiences associated with the past, or, the negative consequences that could possibly arise in the future).

Also, avoid thinking about the outcome, as well as, your expectations of the outcome during your speech. Simply flow. Immerse yourself completely in what you are doing (in this case, speaking) in the present moment. This will help you greatly in performing at your peak. In fact, this is another quality possessed by peak performers.

11. Avoid the need to gain approval.

What do I mean by this? Because others might say, “Well, Ron, what if I am trying to persuade the audience to accept my point of view, am I not trying to gain their approval?”

My answer would be, “Yes, naturally, that would be your ultimate goal if you were trying to persuade others.” Your desired outcome would, of course, be for them to accept your argument because it will benefit both you and them in some way.

But I’m talking more about your mental attitude or mindset while you are speaking—which in turn affects your physiological state.

The mindset that says, “It’s okay if he/she rejects my argument. That’s his/her right. At least, I did my best to persuade him/her.”

Or, the mindset that says: “I accept the fact that not everyone will be persuaded to my point of view, and that’s okay. At least, I did what I could.”

When you are focused on trying to impress others (because of your need to gain approval), you will end up saying or doing things you really don’t want to say or do (in other words, it will cause you to do things against your will) and this is what causes stress/anxiety. You will feel like you are betraying yourself (or going against what you believe to be true). And you’ll end up regretting it later.

What creates stress/anxiety is when your inner voice is saying, “I must do this, or I must say this...or else they will think negatively of me.”

Whatever you do, avoid going into a speaking situation with the following attitude or mindset: “Please accept me. Please accept my ideas. I won’t be able to handle it if you don’t. I’ll feel like a failure if you reject me or my ideas.” Because if you possess that kind of attitude, even if you don’t say those words outright, your audience will sense your lack of confidence (both in yourself and in your ideas) and your lack of self-esteem. You’ll end up sabotaging your own efforts...and your performance will suffer...thus, you will not be effective in fulfilling your objective of persuading your audience.

Instead, your attitude should be more like: “I have something very valuable to offer you that I believe will highly benefit you. This is what you’ll gain/benefit if you accept my offer. And this is what you’ll lose out on (or this is the pain you’ll continue to experience) if you don't. The decision to accept or reject my offer is completely up to you. That is your right. And I’ll respect your decision. As for me, I’ll lose nothing if you reject my offer.”

In other words, it is you who carries the key to the treasure chest. Since you are the one who has something valuable and beneficial to offer your audience, you shouldn’t appear like you’re begging for approval.

Besides, you need to be honest with yourself and accept the fact that you will not always win everyone to your point of view (consider yourself fortunate if you are able to do so). Of course, you would still do whatever it takes to try and persuade each audience member (if the objective of your presentation is to persuade), but realize that it’s perfectly okay if you don’t.

The ones who accept your message, or are moved by your message, are the ones destined to benefit. Don’t worry about the rest who don’t (in other words, don’t make it a problem—don’t let it bother you). Maybe your message wasn’t meant for them. Or the time is not right for them to receive it. Maybe they’ll be persuaded in the future when their circumstances change and they remember your speech. Who knows? Whatever the case may be, simply accept the outcome and move on.

Basically, you ought to be like a good teacher who tells his/her students what they need to hear, and not what they want to hear...and you would do it with the understanding that they’re free to walk away or reject your argument if that is what they choose to do.

12. Trust in the power of your mind (more specifically, your subconscious mind). Trust that it will deliver the right words at the right time.

Reinforce in your being the belief that your mind will deliver the right words at the right time. Meaning, if you are speaking without the aid of a written script (where something is read verbatim or word-for-word), like some do (others, like myself, prefer to just write down key words in logical progression to serve as reminders), avoid worrying about what you’re going to say next. If you know your topic really well, your subconscious mind will produce the right words at the right time (especially if you went over the content of your speech many times prior to your presentation)...if you will only allow it...if you will only trust it. But you must be in the right state for this to work effectively.

You must be in a relaxed, confident, and “trusting” state. A state where you “just know” that the words will come. (Of course, it helps greatly if you are speaking about a topic you are passionate about.)

