resources (know-how, expertise, adaptability, etc.) Time required: 5 minutes.

Create a short list of things that regularly hurt your confidence. This might include negative self-talk, a messy workspace, sloppy physical appearance, or an absence of personal boundaries. Everyone is different, and therefore your list will be unique to you. Next, write down actions you can take to reduce the effect of

Seeking approval from others hurts your self-confidence. It trains your mind to distrust your motivations and abilities. Instead, your mind learns to refrain from taking action until it receives permission to do so from someone else. Over time, you become wary and

Reflect on your feelings, both positive and negative. Acknowledge them. Scrutinize negative emotions the moment they surface. Ask yourself, “Are these emotions reasonable?” If not, reflect on how these emotions hold you back. Meditate for five minutes a day. Observe your emotions without judgement. Mornings are best, but any time is fine. Confront

Write down five things you learned today. Examples might include learning a new word or phrase, how to cook a new dish, or how to play a new song on your guitar. This exercise emphasizes the fact that you’re always growing and improving in some way. Time required: 5 minutes.

In fact, she might be pleased with her circumstance because it gives her the opportunity.

“Secret” #2: Take small steps forward. Again, this is just like building any other habit. Don’t aspire to become hyper-disciplined overnight. Instead, plan to take small, purposeful, consistent actions over the course of weeks (and perhaps months). And then, celebrate the modest victories along the

Write down 10 examples of negative self-talk you’ve experience during the past week. They can be small or big, mildly annoying or utterly abusive. For example, has your inner critic told you any of the following? “You’ll never lose weight.” “Nobody likes you.” “You look awful in that outfit.” “Your friend Mark ignored your text. He’s angry with

“Secret” #5: Commit to doing nothing but the task in front of you. Novelist Raymond Chandler once explained his writing discipline to his friend Alex Harris. Chandler wrote in a letter, “Either write or nothing…. I find it works. Two very simple rules, a: you don’t have to write. b: you can’t do anything else.” This perspective was a remarkable