Affirmations

Affirmations are a deceptively simple device that can used by anyone.

Try to use this method whilst in the meditative state, when you are sitting at the traffic lights or when you are brushing your teeth. I have them set as my screen saver which pops up a couple of times a day.

An affirmation is simply a phrase summing up how you want to be.

To make affirmations effective they should be made in the present tense, be positively phrased and have an emotional reward. Some examples could be..

I like my (physical attitribute)
I am proud of my (attitude or achievement)
I love meeting people
Others appreciate my (attribute, opinion)

If you say these to yourself at least 5 times a day this positive self talk will start to overtake the negative.
Affirmations can also be used with visualisation.

Visualisation is also pretty easy as well and is simply running how you would like to be/act/look like a video in your mind.
If you are quite shy, you could imagine yourself in a group of people, confident, relaxed and calm. Imagine yourself, how you look, what you say, how you feel when you are confident.

It is important to include in this mind video the positive reactions from those around you and imagine a positive reaction from those around you.