9. Do not be too self-conscious about your body language. When you start feeling confident, you will naturally start to improve your posture. 10. Hold your gaze: Now that you have gotten the eye contact thing down, it is time to put it into practice. Did you know that other people are just as shy about eye contact as you are? Try this out: make eye contact with someone and see who lasts longer. Do they avert their gaze before you? See?! They are uncomfortable too! I am not advocating staring someone down. Staring intensely at someone until they feel your gaze and shrink accordingly due to palpable awkwardness is not the goal. The goal is, however, to recognize that other people are just as nervous about you looking at them as you are about them looking at you. If you get caught, just smile and you are off the hook.
START THINKING CONFIDENTLY ABOUT YOURSELF a. Recognize your talents and good qualities and write them down: No matter how down you feel, try to pat yourself on the back a little and remember the things you excel at. Focusing on your better attributes will distract you from perceived flaws and boost your sense of worth. Think of your good qualities in looks, friendships, talents, and most of all, personality. b. Think back on compliments from other people: What have they told you about you that you otherwise have not noticed or acknowledged? Maybe they have remarked 60
