Unlock Your Confidence by Dr Gary Wood

This book explores how to build confidence by focusing on making changes in three core behavioural areas – Feelings, Actions and Thoughts. Psychologist and life coach Gary Wood shows how, once we understand the interaction between these three areas we can develop lasting confidence at work, in our relationships and, in fact, in every aspect of our life. Throughout, the emphasis is on building on your existing strengths and skills, working with what you already do well in order to grow to greater confidence. We learn the importance of seeing confidence as a ‘whole body’ phenomenon and of looking after your health, ensuring adequate rest and sound nutrition as vital for building your sense of inner strength.

The author provides practical advice on body language and voice projection skills so that you can ‘act’ confidently while you build your underlying level of self-belief. However, Dr Wood also emphasises that behaving in accordance with your values and deeply held beliefs is essential to developing lasting confidence. Ensuring that you understand what really matters to you in life is a major step toward the faith in yourself that underpins true confidence.

Finally, the book reveals how to build strength and resilience so that you bounce back from the temporary setbacks that can occur as you start to move out of your comfort zone and into the life you truly want. The book features questionnaires and practical exercises to help the reader put the ideas into practice, and is extremely user-friendly and accessible, with chapter previews and summaries ensuring that you are clear on the key points and action plans. Case studies and examples from the author’s practice help to ground the advice in real-life scenarios and provide realistic and achievable strategies for change.