You must trust in your mind’s ability to deliver. The more you do this, the more your mind will automatically deliver when you need it to. For some reason, the subconscious mind likes to be trusted. The more you trust it, the more it wants to be worthy of that trust. In other words, it will find ways to justify that you are right in trusting it. And if you don’t trust it, it will also find ways to justify that you are right in not trusting it.

Actually, there may be times when your mind just goes blank (for a second or two), for some reason, and you don’t remember the word/term you wish to use in a sentence. In a case like that, just stay relaxed and wait patiently. Just wait in a relaxed and expectant state...and eventually, the right word will come. (Whatever you do, avoid panicking. The more anxious you are, the harder it will be to remember the right word. Remember, the less you trust your mind, the less it will want to deliver.)

Besides, if you stay calm, most of the time, people won’t even notice that there’s something wrong. They’ll think it was just a normal pause, or you did it on purpose for effect. In other words, the flow of your presentation will move smoothly without interruption. And you will continue to be perceived as being “in charge” of the situation.

Remember this: The more you trust your mind, the more it will deliver. And the more your mind delivers, the more confident you will become in speaking situations.

13. Decide in advance to tell the truth no matter what.

Of course, this is nothing new. You already know that when you are telling the truth, you are much more relaxed or at ease. Why? Simply because what you say and what you believe to be true are in harmony. There’s no conflict within.

Whereas, when you are lying, there’s that voice inside of you saying, “What if they can see through me and sense my dishonesty?” Or, “What if I’m ever found out?” (In fact, just “planning” to lie already makes one anxious or tense.) In other words, it puts you in a disempowering or unresourceful state. And it negatively affects your performance. Worse, you will lose your audience’s trust once they sense you are not telling the truth (they will somehow sense it, subconsciously). And when that happens, it will be all over. Once your credibility goes, everything else goes.

14. Trust that you can handle whatever comes your way.

This must be one of the biggest and most important lessons I’ve learned about effective speaking/presenting. In fact, every great speaker/presenter does it, whether consciously or unconsciously.

If you’ll only observe the most relaxed and effective speakers/presenters (ex. TV personalities or talk show hosts), you will find that they have this quality. They’ll say or do the wrong things at times and they’ll just simply laugh it off or make a joke out of it. And then they’ll proceed as if nothing happened. They are able to consistently do this because they have simply learned to trust in their ability to handle whatever comes their way.

By mastering this principle, you can go very far as a speaker/presenter. In fact, if you happen to come short in other areas, but you have this quality, you’ll be able to face any unexpected event with a sense of calm (while others would panic in the same situation). In fact, this does not only apply to speaking/presenting, but to life as a whole.

Basically, you are saying to yourself, “No matter what happens, I know I can handle it. If I make a mistake, so what? It’s not the end of the world. Besides, I permit myself to make mistakes. I’ll learn from this experience and move on.” (Remember: The meaning of any event is the meaning you give it. Also, nothing has any power over you except the power you give it.)

Or you might say, “Whatever happens, I’ll handle it. I’ve done it many times before, so I can do it again.” (There must be numerous events in your life, in the past, wherein things did not turn out exactly as you expected—and I’m sure many of them were even events that made you feel devastated, hopeless, and helpless...as if it were the end of the world—but still you were able to eventually handle them.)

Again, master this principle...and you will go very far as a speaker/presenter. Above all, you will have the strength and courage to tackle anything in life.

(An excellent book that covers this principle more thoroughly is Susan Jeffers' best-selling book, Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. I highly suggest that you go find a way to access it and read it. You’ll benefit in many ways.)

15. Apply the “I don’t care” or “It doesn’t matter” attitude. (Or, the “So what?” or “Whatever happens, happens” attitude.)

This is another very powerful principle (and it’s closely related to the previous one—Principle #14). In fact, don’t take my word for it. Just like all the other principles in this article, apply it and discover just how powerful it is. And once you’ve benefited from it, use it more often. (Again, this principle applies to many situations in life and not only to speaking.)

Does this mean that you don’t actually care about the outcome? Of course not. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be wasting your time taking the steps leading to that desired outcome in the first place.

