How To Turn Confidence Into Success
Do you govern your behaviour on what other people think or dismiss compliments when they are offered to you?
Lacking self-confidence can affect your life drastically as it means that you may miss out on opportunities that are presented to you.
You may have encountered the quote "success breeds success" or "success breeds confidence" but how about confidence breeding success? If you act confidently (regardless of whether you actually feel confident or not) you will find that people will start respecting you and listening to you, thus giving you the momentum to be self -confident in your own right. Even Donald Trump agrees with me. "Even if you haven’t encountered great success yet, there is no reason you can’t bluff a little and act like you have. Confidence is a magnet in the best sense of the word."
So how do you get back on the road to success? Firstly you should start focussing on the positive things you have already achieved and make it a weekly task, or even daily if necessary, to get you back on track.
Pay attention to your strengths and your weaknesses in order to be prepared for any eventuality and know what it is you are setting out to achieve. Once you start working towards your large goal then you can break it down into smaller, more attainable goals. By doing this you will be able to celebrate your achievements along the way - regardless of their size - thereby boosting your self confidence enabling you to forge ahead.
Inching out of your comfort zone is the only way of achieving sure-fire success. Take a deep breath and just go for it! Your confidence, once developed, will definitely lead you where you want to go.
A Father's Day Memory
Father's Day conjures up images of shopping for dad to add to an ever-increasing collection of argyle socks and ties that he may never wear. Even though Father's Day has become quite commercialised, it means more than just giving a card or a gift to dad.
It is a time for the family to show their appreciation for their father – not just for bringing home the paycheck but for the boo-boos he kisses, the nappies he changes, the baths he gives and the dinners that he cooks. We can show him how much he has selflessly given of himself by dedicating a day just to him.
It is also a time for dad to appreciate how much his family means to him. A time to reflect on the finger paintings and crayon pictures he receives, the dinners he comes home to and the hours traipsing around shopping malls in search of just the right toy for the children to play with.
As a young girl, I remember the excitement felt whenever I had the chance to spend time with my father on the farm. Whilst he was probably not doing anything more than just going about his regular duties, being with him was what mattered most to me. I can remember my father whistling commands to the dogs as they corralled the sheep into the pens. I held tightly onto his rough and calloused hands as we crossed the paddock to close the gate behind the last of the sheep.
I watched with wide-eyed fascination as my dad wrestled sheep after sheep to get them into just the right position for shearing. I remember the sweat pouring down his forehead as he worked tirelessly shearing one sheep after another pausing occasionally to have a drink of water and give me a smile.
Later we would go back to the house in our old battered ute. I rode in the front, feeling like a princess, with my dad next to me and the dogs barking in the back.
My father's memory of the same day may be quite different. But no matter which version you listen to, it all comes down to one thing:
"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." -- Anne Sexton.
K.I.S.S. - Keep It Super Simple
Selecting the right lipstick for an occasion or to suit your colouring can be a nightmare. And that is not the only thing you have to think about! You have to decide whether to add lip liner or lip gloss and let's not forget the problem of constantly worrying about whether your teeth have lipstick on them!!
I have been to parties where someone has obviously gone to a great deal of effort in selecting their dress and getting their hair done but the only thing that has let them down was their bright pink lipstick - a shade only worthy to be worn by Barbara Cartland.
Gwyneth Paltrow once made the comment that "Beauty to me, is about being totally comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." And I must admit I agree with this comment. I rarely leave the house without lipstick no although I admittedly leave the red lipstick for special occasions only. But there is a trick to wearing red lipstick and that is to tone down the rest of the makeup so your lips are the main feature. One big mistake which often occurs is that people wear eyeliner with their red lipstick and this tends to run the effect they wanted to create. Keep the rest of your face makeup low key - wear mascara and some light eye shadow and don't pile on the foundation and blush.
Before applying the lipstick, don't forget to moisturise your lips as it will tend to stop the lipstick from being too dry. Keep it simple and you will wow everyone in the room!
Also don't forget lip liner can also help improve the look of the lips. This is a personal choice but if you do decide to use it, avoid using a dark shade as when the lipstick fades you will be left with just the outline. And this is one faux pas you might want to steer clear of. If you do decide to use a lip brush for application then this will also help to blend the lipstick in with the liner.
If you have dark skin tones, then consider red and plum based colours rather than lipstick with pink tones. Peach tones also look great with tanned skin but don't go too orange, as it will make your teeth appear yellow. Fair skin looks great with beige lipstick and if you have olive skin tones, you should try lipsticks with a brown base.
When selecting a lipstick also think about your age. Middle aged women are better off selecting a cream lipstick rather than an "all day" matte lipstick as this will help keep the moisture in the lips. And if you like gloss lipsticks, then it is best to wear these at night rather than as a daytime wear.
Red lipsticks have a tendency to be too bright for most skin tones and complexions and very few of us can get away with the classic bright red lipstick. It is best to with a plum red or a brown red depending on the colour of your skin to tone down the brightness. Also don't forget to keep your day lipstick a lighter shade than your nighttime lipstick.
If you keep these simple rules in mind, then you shouldn't go too far wrong. But if you are still confused about which shades suit your skin, then speak to one of those white clad ladies at the makeup counter - after all it is their job. They should be able to recommend what colours suit you and once you know the basic information, then you can create your own colours from lipsticks you currently have in your collection that might not have been used previously.
