Mary Chapin Carpenter has a line in one of her songs thatgoes, "Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're thebug."  When I've suddenly lost myconfidence, I feel more like the bug, than the windshield.

When this happens, it's easy to replay the situation overand over again, hoping for a different ending. This usually only makes me feel worse. What I really need is somethingto remind me that being the "bug" is a temporary state. I don't thinkI'm alone here. All of us need confidence boosters at some time in our lives.Here are a few ideas that can help:

Remember a Time When You Were Confident

Write down a past experience that gave confidence.  Think about why this experience made you feelconfident.  Who was involved?  What happened?  What did you do? Be as detailed about thisexperience as you can so that it is vivid in your mind.  Refer to this experience to remind you thatyou have been confident before and will be again! 

Make a Success Album

Use a 3x5 card to write down things you've beensuccessful at in the past. In this case, success is anything you've done that'smade you proud of yourself.  It may becleaning out your closets or bringing in a big account for work. Put the cardsin a photo album. When your confidence is low, read the cards in your album toremind you that you've been successful in the past.

Affirm Your Confidence

 Leave written affirmations on sticky notes in placeswhere you will see them regularly. The notes can contain action affirmations,such as "You Can Do It" or a favorite confidence-building quote.  It's best to use short phrases that areeasily remembered and always use positive words.  For example, it's better to say "I AMsuccessful" rather than "I am not a failure." When you see theaffirmation, it's also helpful to say it aloud, rather than reading it toyourself.

Let Your Answering Machine Pickup Your Confidence

Ask friends to call your answering machine and leavepositive comments about your strengths, talents and what makes you special tothem. When things aren't going well, listen to these comments to remind youthat there are people who believe you are talented and very special.

 Use these ideas to recharge your confidence. They'resimple to do and useful to anyone who experiences a sudden loss of confidenceor needs a confidence boost. They'll help remind you to be the windshield andnot the bug!