Just like what we’ve covered in some of the previous sections (ex. Principle #12), it is the “state” that results from these principles that you are after.

Basically, once you’ve determined your desired outcome, let it go. Surrender it completely to God. Think of something else. You have no control over the outcome anyway, so just work on what you can control.

In other words, if there are any thoughts that are trying to scare or hinder you, by giving you negative pictures of what could happen, because of your decision to pursue a certain idea, just say, “I don’t care.” (And “mean it”—like you really don’t care.) Then immediately change focus.

What you are basically saying is, “I don’t care if that happens. I can handle it.”

Or, “It doesn’t matter. I can handle it.”

Or, “So what? I’ll handle it anyway.”

Or, “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll handle it anyway.”

When you do this, you are basically telling the negative voice inside you, “Leave me alone. Stop wasting my time. You won’t succeed in convincing me to stop pursuing what I want because I'm already certain that no matter what happens, I'll be able to handle it.” Basically, you are refusing to give the negative voice any power over you.

Again, your main goal in all of this is to access an empowering state so you can be highly effective in the present moment. And this mental attitude or mindset will help you access that type of state.

16. Speak as often as possible (while applying all the principles you’ve learned in this article).

Consciously seek ways to speak in front of others. Take advantage of every opportunity to express your thoughts to others (whether it be one-on-one or a group setting)—while applying the principles you’ve learned—and your confidence level will skyrocket. In fact, as time goes by, speaking in front of others will feel more and more comfortable and natural to you.

With constant practice, you gain more mastery. And as you gain more mastery, your confidence grows.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

More Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Highly Effective Speaker/Presenter

2005-02-16T12:07:00.012-08:00

By Ron Balagot

[NOTE: This article is meant to serve as a “Bonus” for the article, How To Be Confident And Relaxed When Speaking Before A Group Of People (Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Highly Effective Speaker/Presenter). To access that particular article, just go to: http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com ]

1. Allow your arms to move freely and naturally. (Avoid pre-planning your gestures.)

In other words, avoid “consciously” saying inside, “I will move my arms this way now. That’s what’s appropriate at this point.” Just allow your arms to move or gesture naturally. Avoid being conscious of them.

You can sometimes tell when your gestures don’t look natural to others. Your listeners will look at your arms or hands in a certain way (since their subconscious mind will detect something wrong or unnatural)—and sometimes, they won’t even know that they are doing it. In other words, they will have been distracted unnecessarily for a few seconds.

When you just allow your arms to flow freely and naturally as you speak, or as you are making a point, people's eyes will be glued to your eyes or facial area...and not to your arms or hands.

2. As much as possible, avoid reading your speech verbatim (or word-for-word).

Instead, write down key words (the main points of your speech) to serve as reminders, in the order in which you will present them. Then just surrender to the moment. Trust your mind to deliver. Your speech will sound more natural, just like a typical conversation.

3. Ask with extreme confidence.

When asking the audience to do something (ex. asking the audience to stand up, raise their hands, etc.), do it with extreme confidence...and not in a weak or embarrassed sort of way. Do it in such a way that they feel you expect them to follow...and that it is only right for them to do so.

For example, when you ask the audience to give the next speaker a warm welcome, be the first to clap your hands. The audience will naturally follow because they perceive you as being in charge. Besides, you’re only asking something that’s appropriate and reasonable.

4. Move in such a way that you don’t appear rushed or anxious.

Take your time when you move. Avoid appearing rushed. (When something falls on the floor, slowly and naturally pick it up as if it were not a big deal. Or if something goes wrong with the sound system or lighting, don’t panic. Deal with it in a calm and professional manner. In other words, don’t allow anything to distract you and negatively affect your composure.)

Remember, what matters most is how you handle yourself under pressure (or when something unexpected happens). When you remain composed no matter what happens, your audience will perceive you as a leader worthy of their respect. By your ability to stay in charge of situations, they will be even more receptive to what you have to say.

