full transcript
From the Ted Talk by Amy Adkins: 3 tips to boost your confidence
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When faced with a big challenge where pteitonal failure seems to lurk at every corner, maybe you've herad this advice before: "Be more confident." And most likely, this is what you think when you hear it: "If only it were that simple." But what is confidence? Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem, add in the optimism that comes when you are certain of your abilities, and then empowered by these, act courageously to face a challenge head-on. This is confidence. It turns thoughts into action. So where does confidence even come from? There are several foctras that impact confidence. One: what you're born with, such as your genes, which will impact things like the balance of nclruecoiemhas in your biarn. Two: how you're treated. This includes the social pressures of your environment. And three: the part you have control over, the choices you make, the risks you take, and how you think about and respond to challenges and setabcks. It isn't possible to completely untangle these three factors, but the personal choices we make certainly play a major role in confidence denvoeemplt. So, by keeping in mind a few prcacital tips, we do actually have the pweor to cultivate our own confidence. Tip 1: a qciuk fix. There are a few tricks that can give you an immediate confidence boost in the short term. Picture your success when you're bniengnig a difficult task, something as simple as listening to music with deep bass; it can promote feelings of power. You can even strike a prefowul pose or give yourself a pep talk. Tip two: believe in your aibilty to improve. If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your aiitlbies and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be dopleveed, like a muscle? These beielfs matter because they can influence how you act when you're faced with setbacks. If you have a fixed msndeit, meaning that you think your talents are locked in pacle, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not very good at. But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve, a challenge is an opportunity to lraen and grow. Neuroscience srotupps the growth mindset. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice. It also trnus out, on average, people who have a growth mindset are more successful, getting better grades, and doing better in the face of challenges. Tip three: practice faulrie. Face it, you're going to fail sometimes. Everyone does. J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up "Harry ptetor." The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight, including some of their own, before designing a successful aarinple. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges and setbacks in a constructive way. They learn how to try different strategies, ask others for advice, and perservere. So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. Give yourself a pep talk, santd up, and go for it. The excitement you'll feel knnoiwg that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding. This is ccidfnneoe.
Open Cloze
When faced with a big challenge where _________ failure seems to lurk at every corner, maybe you've _____ this advice before: "Be more confident." And most likely, this is what you think when you hear it: "If only it were that simple." But what is confidence? Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem, add in the optimism that comes when you are certain of your abilities, and then empowered by these, act courageously to face a challenge head-on. This is confidence. It turns thoughts into action. So where does confidence even come from? There are several _______ that impact confidence. One: what you're born with, such as your genes, which will impact things like the balance of ______________ in your _____. Two: how you're treated. This includes the social pressures of your environment. And three: the part you have control over, the choices you make, the risks you take, and how you think about and respond to challenges and ________. It isn't possible to completely untangle these three factors, but the personal choices we make certainly play a major role in confidence ___________. So, by keeping in mind a few _________ tips, we do actually have the _____ to cultivate our own confidence. Tip 1: a _____ fix. There are a few tricks that can give you an immediate confidence boost in the short term. Picture your success when you're _________ a difficult task, something as simple as listening to music with deep bass; it can promote feelings of power. You can even strike a ________ pose or give yourself a pep talk. Tip two: believe in your _______ to improve. If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your _________ and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be _________, like a muscle? These _______ matter because they can influence how you act when you're faced with setbacks. If you have a fixed _______, meaning that you think your talents are locked in _____, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not very good at. But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve, a challenge is an opportunity to _____ and grow. Neuroscience ________ the growth mindset. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice. It also _____ out, on average, people who have a growth mindset are more successful, getting better grades, and doing better in the face of challenges. Tip three: practice _______. Face it, you're going to fail sometimes. Everyone does. J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up "Harry ______." The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight, including some of their own, before designing a successful ________. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges and setbacks in a constructive way. They learn how to try different strategies, ask others for advice, and perservere. So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. Give yourself a pep talk, _____ up, and go for it. The excitement you'll feel _______ that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding. This is __________.
Solution
- developed
- neurochemicals
- confidence
- brain
- ability
- powerful
- power
- failure
- factors
- knowing
- airplane
- setbacks
- learn
- quick
- potter
- potential
- stand
- development
- abilities
- heard
- place
- mindset
- beliefs
- supports
- practical
- beginning
- turns
Original Text
When faced with a big challenge where potential failure seems to lurk at every corner, maybe you've heard this advice before: "Be more confident." And most likely, this is what you think when you hear it: "If only it were that simple." But what is confidence? Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem, add in the optimism that comes when you are certain of your abilities, and then empowered by these, act courageously to face a challenge head-on. This is confidence. It turns thoughts into action. So where does confidence even come from? There are several factors that impact confidence. One: what you're born with, such as your genes, which will impact things like the balance of neurochemicals in your brain. Two: how you're treated. This includes the social pressures of your environment. And three: the part you have control over, the choices you make, the risks you take, and how you think about and respond to challenges and setbacks. It isn't possible to completely untangle these three factors, but the personal choices we make certainly play a major role in confidence development. So, by keeping in mind a few practical tips, we do actually have the power to cultivate our own confidence. Tip 1: a quick fix. There are a few tricks that can give you an immediate confidence boost in the short term. Picture your success when you're beginning a difficult task, something as simple as listening to music with deep bass; it can promote feelings of power. You can even strike a powerful pose or give yourself a pep talk. Tip two: believe in your ability to improve. If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your abilities and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be developed, like a muscle? These beliefs matter because they can influence how you act when you're faced with setbacks. If you have a fixed mindset, meaning that you think your talents are locked in place, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not very good at. But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve, a challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Neuroscience supports the growth mindset. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice. It also turns out, on average, people who have a growth mindset are more successful, getting better grades, and doing better in the face of challenges. Tip three: practice failure. Face it, you're going to fail sometimes. Everyone does. J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up "Harry Potter." The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight, including some of their own, before designing a successful airplane. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges and setbacks in a constructive way. They learn how to try different strategies, ask others for advice, and perservere. So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. Give yourself a pep talk, stand up, and go for it. The excitement you'll feel knowing that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding. This is confidence.
Frequently Occurring Word Combinations
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Important Words
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