DR. DI’S CORNER

from Natural Nutmeg July 2022

by Natural Nutmeg Magazine/Essential Naples Magazine

Fighting Lyme Disease with Acupuncture

Dr. DI’s s CORNER CORNER

Self-confidence is SEXY!

Too many people think that being self-confident means you are cocky and disrespectful. There are people like that—but I wouldn’t call those people self-confident. Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment. To me, that means continually striving to make yourself a better person and enjoying the journey. You need self-confidence to follow your dreams and start a business or climb the career ladder. You need self-confidence to maintain a healthy lifestyle: eating right, exercising, practicing mindfulness, and reducing stress. You need self-confidence to train your mind to think positively, to be resilient, and to be your best friend and cheerleader. How do you become self-confident if you naturally aren’t? Well, there was a time when I was not very confident in myself at all. How did I change this? I started reading as many personal development books as I could get my hands on. I continued to push myself to do things that were out of my comfort zone, both physically and mentally, like traveling alone, rock climbing, and silent retreats. If I was afraid of something, I leaned into the fear instead of running from it.

Eventually, I believed that I could accomplish anything if I put my mind to it, and I had real-world scenarios to prove it. I trusted myself. And each time I had a positive outcome, I gained more self-confidence. What will set you apart is your mindset and drive. That is how self-confidence is built.

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD, is an entrepreneur, mindset warrior, perspective shifter, and unshakable optimist. She holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maryland. She is a professional speaker and travels nationally to present spiritual and personal development workshops.