‘How Confidence Works’ – Innovating Community Health series in Tallaght

‘How Confidence Works – what are its enemies, and why it is important to our health’ was the title of the second talk in the ‘Innovating Community Health’ series, which is being co-hosted by Trinity College Dublin, the Academic Primary Care Centre Tallaght and An Cosán education centre in Tallaght.

The talk was delivered by Prof Ian Robertson, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin and co-director of the Global Brain Health Institute.

A member of the Academia Europaea and the Royal Irish Academy, Prof Robertson is a trained clinical psychologist and neuroscientist and is known internationally for his research on neuropsychology.

During the talk, which was attended by over 100 people online, including members of An Cosán’s University of the Third Age (U3A) group, Prof Robertson gave tips for boosting self-confidence and coping with stress.

He talked about how confidence was a self-fulfilling prophecy because of its effect on our brains.

Having confidence leads us to expect success and we all have the power to boost our confidence with good habits, like simple breathing techniques.

He recommended stopping to take regular breath pauses during the day by breathing in slowly for the count of four and then breathing out for the count of six.

He said that doing this simple exercise was a simple way to calm ourselves and reduce our stress levels, no matter what was going on around us.

“We all have the capacity to have more control over our emotions and to be happier,” he said.

“Check your words and monitor what you say to yourself.

“Confidence is critical because it empowers action – sometimes you have to fake it until you make it.

“Bring to mind who you are and your core values. By affirming these values, you will build confidence.”

You can find out more about the Innovating Community Health talks here >> https://www.tcd.ie/healthsciences/events/apcc2122.php