Has becoming a stepmom bashed your confidence level? Do you need a confidence-boost prior to facing your stepkids or maybe the ex? I have several tips for you to go through. Pick one or more and give them a try:
Be willing to take the risk. Start small. Remember the last time you engaged with your stepkids, where you felt push out of your comfort zone generated good results? Focus on any positive feelings you had after. You don’t gain anything if you don’t try it so take the risk to invest time and energy in building the relationship.
Decide what you want to see happen. No matter who the other person is— whether it’s your spouse, partner, the step/child, the ex, your in-laws, extended family, or that nosy person who keeps asking inappropriate questions as to who you are -- visualize something good happening in that relationship.
Talk with others involved. Start small—try to get input and develop an understanding instead of having an argument.
Ask for help when things get rough. Don’t accept all responsibility for a problem (unless, of course, you are solely at fault). Ask others to help you find solutions and create a win-win situation.
Take a look at what you did right and focus on that. No matter how bad a situation or relationship, there is always something positive to be found. Stop searching for—but perhaps never finding—gold and look for the silver lining instead.
Don’t forget all those times when things did go well. Even the smallest success is better than nothing. Build on your small successes.
Build on the strengths you already possess. Despite what circumstances or other people are telling you, you are a capable and caring individual. Focus on your best qualities—keeping your word, being a good parent, listening, persevering, being willing to ask for help, etc.
Build the other person’s confidence. Build others up instead of tearing them down. The more confident you both are, the better equipped you will be to weather the storms inherent in any relationship.
Share your confidence with others. By being confident and encouraging, you may win someone over to your side. Being on the same team is so much better for everyone’s confidence than being in opposing camps.
Remember self-confidence is always relative to the task and situation. Unfortunately, the same solution does not always work in every situation. Have confidence in yourself—instead of in the solution—and you can handle a variety of tasks and situations.
Have confidence in yourself and be willing to try one or more of these tips the next time you face a challenging problem or person. You can do it!