I mean, how would you feel if something unexpected happened, and the first to panic was the speaker? For example, if he was the first to run out the door as soon as the building’s fire alarm went off? (What’s worse is if it was only a false alarm.) Would you still respect the speaker, or have the same degree of respect for the speaker, although prior to his panicking, he was interesting (and composed)? Of course not.

Or if a mouse came out of nowhere and the speaker jumped up on a nearby table, screaming, “Get it out of here! Get it out of here!”...would you still have the same positive feelings for the speaker the way you did just prior to that shameful incident? Of course not.

People will almost always forgive you if you remain calm no matter what happens. And they are turned off by those who panic (or lose their composure) at the first sign of trouble/danger. People simply want to stay comfortable, and they usually draw that “sense of being comfortable” from others—especially, from whoever’s in charge at the moment. Being comfortable is contagious. Staying composed/relaxed is contagious.

5. Speak at a natural rate of speed.

Speak the way you would in conversation (assuming you don’t speak at a very fast rate in conversation). Sometimes, speaking too fast as a whole can make you appear nervous. It’s as if you want to get it over with as quickly as possible and just want to get out of there. Besides, speaking too fast may affect your audience’s ability to understand you. Your message may not come across clearly.

Of course, there are those who speak fast because they’re all pumped up...full of energy and enthusiasm. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m sure you can tell the difference between a very enthusiastic type of speaker and one who speaks fast because of nervousness.

6. Walk at a natural pace...not hurried.

The key word here is natural. What is natural, or what feels natural, to you. Do this and you will appear cool, calm, and collected.

Of course, this will depend on the energy level you wish to bring across to your audience. A lot of motivational speakers come out running onto the stage before speaking...and they may do this to show how motivated and energized they are. And that’s okay if that is what you are used to doing, and it feels natural to you...and if that’s what’s appropriate for the type of speech or talk you’ll be making. (The key is: It must feel natural to you. Because if it does, it will look natural to others. It won’t look forced or planned.)

7. Make your speeches/presentations informal and conversational.

Avoid making your speech so “formal” sounding (which tends to end up sounding boring). Speak like you would in conversation. Just relax. Let go. Be comfortable. Then your listeners will be comfortable, too.

8. Stand upright with chest high.

Your stance/posture affects your physiological state, therefore stand the way you would if you were extremely confident. Don’t slouch (unless, of course, you are experiencing back problems—or you have a bad back condition), because it’s hard to feel on top of things when you do.

Besides, good posture helps in exuding an air of confidence.

9. Relax any tension in your body.

If you notice any tension in your body, whether it be before or during a speech, immediately relax those muscles. If you feel your jaw or neck starting to tense up, or you feel your shoulders doing the same, consciously relax them.

Simply think “relax.” Focus on those tense areas, then think “relax.” Unnecessary tension in the body (or more use of energy than is required) will obviously not be helpful to your performance.

10. Learn to laugh at your mistakes (when you do make them).

Since you’ll most likely laugh at them someday, anyway...laugh at them now. Avoid taking yourself too seriously. Learn from your mistakes, then move on.

Stand-up comedians are excellent examples. When they make a mistake, they would just incorporate the mistake into their performance as if it were also one of their prepared jokes (or part of their act). And the audience members would laugh not knowing the comedian actually made a mistake.

Article Reprint Information:

If you wish to reprint this article in your ezine or newsletter, or on your website, click here (or go to http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com) to go to the article page where you'll find the article with a resource box at the bottom. (Please make sure that the resource box is always included at the bottom of the article.)

Inspiring Confidence & Courage Quotes (167 Quotes)

2005-01-24T02:50:00.004-08:00

Find yourself, for courage and confidence are as
easy as breathing to the person who really knows
who he is.

~ Vernon Howard ~

Strength in numbers is the delight of the timid.
The valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

DO RIGHT

Do right even if tempted to do wrong.
Do right even if it means losing a friend.
Do right even if you don’t understand
why you should.
Do right even if you fear the consequences.
Do right even if you don’t want to.
Do right even if it feels strange.
Do right even if it arouses criticism.
Do right even if it’s you against the world.

~ Vernon Howard ~

Stand alone. Be true. Then, the people in your life will be the right ones for you.

