Episode 134: Confidence Hacks for Back to School

Have you ever walked into school on the first day and felt tightness in your shoulders or a pit in your stomach…you feel like everyone else knows what they are doing, everyone else has it together, everyone else has a friend…I am the only one feeling nervous, or no one even knows I exists…

RUPI KAUR once said, “the irony of loneliness is we all feel it together.” 

I promise you whatever you felt the first day or the tenth day of school…You’re not alone—there are hundreds of other teens feeling the exact same way.  Everyone feels insecure to a varying degree when we are put in new places and new beginnings. 

Connecting with others and being confident in new situations has always been one of my super powers. My natural propensity to love everyone and innate sincere curiosity to learn more about others’ stories makes it easier for me to naturally help others feel at ease, break down social barriers and make friends with just about anyone.  As I have seen people I love dearly struggle with doing these things I have comtemplated on what I do naturally that helps me feel self assured regardless of what situation I am facing.  And today I am going to share 6 super simple confidence hacks with you so even if you do not possess my same natural inclination to connect with others-you can still feel like you belong at school, work, church, on the team, at a party or wherever you find yourself.  

I want you to feel empowered and even maybe a little excited to make connections at school.  “There’s a quote I love that says: ‘Confidence isn’t walking into a room thinking you’re better than everyone. It’s walking in and not having to compare yourself to anyone at all.’ 

Confidence doesn’t mean you are the loudest person in the room or the person who knows the most people at school. It’s about showing up as yourself, and having the courage to connect in a way that is honoring to your personality.  

I want you to feel like you belong. I want you to feeling like you are enough. That’s the kind of confidence I want to help you feel as you start this new school year.  These are 6 tools I know will help you get there! 

 The 6 S’s of Confidence.

1. Start the night before.

2. Shoulders-roll them back.

3. Smile - a slight turn of the corners of the mouth is all it takes. 

4. eStablish common ground

a. Notice small details.

b. Use the environment. 

c. Compliment someone.

d. Ask open ended questions. Get someone to talk about something they love.

5. Small steps - courage is taking it one step at a time. Check out Episode 123!!   https://www.buzzsprout.com/1934961/episodes/16432087

6. Self talk-be mindful how you speak to yourself.  If positive self talk eludes you; try neutral self talk...anything is more useful than negative self talk!!!