All posts tagged: confidence

China Signals Confidence in Economy Despite Sluggish Growth and U.S. Trade War

China Signals Confidence in Economy Despite Sluggish Growth and U.S. Trade War

Published by Sam

China’s top leaders sought to project confidence in the country’s economy on Wednesday despite sluggish growth, an escalating trade war with the United States and growing geopolitical uncertainty caused by the Trump administration. The government will aim to expand China’s economy by “around 5 percent” this year, said Premier Li Qiang, China’s highest-ranking official after Xi Jinping, at the opening of the annual session of the country’s rubber-stamp legislature. Mr. Li acknowledged that the economy faced many challenges and that “arduous efforts” would be needed to meet the targets. But he struck a positive note about the country’s prospects, saying: “The underlying trend of long-term economic growth has not changed and will not change. The giant ship of China’s economy will continue to cleave the waves and sail steadily toward the future.” The meeting in Beijing, called the National People’s Congress, is a tightly scripted political pageant that runs for several days, showcasing how Mr. Xi plans to lead China through what he has often described as “great changes unseen in a century” in the …

Friday good news: Business confidence rises across South West and West Midlands

Friday good news: Business confidence rises across South West and West Midlands

Published by skeptic

Business confidence across the South West and West Midlands rose nine points during February to 42 per cent and 60 per cent respectively, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. While companies in the South West reported slightly lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down three points at 54 per cent, their optimism in the economy rose 10 points to 30 per cent. A net balance of 32 per cent of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up seven points on last month.  Looking ahead to the next six months, South West businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training and development, evolving their offering, for instance by launching new products or services and introducing new technology such as automation or AI.  Companies in the West Midlands reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up five points at 65 per cent. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 12 points to …

5 Habits To Give Up If You Want To Be Confident | Michele Molitor

5 Habits To Give Up If You Want To Be Confident | Michele Molitor

Published by skeptic

Do you seem to have lost your confidence somewhere — and want to be more confident as you get older? You can thank “Amy” for those confidence killers. Amy is your Amygdala. This almond-shaped structure is part of your ancient limbic brain, and its sole purpose is to keep you safe. It’s in charge of the fight, flight, or freeze response in your brain. Your amygdala unconsciously alerts you to danger nearby. “Amy” just wants to protect you and keep you out of harm’s way. This danger might be a snake in the grass, but it also might interpret your mean boss as a threat. Or a judgmental colleague, or a critical spouse — you get the idea. All of this internal dialogue can easily keep you feeling stuck and not able to move forward with confidence. Left unchecked, “Amy” (i.e., your fears) will run you ragged and leave you filled with regret. But when you see how your fears are hurting your confidence, you’ll be able to move past it. If your goal is to be more …

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote

Published by Sam

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will undergo a vote of confidence in Parliament on Monday, December 16. Michael Kappeler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday lost a confidence vote in the country’s Bundestag, clearing the path for an early election in February. Scholz was expected — and hoping — to lose the vote, which he had called for himself in November in order to trigger earlier-than-planned elections, which were originally scheduled for the fall of 2025. It marks only the sixth time in Germany’s history that such a vote has taken place, and the fourth time a president has fallen foul of the vote. Scholz said Monday that he had called the vote not only for parliament but the whole of the electorate. “Do we dare be a strong country, to invest powerfully in our future,” Scholz told lawmakers prior to the vote, according to a Google translation. Scholz sacked former Finance Minister Christian Lindner in November, effectively bringing an end to Germany’s ruling coalition which had been in power …

6 Subtle Things Husbands Secretly Wish Their Wives Would Do To Increase Their Confidence

6 Subtle Things Husbands Secretly Wish Their Wives Would Do To Increase Their Confidence

Published by skeptic

Confidence builds emotional security, and emotional security facilitates empathy. A caring married man is a man who is cared about and cared for by his wife. Sounds simple, but men’s mental well-being is often a challenge wrapped in a shroud of mystery. There are some simple ways to solve the mystery of building men’s confidence, and they all start with his wife’s positive presence showing up for him when needed. Here are six subtle things husbands secretly wish their wives would do to increase their confidence: 1. Acknowledge their insecurities View Apart via Shutterstock Ultimately, self-esteem is an inside job. Research from Oregon State University supports how many men fight insecurity at some level. Women can do some small basic things to help.   All men (not just your romantic partner): Look them straight in the eyes when they are talking and listen. Ask them questions that get under the facts to inquire how they are feeling. Allow them to feel however they want with compassion, not criticism. When they say something you think is …