~ Vernon Howard ~

Speak loud and clear, with head up. This will tell our emotions and mind not to be a mutterer and not to be afraid of the consequences.

~ Vernon Howard ~

A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.

~ Vernon Howard ~

Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.

~ William Shakespeare ~

It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep may be.

~ Virgil ~

True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.

~ François de la Rochefoucauld ~

Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

~ Thomas Jefferson ~

DARE GREATLY…

It is not the critic who counts; nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end, the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

~ Theodore Roosevelt ~

“Come to the edge.”
“We can't. We're afraid.”
“Come to the edge.”
“We can't. We will fall!”
“Come to the edge.”
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.

~ Guillaume Apollinaire ~

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

~ I John 4:18 (Good News Bible) ~

A Psalm of David

The LORD is my light
and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the
stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and
my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

~ Psalm 27:1-3 (Bible, NIV) ~

When his duty is to face danger and he flees, it is cowardice.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity.

~ Source Unknown ~

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.

~ Sir Cecil Beaton ~

Confidence awakens confidence.

~ Friedrich Von Sachsen ~

Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.

~ Stan Smith ~

True courage is cool and calm. The bravest of men have the least of a brutal bullying insolence, and in the very time of danger are found the most serene and free. Rage, we know, can make a coward forget himself and fight. But what is done in fury or anger can never be placed to the account of courage.

~ Shaftesbury ~

The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make you feel inferior.

~ D.A. Battista ~

Manliness consists not in bluff, bravado or lordliness. It consists in daring to do the right and facing consequences whether it is in matters social, political or other. It consists in deeds, not in words.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Act boldly and unseen forces will come to your aid.

~ Dorothea Brande ~

Be larger than your task.

~ Orison Swett Marden ~

Fear has its use but cowardice has none.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Courage is the first of human qualities
because it is the quality which guarantees all others.

~ Winston Churchill ~

Most men have more courage than even they themselves think they have.

~ Lord Greville ~

All our dreams can come true,
if we have the courage to pursue
them.

~ Walt Disney ~

Courage is poorly housed that dwells in numbers; the lion never counts the herd that are about him, nor weighs how many flocks he has to scatter.

~ Aaron Hill ~

The real acid test of courage
is to be just your honest self when everybody
is trying to be like somebody else.

~ Andrew Jensen ~

I decided once and for all
that I was going to make it or die.

~ John Johnson ~

Is he alone who has courage on his right hand
and faith on his left hand?

~ Charles A. Lindbergh ~

The brave don't live forever, but the cautious don't live at all. Here's to the brave!

~ Timothy Luce ~

Stand upright, speak thy thoughts,
declare the truth thou
hast, that all may share;
Be bold, proclaim it everywhere:
They only live who dare.

~ Lewis Morris ~

We are made strong by the difficulties we face, not by those we evade.

~ Source Unknown ~

It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

~ Emiliano Zapata ~

Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes!

~ Sir J. M. Barrie ~

Whether you be man or woman, you will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.

~ James Lane Allen ~

The better part of valour is discretion.
(reckless courage is often self-defeating)

~ Henry IV ~

'Tis better to have fought and lost, than never to have fought at all.

~ Peschiera ~

RISK TO BE FREE

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk
exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before
the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying. To hope
is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure.
But risks need to be taken because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does
nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid
suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot
learn, feel, change, grow, love...live.
Chained by his beliefs, he is a slave; he has
forfeited freedom. Only a person who risks is free.

~ Author Unknown ~

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

~ Lao-Tzu ~

Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!

~ Thomas A. Edison ~

Nothing will resist the human will that will stake even its existence on its stated purpose.

~ Benjamin Disraeli ~

If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~

When you have faith and confidence in yourself, you will do more and attempt to do more.

~ Jack M. Zufelt ~

It’s better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize at length and be right too late.

~ Marilyn Moats Kennedy (in Across the Board) ~

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

~ Anonymous ~

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke ~

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

You will never be the person you can be if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of your life.

~ James G. Bilkey ~

A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

~ English Proverb ~

Initiative consists of doing the right thing without being told.

