5 wierd confidence building exercises

1. The Wrong Shop exercise

About: This exercise will give you a strange sense of power and control over yourself and make you really drop your guard to feel confident.
The Exercise: Walk into any type of shop and ask for something totally weird, that the shop does not sell. For example walk into a newsagents and ask if they sell the latest 42 inch flat screen TV, or go into an Apple store and ask for a PC, or McDonalds and ask for a KFC Bucket.
Aim: The aim of this is to let go of your inhibitions and get over yourself, be willing to make a fool of yourself and learn to not care what others may or may not think about you. This is an exercise I tried myself on a number of occasions a few years ago and it’s totally liberating. I first heard it from Jamie Smart who was coaching some telesales people who were anxious about cold calling.

2. Ask for a hug

About: I first seen this on a video on youtube and thought it was a great way to help overcome your inhibitions and just let go.

The Exercise: Stand in the middle of a busy street, hold up a plackard asking for a hug for a special occasion and get someone to film it.

Aim: To overcome that fear of rejection and to release your inhibitions. Watch the video below to learn more.

3. Be wrong on purpose

About: A lot of us are so hung up on always being right and feel really self conscious when we’ve been found out to be wrong about something, and can feel really embarassed. This exercise is designed to let go of that altogether.
The Exercise: Over the next few days whenever someone asks you a question about anything, give them the wrong answer on purpose, but make it so wrong that the other person knows it’s wrong as well,  for example If someone asks you ‘Oh who was that actor in that film’ you might say ‘Oh! that was Christopher Columbus’ You’ll most likely get strange looks.

The Aim: If you do this often enough it will get you over always feeling the need to be right. Of course when you are wrong always admit it and drop it.

4. Radical Honesty

About: I am known for being very honest in my family, not rude or condescending, but very honest when asked a question.

I first started practising this type of honesty when I tried to break up with an ex girlfriend, about 20 years ago. I gave all kinds of excuses, and even tried to make myself out to be an arse so she would go off me. In the end, I ended up telling her the truth and telling her I just didn’t want to go out with her any more, none of the ‘it’s not you. it’s me’ crap, I just told her straight. Ever since then I have been completely honest when the situation has warranted it. Being honest will gain you trust, and teach you the value of integrity and honesty.  This is not the same as being opinionated and always telling people what you think, it’s only when someone asks for your opinions or asks you a direct question.

The Exercise: Whenever someone asks for your opinion on something, be totally honest with them. However, when you first start being completely honest, always say to the person ‘Do you want my honest opinion or do you want me to say what you want to hear?’ that way it takes them off guard, but they will always say honest opinion. when you deliver your honest opinion a few times, that person will Never come back asking questions they truly know the answer to e.g. Does my bum look big in this, however they will Always come to you if they want an opinion on something they’re not sure about.

Aim: To help you overcome being too nice, people come to nice people for an opinion when they know what the answer will be, but people go to honest people when they want a valued opinion.

5. Learn to feel uncomfortable

About: The only way to grow as a person is when you are outside your comfort zone. Nobody ever grows inside their comfort zone.
Exercise: The next time you are asked to do something, or think about doing something that you feel uncomfortable with, say yes to it immediately. For example if a friend asks you to a party that you know will make you feel uncomfortable say yes immediately to it. You don’t have to stay all night, but show up, feel that uncomfortable feeling and then leave shortly after.
Aim: This is to help you get used to feeling uncomfortable. If you can do this all throughout your life, you will never be afraid to try anything


courtesy: stevenaitchinson's blog