After we had all piled into the train a short time later, I flopped down into my seat and mused about what had just happened. While I ended up taking a few minutes to settle my nerves, I settled into a comfortable calm and suddenly felt inspired to report on what I had experienced. What became clear to me is that when you are caught off-guard by unexpected social situations, you lose the illusion of control over your surroundings, therefore, you subconsciously overthink everything that occurs. It was an especially nerve-wracking scenario because I had only woken up an hour before this meeting and had not yet had my caffeine fix, which my friends joke is the only way I become less zombie and more human. Feeling suddenly thrown back into past friendships can seem weird, even if you are more confident and self-assured than you ever were when you knew them. In the current days of social networking sites such as Facebook, the likelihood of meeting up with old friends and classmates has become exponentially higher. Making good impressions in person, however, and being able to market the real you takes perseverance and is a strength that can only be built upon. Here are some tips for keeping yourself fresh and approachable, even when your nerves have taken over:

1. Keep your eyes peeled and your head held up high. The most important part of being confident is that your inner and outer self match. Stand up straight, have a smile on your face, and keep a watchful eye of your surroundings, as you never know who you are going to meet at any given time. If you are able to display the confidence and self-assured grace that you have built up since your school days, then others will be able to see it, too, and be drawn to you! Embrace your current self and keep others up-to-date on your poised demeanor!

The Importance Of Seeking Out Connections With People

2. Smile and look into people’s eyes while talking. This might seem like an obvious idea when it comes to conversation etiquette, but many people forget even the simplest forms of communicating when they encounter an unexpected situation! Although you may be caught off-guard when first seeing someone you know, being able to hold eye contact and provide a warm smile can ease even the most awkward of situations. Reminding yourself that these are people you used to know or should get to know better can put you in a better mindset and ready to communicate more effectively!

3. Brainstorm some interesting “go-to” facts about your life to share with others. One of the most common questions that is asked when you haven’t seen someone in a while is “What are you up to now?” This can be a difficult question to answer for some people, as they might have a myriad of interests or a job that is difficult to describe. If you have a complicated list in your mind at the moment and don’t know how to break it down, think of a few key facts about yourself and keep them in the back of your mind for social situations. You never know when you might need to get your shine on!

4. Wake up with an optimism for the upcoming day. Get yourself ready in the morning with confidence and dress the way you feel best! If you have a poor attitude to begin with, who’s to say the rest of your day won’t be spectacular? You just have to have the faith in who you are – a strong, independent woman who can do anything she puts her mind to! If you don’t keep the glass half full, who will? You have to exude the confidence that you know you have and work it to your advantage. Never give up your self-worth in favor of nerves and lack of courage!

Optimism & The Art Of Facing Your Fears

5. Be yourself. Always being true to yourself is the best advice in terms of marketing your strong points and keeping your self-esteem alive! Even if someone tells you that you have to dress differently or adopt a new style that isn’t comfortable for you (unless that person is your boss!), you shouldn’t have to compromise or change yourself for someone else. The best way to show others the real you is to BE the real you from the get-go! Never forget who you are and always strive to better combat your emotions through an optimistic lens. By giving yourself permission to spread your wings as the person you truly are, others will see this brightness and be encouraged by your confident, assured attitude! Be who you are and don’t ever sacrifice that.

Being aware of how you exude your outer confidence and attitude makes it much easier to market yourself to the best of your ability – and anyone that you encounter will see this! By bringing out the eye contact, smiling, and assured demeanor when asked about your life, you have the opportunity to come off as an interesting and fantastic person to interact with. Never give up your originality or quirks, as by learning how to use these to your advantage, you can charm anyone with the real you – and be proud of who you are!

“Are you tired of praying and not getting results in your prayer life? If so, you probably need to examine your confidence level in this area. A lack of confidence in prayer simply comes from not knowing God’s Word.

Too many Christians pray emotional, fear-based prayers, hoping that they get through to God. However, He does not respond to emotionalism; He responds to His Word.

To pray apart from the Word of God won’t get results. But when you have confidence in the Word and say to God what He has already spoken, your life will change forever.

It is critical for you to first find out what God has said in the Bible about your situation in order to effectively pray about it.

For example, if you need healing, instead of begging God to heal you, begin to confess 1 Peter 2:24 which declares that you have already been healed by the stripes of Jesus. If it is financial prosperity that you need to become a reality in your life, find scriptures on wealth and declare them in faith. Your first step in prayer is to discover the promises of God in the Bible. Then you can release your faith by saying them in your prayer time.

Jesus walked in the most powerful ministry ever known to man because He practiced the presence of God and had a strong prayer life. The scripture says that He often took time away from other people to pray and spend time with the Father (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18). This was one of the keys to His ability to perform miracles and do other great works. He had total confidence in His Father because He spent time with Him in prayer. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He could never fail because of His confidence in God’s Word.

Just like Jesus, your prayer life must be activated by faith, which is a practical expression of your confidence in God and His Word; and your confidence comes by spending time in meditating on the scriptures. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Simply repeating the scriptures is not enough. The key to success in your prayer life is meditation.

To meditate the Word is to ponder, mutter or consider it in your mind until you have gotten revelation out of it. When you discover the deeper meaning behind a scripture, and God speaks to you personally about it, you have the ammunition you need to take that scripture with you in your prayer time and boldly release your faith when you confess it.

As Believers, we are to follow Jesus’ example. His life is evidence of what happens when a person is continually connected to God’s presence and lives a life of meditation. When you do, your confidence will be bolstered and you will begin to experience supernatural results every time you pray.

© Creflo Dollar Ministries all rights reserved

“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, It empties today of its strength.” ~Unknown