~ Irving Mack ~

Undertake something that is difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

~ Ronald E. Osborn ~

Discoveries are often made by not following instructions; by going off the main road; by trying the untried.

~ Frank Tyger ~

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.

~ Leon J. Suenens ~

Like a boxer in a title fight, you have
to walk in that ring alone.

~ Billy Joel ~

When we stand tall in defense of our principles, the tides of adversity eventually subside.

~ Anonymous ~

A ship in the harbor is safe...but that’s not what ships were made for.

~ Anonymous ~

Without heroes, we are all plain people and don't know how far we can go.

~ Bernard Malamud ~

The world makes way for the man who knows where he’s going.

~ Ralph W. Emerson ~

Men of principle have courage.

~ Chinese Proverb ~

Each time we ask more of ourselves than we think we are able to give, and then manage to give it, we grow.

~ Bert Decker ~

A man must consider what a rich realm
he abdicates when he becomes a conformist.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.

~ Thucydides ~

Strength and courage aren't always measured in medals and victories. They are measured in the struggles they overcome. The strongest people aren't always the people who win, but the people who don't give up when they lose.

~ Ashley Hodgeson ~

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

~ Alan Cohen ~

Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience.

~ James Freeman Clarke ~

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.

~ Soren Kierkegaard ~

Courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other.

~ Samuel Johnson ~

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.

~ Mary Anne Radmacher ~

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.

~ C.S. Lewis ~

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.

~ Raymond Lindquist ~

Start doing the things you think should be done, and start being what you think society should become. Do you believe in free speech? Then speak freely. Do you love the truth? Then tell it. Do you believe in an open society? Then act in the open. Do you believe in a decent and humane society? Then behave decently and humanely.

~ Adam Michnik ~

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

~ G.K. Chesterton ~

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Have the courage to live. Anyone can die.

~ Robert Cody ~

Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing it and conquering it.

~ Jean Paul Richter ~

This country was not built by men who relied on somebody else to take care of them. It was built by men who relied on themselves, who dared to shape their own lives, who had enough courage to blaze new trails – enough confidence in themselves to take the necessary risks.

~ J. Ollie Edmunds ~

It takes courage to push yourself to places
that you have never been before...to test
your limits...to break through barriers.
And the day came when the risk it took to
remain tight inside the bud was more painful
than the risk it took to blossom.

~ Anais Nin ~

If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

~ Unknown ~

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

~ Andre Gide ~

Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

~ Charles Lindbergh ~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain ~

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

~ Seneca ~

It is any day better to stand erect with a broken and bandaged head then to crawl on one's belly, in order to be able to save one's head.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

~ Confucius ~

A brave arm makes a short sword long.

~ Author Unknown ~

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.

~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~

To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.

~ Theodore H. White ~

All serious daring starts from within.

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe ~

One man with courage makes a majority.

~ Andrew Jackson ~

'Tis better to have fought and lost, Than never to have fought at all.

~ Peschiera ~

Courage is to say what you believe in your heart, without fearing the consequences.

~ Anonymous ~

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.

~ Margaret Chase Smith ~

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

If you want to take your mission in life
to the next level, if you're stuck and you
don't know how to rise, don't look outside
yourself. Look inside. Don't let your fears
keep you mired in the crowd. Abolish your fears
and raise your commitment level to the point
of no return, and I guarantee you that the
Champion Within will burst forth to propel you
toward victory.

~ Bruce Jenner ~

He that is good for making excuses, is seldom good for anything else.

~ Benjamin Franklin ~

There is no such thing as a good excuse.

~ John P. Grier ~

The great man is he that does not lose
his child’s-heart.

~ Mencius ~

He who fears something gives it power over him.

~ Moorish Proverb ~

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.

~ Robert Francis Kennedy ~

From caring comes courage.

~ Lao-Tzu ~

Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.

~ Vince Lombardi ~

Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but morning comes. Keep hope alive.

~ Jesse Jackson ~

I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.

~ Anna Freud ~

I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down.

~ Allen H. Neuharth ~

The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.

~ Dale Carnegie ~

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

~ William J. H. Boetcker ~

He who is brave is free.

