How's your self-confidence?

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

1. If someone insists on arguing with me even though I know I'm right, I keep arguing until they see it my way.

2. If the people sitting behind me at a movie are making it impossible for me to hear, I get an usher to ask them to stop.

3. If my supervisor is explaining something to me that I don't understand, I try to figure it out on my own rather than asking questions.

4. If I say something that offends someone, when I realize the mistake, I just chalk it up to human nature.

5. If I had committed to attend a company party but came down with a virus that day, I would force myself to go to the party anyway.

6. If someone I was dating steadily suddenly stopped calling, I would convince myself that the relationship wasn't meant to be.

(If you answered yes to more odd-numbered questions, you may be over-asserting yourself to compensate feelings of inferiority. More even numbered yes answers means you shy away from opportunities to exercise self confidence. The more no answers you gave, the more self-confident you are.)

How to boost your self-esteem.

Learn something new every day.

Cultivate relationships with people who make you feel important - people whose accomplishments you admire.

Do something everyday which you do well.

Change those things about yourself that bother you. If you can't, stop brooding.

Never, never give up.

Treat yourself kindly.

Take risks.

Acknowledge your shortcomings.

Set goals realistic enough to be attainable, yet difficult enough to be a challenge.

Aerobic exercise enhances feelings of positive well-being and zest for life, and gives you a good body image.

Take care of yourself, physically and emotionally.