Self confidence

Sep 06, 2021

Confidence is an essential ingredient for achieving success and fulfillment in life. Whether it's speaking up at work, changing career paths, or pursuing a lifelong dream, confidence is what helps us take risks and overcome obstacles. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with this elusive quality. We may feel insecure, doubt ourselves, or compare ourselves unfavorably to others. The good news is that confidence can be built, and one of the most effective ways to do so is through positivity.

 

  1. Practice positive self-talk: The way we talk to ourselves can have a profound impact on our confidence. If you constantly tell yourself that you're not good enough, not smart enough, or not capable enough, then you'll start to believe it. The key is to replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Instead of saying "I can't do this," try "I'm capable of figuring this out." Instead of "I'm not good enough," try "I'm doing my best, and that's enough." It may feel awkward at first, but with practice, positive self-talk can become a habit that boosts your confidence and self-esteem.Building your confidence when job hunting can be a daunting and difficult task. One of the best ways to increase your confidence is to surround yourself with positivity. When you're focusing on a goal like finding a new job, it's important to ensure that you're constantly inspired and motivated. Positive feedback and reinforcement from friends, family, and colleagues will help keep you in high spirits while searching for the perfect job. Exposing yourself to positive quotes, stories, advice, and mentors, will also go a long way in helping to build your confidence before submitting applications or attending interviews. Focusing on what you know you can do well instead of dwelling on the negatives will make all the difference during this journey of self discovery.

 

  1. Focus on your strengths: Instead of fixating on your weaknesses and flaws, make a conscious effort to focus on your strengths. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What positive feedback have you received from others? When you focus on your strengths, you'll feel more confident and capable of tackling challenges. Plus, you'll be more likely to pursue activities and goals that align with your strengths, which can lead to greater fulfillment and happiness.If you are part of a job search, the confidence you have in yourself will be key to your success. To ensure that your interactions with potential employers show that you believe in yourself and your abilities, it is important for you to have a new self-image before beginning the search. It's not always easy to feel confident in ourselves when we are struggling, so try taking some small steps. Make a list of all of your accomplishments, find an area of strength that you can tap into during interviews, or practice self-affirmations before leaving for an interview. Building up your self-esteem can help create an air of assurance and security that will be sure to impress future employers and help land the perfect job.

 

  1. Surround yourself with positivity: The people we surround ourselves with can either lift us up or bring us down. If you're constantly around negative, critical, or unsupportive people, it's easy to feel demoralized and unworthy. On the other hand, if you surround yourself with positive, encouraging, and uplifting people, you'll feel more energized and empowered. Make a conscious effort to spend time with people who inspire and uplift you, whether that's friends, family, colleagues, or mentors.When it comes to problem solving during a job search, having a positive attitude and self-confidence is key. A negative internal dialogue can be the source of many obstacles related to tackling job interview questions or networking with industry professionals. It’s essential for job seekers to shift their inner monologue from negatives thoughts to positive ones in order to optimize their tactic and remain confident about their goal. This can help them break through barriers standing in the way of success and promote constructive thinking that might open up new opportunities. An attitude of positivity increases the chances of finding a great career fit while simultaneously encouraging creative problem-solving abilities—attributes that employers look for in potential candidates.



  1. Take care of yourself: Confidence is not just about what you say or do, but also about how you feel. If you're constantly exhausted, stressed, or overworked, it's hard to feel confident and optimistic. Make sure you're taking care of your physical and emotional needs, whether that means getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, or taking time to relax and recharge. When you feel good in your body and mind, you'll be more likely to radiate positivity and confidence.

 

  1. Practice gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful tool for cultivating positivity and confidence. When you focus on what you're thankful for, you'll naturally feel more positive and optimistic. Make a habit of practicing gratitude every day, whether that's by keeping a gratitude journal, setting aside time to reflect on your blessings, or expressing gratitude to others. When you're consistently grateful, you'll feel more confident in your ability to handle challenges and overcome obstacles.



Building confidence is a lifelong journey, but with the power of positivity, it's an achievable one. By practicing positive self-talk, focusing on your strengths, surrounding yourself with positivity, taking care of yourself, and practicing gratitude, you can cultivate a deeper sense of confidence and self-worth. Remember, confidence is not about being perfect or fearless, but about believing in yourself and your ability to grow and learn. So take these steps, and watch yourself soar.The job search process is a roller-coaster, and it can be difficult at certain times to stay on track. However, one of the most important keys to finding the perfect job is confidence. Taking action by making life changes when needed can help you regain this confidence and get back on that path to overcoming the job search challenge. With proper effort, you can make sure those critical moments of doubt won’t stop you from reaching your career goals. Finding a new job may be tough, but taking steps to make positive changes in your life can give you the strength and courage required to tackle any obstacle that comes your way.

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Sudha Bakhshi

For me, Jawaria has been a game changer in seeking non-clinical employment. I’ve been working with her for a period of time that was divided into a number of phases.

This first part was to undergo an inventory of professional traits to better understand my strengths and weaknesses. In general I am skeptical of organizational personality assessments and feel that they tend to overgeneralize and group people based on superficial assumptions. However, I decided to commit to this approach in order to obtain a more objective view of how my interactions may result in certain perceptions in a work environment. This helped me to focus on my motivations and how I wanted to approach this stage of my career.

In the second phase, Jawaria helped me to create a coherent narrative that was reflected in a revision of my resume. She was very supportive as I overcame my hesitation to assert myself in more contemporary formats, such as LinkedIn. I felt that the conversations that we had were essential to feeling more confident as I moved forward to identifying positions that were of interest, researching the employers and writing customized cover letters to accentuate skill sets.

The third phase navigated the strange and often confusing experience of the interview process. Jawaria helped me to just accept the black box that is HR for many corporations and to then move forward to interviews with medical directors and company executives. She was present after every interview, to challenge and also to validate my perceptions of what transpired.

I have many supportive friends in medicine and other professions that offered insight and encouragement in my job hunt. But I feel that the investment in the professional coaching Jawaria offered was essential to creating the mindset necessary to approach and feel comfortable competing in the current non-clinical environment.

In the end, yes, I was able to get an offer for a job that I feel will be very interesting and challenging. And I am very grateful for Jawaria’s assistance in helping me in this process. She was very willing to share her own experiences as a physician and this was enormously meaningful.

There is a saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will come”. This definitely applied to me and I felt that what she said resonated, even from our first conversation. As physicians, we invest into our profession, but there is something to be said for investing in ourselves as well. I would encourage my fellow doctors to consider how important professional mentorship can be and how often it can feel inaccessible. But if you are ready, then Jawaria can be the catalyst to empower physicians to feel energized about their career choices.