Develop instant confidence

This is the age of instant coffee. People who work are too busy to wait till you boil water and prepare a cup of coffee in the traditional way. So they go for instant coffee. The 'instant mania' has caught up in almost every field of activity that students demand instant English and some tutors are ready to quench their thirst. The age-old economic theory 'supply and demand' seems to work here.

Then there are those who want instant food. It is available at many food outlets. Those who belong to the old generation may debate the nutritional value of such food items. But who cares? Instant food is gobbled up by those who want to fill their stomachs.

If you look at it from a practical standpoint you may need such instant food at times. However, you have to think twice before attending an instant English class. Then there are other areas that come under the instant mania. For instance, you do not have to grow flowers in your garden to get that pleasant fragrance in your house. Today you can buy an air-freshner at the nearest supermarket.

Fifty years ago we went to a reputed musician to learn music - both vocal and instrumental. We had to buy an instrument and practise our lessons before filling our rooms with music. Today we have taken a quantum leap. We do not follow music classes and buy instruments. We just flick a button on our television set or musical set-up and there will be an uninterrupted flow of music. This way we save our time energy and money. So, there is nothing to get upset about instant music.

Although the benefits we derive from instant coffee or instant English are debatable, we need instant confidence in this rapidly changing world. However, instant confidence does not fall from the heavens. You have to strive hard to get it. The other day I met a young man who had been sent to follow a refresher course in newspaper layout and design. At the end of the short course each participant had been given an opportunity to make a presentation. While the others were hesitating he made a presentation and saved the prestige of his institution. He confided in me that it was his first public speech. But he was full of self-confidence.

Your self-confidence is nothing but an inner fire that pushes you forward. Those who possess this quick-flowing sureness can do wonders in any field of activity. Unknown to many of us, we have instant confidence within us waiting to be tapped.

As human beings we face many successes and failures. When we try to minimise the effect of our failures we naturally draw upon our inner strength called self-confidence. For instance, if you are suffering from stage fright, you must make it a point to address small gatherings before making a speech at a big meeting. When you address small groups, you become confident of your oratorical skills.

A few years ago, a young female graduate who did extremely well in her finals was appointed as a lecturer in English at the same university where she studied. However, after two days of teaching she tendered her resignation. When pressed for an explanation she had told the professor that she "could not look at so many faces." She probably did not have instant confidence to tackle the situation.

Most of us are not born orators or teachers. If you have self-confidence, you can address a meeting or teach a subject you are familiar with. After retirement from a sedentary job, Perera found himself jobless. Instead of wasting his time chatting with friends and watching the idiot box, he applied for a teaching post at a private institute. Although he had no teaching experience, Perera proved himself to be an excellent teacher. His success can be attributed to self-confidence.

If you want to be an orator, you do not have to address a large audience at first. Start talking to yourself and rehearse your speech in front of a mirror. If possible, talk to a small group of people known to you. This will help you to get rid of your stage fright. Most well-known orators are not born, they are made. When you address a meeting, that will develop your confidence. Even when you go to bed, close your eyes and rehearse your speech. Get into the habit of tapping this inner force whenever necessary.

The inner force of confidence is useful not only for orators but also for other professionals. It will guide you to assess the situation and take appropriate action. If you have the confidence that you can do something, you can do its, confidence builds up your self-esteem. No force on earth can destroy it. Refuse to give into negative feelings and draw inspiration from President-elect Barack Obama.

When a confident person proceeds on his journey, obstacles simply disappear. You can identify such people quite easily even when they speak over the telephone. A confident person's voice is magnetic. Even his face glistens with interest in life. Samuel Johnson once said, "self confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings."

Great sculptor Michelangelo once saw a huge blook of stone in a quarry. When he touched it, he felt the spirit of Moses running through it. So, today we have his marvellous creation of Moses and the Ten Commandments. Similarly, if you are confident of yourself, you can become an excellent writer, teacher, lawyer or doctor. If you want to be a successful professional, picture yourself as one. This self-image will give you enough confidence to go ahead.

Volumes have been written on this inner-fire or self-confidence by inspirational writers such as Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie and modern-day Deepak Chopra. Unfortunately most of us have not either read them or heard of them. When I read Napoleon Hill's path-breaking book "The Law of success" in my teens, it transformed my life.

Those who are not proficient in English can read books written by our own authors such as Daya Rohana Athukorale, Chandana Gunawardhane and Menike Sumanasekara.

There are two types of people in this world low energy and high energy. Low energy people are not essentially sick. They do things slowly, think slowly. They do not compete with others in the rat race of life. They have enough confidence to wait and see. Most philosophers fall into this category. They do not seek fame but fame comes to them slowly and steadily. Even after their death we remember them. Can anyone forget Gauthama Buddha, Jesus Christ, J. Krishnamurti, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato or Bertrand Russell?

On the other hand, you can see high energy people rushing to and fro, jumping the queue, or leaping over hurdles. They lack self-confidence to control their energy which goes berserk. As a result, they lose what they achieve in double quick time. They fall with a thud and others can hear it.

You can judge whether you are a low energy or high energy person. If you belong to the former category, you will have less problems but more happiness in life. If you belong to the latter category, watch you step. Take a cue from a tree which needs very slow ripening and time to blossom and give us fruit. Be confident and patient in achieving your targets.