Confidence is a habit that can be developed by acting as if you already had the confidence you desire to have.
--Brian Tracy

Act As If

Sometimes, achievement is simpler than most make it out to be. You can act as if you are fully prepared and even very experienced at public speaking or negotiation or effective private communication, whatever the day requires you to do.

Of course, this takes a measure of self-confidence, of belief in oneself; but so does just getting through the day for many people. Is this acting or fooling yourself into an attitude adjustment? For some it may be, but to act as if you can do what you need to do is really what is a big part of everyday life.

When one is called upon to stand up and speak before a group and a flood of fearful thoughts intervene, yes, all the self-esteem and faith and belief in oneself that you can must may be necessary. We do it every day in driving a car, for example, a potentially dangerous enterprise, yet a familiar one.

Many are more afraid of speaking in public than driving (which is more likely to result in injury and death than publc speaking) simply because of the unfamiliarity and the "all eyes are on me" mindset. Get over that.

Step up, believing in yourself and your past successes, and speak and add another notch of achievement to your belt. You may be not only pleasantly surprised in your ability "to act as if" it were all second nature, but alsoyou may also be thoroughly exhilirated at the applause and accolades.