Hello, lovely readers! Today on Rethink the Drink, we have a terrific guest post by Claire Hess. She’s a wonderful writer and has a passion for inspiring youth to make wise decisions. She’s with us today to talk about one of the most important aspects of living a healthy lifestyle: self confidence!
Have you ever gotten stuck with the person who just won’t leave you alone about your decision not to drink? Almost every non-drinker probably has. They will ask you idiotic questions and come up with plenty of “legitimate” reasons why you should drink. Well, the easiest way to defeat these pests is confidence. Confidence is a constant theme in many stories for children and adults. J.M. Barrie, the creator of the beloved Peter Pan, said, “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.” Although we know that we cannot literally fly, you can certainly see the imagery in this quote. Doubt will defeat your ability to properly handle disbelievers. You must stay confident in your decisions to not drink. When you show uncertainty, it gives someone an opportunity to swoop in and destroy your intent. Also, most people respect confidence. When you are sure in yourself, they do little to knock you down.
Now, there is no specific formula to gaining confidence and self-esteem, but there are a few things that do help. The most important thing is that you have made the choice to abstain from drinking for yourself. It is very hard to be confident in a decision that someone else made for you. You have to come up with reasons to not drink for yourself because everyone’s reasons will not be the same. Some may decide to stay away from alcohol because they have a family history of addiction or alcohol abuse. Others make the decision because they have seen too many young people waste their lives on alcohol. There are so many different reasons someone will chose not to drink, but each person has their own. It is important for you to have your own reasons when someone asks, because that shows confidence. If you say that you don’t drink because none of your friends do, then that’s not going to hold much water. On the other hand, if you are honest and share your reasons, people are more likely to respect that.
Another way to gain confidence is to associate with other people who have made the same decisions. We all feel so much better around people who share the same beliefs with us. When you surround yourself with support from others, your confidience will grow. You understand that you are not alone in your decision and you have an accepting support group that will be more than happy to back you up in any situation.
Finally, always stay positive. As silly as it sounds, positive self-talk really works. You are your own worst critic. When you tell yourself that you are confident in your decision, it will really start to show. You must believe in yourself and you will succeed. Just like the quote from J.M. Barrie says, doubt will crush your aspirations. That doubt that prevents you from flying can only come from within. Stay positive in your decision. Don’t worry so much about what other people will say or think, just focus on the promising future you have made for yourself because of your decision. So the next time you encounter the menace badgering you about your decision to stay away from alcohol, remember, stay confident and positive. You never know, you may convince them to make the same decision.
Thank you so much, Claire, for stopping by and sharing your excellent article with us! I hope all you readers will take her words to heart and stay confident in your personal convictions!
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A message we ALL need to hear from time to time! Thank you.