Today is Monday, so this post is on self confidence.
I have been wanting to write about how important optimism is to self confidence. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines optimism as “an inclination to put the most favorable construction on actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome”. Therefore, by definition self confident people are optimistic people. They believe they will succeed; and even when they don’t reach their goal, they use the experience to learn and grow…
Optimist International is a world wide organization dedicated to “bringing out the best in kids. Their mission statement is: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.
When I was in the 10th grade, I participated in the local Optimist Club Oratory Contest. It was a great experience. That year, the subject of the talk was “Optimism, Youth’s Greatest Asset”. That’s an interesting – if very difficult to say – topic. “Youth’s” is not an easy word to pronounce – especially when you’re a nervous kid standing up in front of a group of adults who are grading you.
I won my section, and finished third in the Beaver County, PA contest that year. (To this day, I still think I won the county contest. I learned a lot that night – mostly how to hold my head up in defeat.)
Optimist Clubs do a lot of great things for kids. They still conduct their annual oratory contest. In many ways, that contest was the first step in my career as a professional speaker. I have a soft spot in my heart for Optimist International.
William Arruda mentioned Optimist International and the Optimist Creed in one of his newsletters this summer. I was rereading that newsletter last week. It prompted me to post the Optimist Creed here.
The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself:
- To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
- To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
- To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
- To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
- To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
- To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
- To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
- To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
- To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
- To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
If you commit to living these ten ideas, you’ll be a more self confident person – it’s only common sense. And, self confidence is one of the five key points on the career star model.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my other blogs: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a business, and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action; and my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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