ধর্মই মননশীলতা ও সৃষ্টিশীলতার সবচেয়ে বড় অন্তরায় It’s our mind that makes, us, human beings different from other living beings and it’s mental toughness and self confidence that makes you different from other people. This can be developed through practice. Here are five strategies that will be helpful. Meditation: Meditation is thought to be one of the ancient means of gaining mental toughness and self confidence. Still now it holds the same significance as before. Meditation helps to remove your stress. It pacifies your mind by taking you “Far from the Madding Crowd” of our busy life. If you meditate properly and regularly it helps to improve your habitual and unconscious behavior that results in positive physical and mental functioning. In order to gain mental toughness and self confidence you must trust yourself. It has very little to do with your external attire. You must have a good control over mind in order to be confident. To control your mind is somehow to control over anything. And meditation can help you in this regard. Meditation can be of various types. It must help you even if you meditate for 15 minutes twice a day. Fear is not fair: “Cowards die many times before their death.” You don’t want to be a coward. If you want something fair you must kick fear. It is fear that decreases your confidence day by day. So, you have to follow Edgar Allan Poe who says, “The best way to increase self confidence is to do the things you fear to do…” Fear generates more fear and courage begets more confidence and mental strength. Always be prepared: Uncertainty and unexpected circumstances are part and parcel of our life. Very little of those we can control. As you can never avoid those it’s better to prepare yourself to take each day as the way it comes. If you are prepared you can confidently face those and utilize whatever strengths you have. However, you might not succeed at one go but don’t let your failure pull you down. Instead, analyze the mistakes you made and amend your flaws. This way you are more likely to be better prepared and succeed next time. Thus you acquire self confidence to face the unthinkable. Be true to yourself: You can deceive everyone but yourself. You need to love yourself to be confident. If you think what you are going to do is right you will be confident. There must be a transparent and accountable for your actions. Truth is always strength. So, don’t try to be someone you are not. This honesty brings strength to your mind. “Always be a first grade version of yourself rather than a second grade version of somebody else.” Think positive: Every bud is born to bloom and so are you. Irrespective of your differences you all possess something unique. Instead of comparing yourself with others focus on the qualities you have and guide them in the direction which will help you to discover your positive strength. Psychologists say that the outcome of your challenge depends on the way you look at it. So, if you think positively outcome will also be a positive one. If you are weighing only the drawbacks of the situations you are overlooking the possibilities at the same time. So, it can be asserted that mental toughness or self confidence lies within “You”. It’s only you who can see or feel the change through conscious efforts. Apart from the strategies mentioned above some motivating books or successful stories can help you too. Let’s practice and be tough mentally and be self confident.