15 Ways to Build Your Confidence

15 Ways to Build Your Confidence

Published by skeptic

Source: Moose Photos / Pexels We aren’t born with confidence; we cultivate it over time. There are factors that contribute to it and directly take away from it. Socio-cultural and familial constructs communicate subliminally and overtly about who we are and how we’re expected to be. How we navigate our relationships and how successful we perceive ourselves to be in all realms of life also impacts our self-concept. The degree to which we acquire self-efficacy, self-love, and self-compassion are further factors that contribute to our overall confidence. Our Values I frequently ask patients to consider the following, “Is this behavior or action going to contribute to my confidence or take away from it?” Pondering this question helps to establish whether or not a particular decision is guided by intrinsic formative values. Decisions that are guided by fundamental values are often more effectively processed. There’s increased consideration as to the possible conflicting values that are causing decision-making to be challenging, and there tends to be less residual negative emotions that get evoked such as regret, guilt, …

Cross Party Working Key For Green Investor Confidence, Says Environment APPG Chair

Cross Party Working Key For Green Investor Confidence, Says Environment APPG Chair

Published by Sam

Strathern after winning is by-election in October 2023 (Alamy) 4 min read11 August Cross-party working and consensus is key in giving investors confidence in the UK’s green agenda, according to new chair of the Environment APPG, Alistair Strathern. Strathern, who also serves as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ PPS, told PoliticsHome that the Treasury and the government are “unwavering” on the importance of the green agenda, despite the downgrading of the promised £28bn green prosperity plan earlier this year.  The Labour MP worked in climate at the Bank of England before being elected to Parliament for the first time last year.  He thinks that the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) is “really important” in terms of policy thinking, but also in building a sense of cross-party ambition beyond parliaments and governments, that could help attract long-term investment.  Strathern believes the group will be “leaning in behind the much more ambitious evidence-led approach this government is taking on climate and nature issues, but looking to do that in a way that builds out the cross party consensus …

Ditch the mirror and celebrate your strengths: therapists on 20 ways to boost your body confidence | Body image

Ditch the mirror and celebrate your strengths: therapists on 20 ways to boost your body confidence | Body image

Published by skeptic

Perhaps more than ever we are bombarded with images of other people’s bodies, and it is only human to compare ourselves with these unrealistic ideals. How can you learn to love your body for what it is? Therapists share their advice on improving body confidence. 1. Recognise that accepting your body matters “Your body is the longest friendship that you will ever have and it is important to take care of that relationship,” says Tasha Bailey, a therapist based in south-east London and author of the book Real Talk. Body confidence is a common cause of concern for her clients, “especially among women and non-binary people”, she says, and people are increasingly thinking about cosmetic procedures because they have become so normalised. 2. Know that we live in a difficult moment for body image “Over the past 15 years, beauty ideals have changed a lot: with AI, photo-editing and filters, they are more unrealistic than ever,” says Phillippa Diedrichs, professor of psychology at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England in …

The Clever Body Language Fix That Instantly Makes You A ’10’ | Robyn Wahlgast

The Clever Body Language Fix That Instantly Makes You A ’10’ | Robyn Wahlgast

Published by skeptic

Each year, hundreds of women seeking advice on how to get a boyfriend send me pictures of their favorite date outfits and their online dating profiles, hoping I can help them be more attractive to men. While your hairstyle, makeup, and clothing certainly deserve a thorough assessment, you mustn’t overlook another important “X factor” that’s a major key to your entire presentation of yourself but doesn’t always show up in a photo: your body language and the non-verbal communication you send with your posture. If you don’t believe that how you stand and carry yourself is a critical component of your overall appeal, think again. While most potential dates won’t consciously evaluate your body language, how you communicate via your body is crucial. Perhaps nowhere is this more important than in their unconscious assessment of whether or not you have good posture. It’s not a detail they’re likely to comment on or discuss, but it colors how they and others perceive you. Are you a potential partner or “just a friend”? RELATED: 4 Big Mistakes …

6 Little Habits Of People Who Have No Shame

6 Little Habits Of People Who Have No Shame

Published by skeptic

Shame can lock us in prison for life. I had lots of shame for many years around being shy and awkward at school, which infected my confidence growing up. I’ve realized that to be without shame is to know true freedom, joy, and self-expression.  Here are 6 little habits of people who have no shame: 1. They understand that shame is nothing more than a thought you have been habitually trusting The shame you feel about some ‘truth’ or past event is your emotional experience of an idea you hold in your mind. It seems true because thoughts can appear genuine. But they are things you made up in your head. It’s all perception, and you feel that idea in the body when you cling to it. That’s ALL we’re dealing with. OK, now we’re starting to cook with gas… RELATED: 5 Simple Ways To Combat Obsessive Negative Thoughts — And Become A More Positive Person 2. They identify their sources of shame Get out a paper and pen, and note down some situations in …