~ Seneca ~

As fear is close companion to falsehood,
so truth follows fearlessness.

~ Jawaharlar Nehru ~

A man of courage is also full of faith.

~ Marcus Tullius Cicero ~

Deep faith eliminates fear.

~ Lech Walesa ~

Like dark clouds that cover the sun’s light
from shining through, so it is with fears that
cover the natural light of your inner courage
from shining through.

~ Gabriel Daniels ~

Act as if it were impossible to fail.

~ Dorothea Brande ~

Growth demands a temporary surrender
of security.

~ Gail Sheehy ~

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.

~ Napoleon I ~

Self-confidence is the first requisite to
great undertakings.

~ Samuel Johnson ~

As is our confidence, so is our capacity.

~ William Hazlitt ~

Last, but by no means least, courage—moral courage, the courage of one's convictions, the courage to see things through. The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle—the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your conscience on the other.

~ Douglas MacArthur ~

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.

~ Orison Swett Marden ~

You block your dream when you allow your fear
to grow bigger than your faith.

~ Mary Manin Morrissey ~

Courage and perseverance have a
magical talisman, before which difficulties
disappear and obstacles vanish into thin air.

~ John Quincy Adams ~

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

~ Psalm 118:6-7 (Bible, NIV) ~

Courage is not merely a virtue; it is the virtue.
Without it, there are no other virtues.

~ William Temple, Sr. ~

Who dares nothing need hope for nothing.

~ Friedrich Johann von Schiller ~

Refuse to compromise what you know to be right
for anyone or anything.

~ Brian Tracy ~

If I am not for myself, who will be?

~ Pirke Avoth ~

It's lack of faith that makes people afraid
of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself.

~ Muhammad Ali ~

Every time you meet a situation, though you think
at the time it is an impossibility and you go
through the tortures of the damned, once you have
met it and lived through it, you find that forever
after you are freer than you were before.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.

~ Baltasar Gracián ~

The ultimate measure of a man is not where
he stands in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy.

~ Martin Luther King Jr. ~

Do what you feel in your heart to be right—
for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be
damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Courage is the virtue which champions
the cause of the right.

~ Cicero ~

There is a time to take counsel of your fears,
and there is a time to never listen to any fear.

~ George S. Patton ~

It is the character of a brave and resolute man
not to be ruffled by adversity and not to
desert his post.

~ Cicero ~

It took me a long time not to judge myself
through someone else's eyes.

~ Sally Field ~

You have to expect things of yourself
before you can do them.

~ Michael Jordan ~

And the trouble is if you don't risk anything,
you risk even more.

~ Erica Jong ~

Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit.
We become just by doing just acts, temperate by
doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

~ Aristotle ~

It is impossible to win the race unless you
venture to run, impossible to win the victory
unless you dare to battle.

~ Richard M. DeVos ~

Courage conquers all things: it even
gives strength to the body.

~ Ovid ~

Live as brave men and face adversity
with stout hearts.

~ Horace ~

Have courage for the great sorrows of life,
and patience for the small ones.
When you have laboriously accomplished
your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace.
God is awake.

~ Victor Hugo ~

It is a blessed thing that in every age
someone has had the individuality
enough and courage enough to stand
by his own convictions.

~ Robert Green Ingersoll ~

It's better to be a lion for a day,
than a sheep all your life.

~ Sister Elizabeth Kenny ~

If I were asked to give what I consider
the single most useful bit of advice
for all humanity it would be this:
Expect trouble as an inevitable part of
life and when it comes, hold your
head high, look it squarely in the eye
and say, "I will be bigger than you.
You cannot defeat me."

~ Ann Landers ~

Courage is a special kind of knowledge:
the knowledge of how to fear what ought
to be feared and how not to fear what
ought not to be feared.

~ David Ben-Gurion ~

It requires more courage to suffer
than to die.

~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~

Most of us have far more courage than
we ever dreamed we possessed.

~ Dale Carnegie ~

There's no substitute for guts.

~ Bear Bryant ~

The only thing we have to fear
is fear itself.

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt ~

Facing it, always facing it, that's the
way to get through. Face it.

