Tag Archive for daydreaming

5 Confidence Tips for Dealing With Strong Personalities

Does your confidence take a tumble around mid-week? Do you roll your eyes as you say the words “hump day?”
 
Is there a strong personality leaning on you? And if so, what do you do?
 
Chi For Yourself wants you to find that sweet spot between “monster” and “doormat.” So the following tips are offered for your consideration–
 
 
 
 
 

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We’ve all come across people with strong personalities. image for confidence
But what exactly does this mean?
 
It’s difficult to find one definition of a “strong personality.” Urban Dictionary online defines it as “an aggressive person; a difficult person.”  
 
Others use the following descriptive terms: intimidating, overbearing, impatient, intolerant, controlling, bullying behavior.
 
You want to deal with these strong personalities without punishing your confidence level.
 
Fortunately, there are ways to do this. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.  
 
1. Get to know the person underneath –
 
You can’t over-emphasize this point.  Getting beneath a person’s tough exterior can help you understand why that person is the way he/she is. 
 
Family of origin for example.
 
You may be dealing with an oldest child. One who came from alcoholic parents, and had to raise three brothers and sisters. 
 
Ways to get to know the person include engaging him/her in conversation.  At the start, it may be a sincere compliment about a new hairstyle or a new coat, or asking how his/her weekend was.
 
You want to stay on that person’s good side, and you can do this by being likable and friendly.  In turn, you’re also likely to pick up on traits about the person that you like.  
 
2. Don’t take it personally
 
Strong personalities tend to be direct and they don’t mince words.  If you learn to shrug off the way something is said to you, you’ll do well. 
 
3. Stay calm – 
 
People with strong personalities are up to the challenge of arguing their point. So it’s better not to go there. 
 
Stand your ground, but don’t let it get to the point of an argument.
 
4. Use humor –
 
Let’s say someone is barking orders at you even though you have a good relationship with them. (as explained in tip #1 above). Consider using humor. 
 
You could say, “Sure, I can do that, but I expect you to buy me a coffee when we go for break.”  In this way, you’re acknowledging a request, but you’re showing that you’re not taking it to heart.  
 
5. You have valuable ideas too –
 
Often people with strong personalities are testing you.  They don’t like to see weakness in others as much as they don’t like it in themselves. 
 
Keep your confidence up by speaking clearly and with conviction, but do it kindly.  Don’t be a wishy-washy type of person who can’t make a decision. 
 
If you can’t come to an agreement on something, don’t walk away exasperated.  Instead, leave room for discussion later. 
 
It may go nowhere later too. But at least you keep your self-respect and the knowledge that you can deal with all kinds of people.  
 
JohnK 7-3-2019
 
 
 
 
Image for confidenceOverheard: I am very confident. I look confident. I act confident. I speak in a confident way…
                                          ~ Milton H. Erickson
 

Develop Creative Ideas- And Make Them Your Own

Creativity is a word that’s familiar to you. You probably use it from time to time. But do you understand it?

Creativity is about imagination, newness, freshness, and ingenuity. Yet it’s tempting to copy creativity from others. Below you’ll find some ways to fuel your creativity ‘engine.’

 

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Creative genius. It’s all around you. In the phones and other tech devices you use. In the music you listen to and the movies that keep you riveted to the screen.

picture of creativity

And maybe you have the mistaken opinion that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. It probably comes from the idea of ‘personality type.’
 
This makes you think personality and style of working are set in stone.
 
That’s not true at all. Your so-called personality type is only a set of behavior patterns. You took these on to help you meet the different challenges of your early life.
 
You can change those patterns.
 
The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs exercise to give you great results.
 
If you don’t practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will atrophy. And the ‘muscle’ will become weak.
 
But keep it working and it will come to you whenever you call.
 
So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing to do is to become a human leech.
 
No, we’re not talking about sucking the blood out of every living being in sight. We’re saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning as you can find.
 
Read everything available — good and bad. And keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe.
 
The more you know, the more you’ll want to know. And the more your faculty of wonder will kick in.
 
Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color to your life.
 
Focus on a creative activity every day. Yes, it’s an effort. But even doodling is a creative activity.
 
Don’t let anything hinder you.
 
Sometimes daydreaming is a creative activity. But if you’re new to creative thinking you might need concrete evidence.
 
When you see it you’ll be able to say “hey, what I’m doing is getting somewhere.”
 
JohnK 6-27-2018
 
 
 
 
 
Image for creativityOverheard: “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without”
 
                       ~ Cecil B. DeMille