~ Joseph Conrad ~

This is no time for ease and comfort.
It is the time to dare and endure.

~ Winston Churchill ~

When a resolute young fellow steps up to
the great bully, the world, and takes him
boldly by the beard, he is often surprised
to find it comes off in his hand, and that it
was only tied on to scare away
the timid adventurers.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Courage is the capacity to conduct oneself
with restraint in times of prosperity and
with courage and tenacity when
things do not go well.

~ James V. Forrestal ~

True courage is like a kite;
a contrary wind raises it higher.

~ John Petit-Senn ~

The pressure of adversity does not affect
the mind of the brave man. It is more
powerful than external circumstances.

~ Seneca ~

Have the courage to say no. Have the
courage to face the truth. Do the right thing
because it is right. These are the magic keys
to living your life with integrity.

~ W. Clement Stone ~

Follow the path of the unsafe,
independent thinker. Expose your ideas
to the danger of controversy.
Speak your mind and fear less the
label of "crackpot" than the
stigma of conformity.

~ Thomas J. Watson ~

Do the thing you fear, and the death
of fear is certain.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Fears are educated into us, and can,
if we wish, be educated out.

~ Karl Augustus Menninger ~

The enemy is fear. We think it is hate;
but, it is fear.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.

~ Japanese Proverb ~

I think it's the mark of a great player to be
confident in tough situations.

~ John McEnroe ~

The history of the world is full of men
who rose to leadership, by sheer force
of self-confidence, bravery and tenacity.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Run Freely (A Lesson About Courage)

2005-01-23T21:37:00.007-08:00

By Ron Balagot

One afternoon, many years ago, I went to pick up my mother from work. I got there a little early so I parked the car by the curb, across the street from where she worked, and waited for her.

As I looked outside the car window to my right, there was a small park where I saw a little boy, around one and a half to two years old, running freely on the grass as his mother watched from a short distance. The boy had a big smile on his face as if he had just been set free from some sort of prison. The boy would then fall to the grass, get up, and without hesitation or without looking back at his mother, run as fast as he could, again, still with a smile on his face, as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, I thought to myself, “Why aren’t most adults this way?” Most adults, when they fall down (figuratively speaking), make a big deal out of it and don’t even make a second attempt. They would be so embarrassed that someone saw them fall that they would not try again. Or, because they fell, they would justify to themselves that they’re just not cut out for it. They would end up too afraid to attempt again for fear of failure.

However, with kids (especially at an early age), when they fall down, they don’t perceive their falling down as failure, but instead, they treat it as a learning experience (as just another result/outcome). They feel compelled to try and try again until they succeed. (The answer must be...they have not associated “falling down” with the word “failure” yet. Thus, they don’t know how to feel the state which accompanies failure. As a result, they are not disempowered in any way. Plus, they probably think to themselves that it’s perfectly okay to fall down, that it’s not wrong to do so. In other words, they give themselves permission to make mistakes, subconsciously. Thus, they remain empowered.)

While I was touched by the boy’s persistence, I was equally touched by the manner in which he ran. With each attempt, he looked so confident...so natural. No signs of fear, nervousness, or of being discouraged—as if he didn’t give a care about the world around him. His only aim was to run freely and to do it as effectively as he could. He was just being a child—just being himself—being completely in the moment. He was not looking for approval or was not worrying about whether someone was watching or not. He wasn’t concerned about being judged. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that maybe someone would see him fall (as there were others in the park aside from him and his mother) and that it would be embarrassing if he did fall. No, all that mattered to him was to accomplish the task or activity at hand to the best of his ability. To run...and to feel the experience of running fully and freely.

I learned a lot from that observation and experience, and have successfully brought that lesson with me in my many pursuits in life. Since then, I’ve always believed that in each of us is a little child with absolute courage. A child that has the ability to run freely (or express himself fully and freely)—without a care for anything external—without a care for what people would say if he/she experiences a fall.

I believe that that courageous part of us, that courageous child within us all, will always be with us for as long as we live. We only need to allow it to emerge more fully. We only need to once again connect with that child within us—and give that child permission to run freely, just like that boy in the park.

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