How to Grow a Backbone and Change Your Life

Having a backbone means that you have to speak your mind, take risks, stand up for yourself and others, be trusted, and take on a position and hold it. Most people don't have them. Physically they do, but mentally, they don't. For many it is hard to stand up for what you believe in and get others to do the same. Most take the back seat while the "man in charge" delivers orders. Now it's your time to shine, your time to grow one. This article is for every shy, under confident person, that is tired of living a spineless miserable life. You are going to start speaking your mind, losing your fear of opposition, and you're going to stop going with the majority even when it goes against what you believe. You can follow these simple steps to begin growing a backbone and living a healthier life.

The first component of growing a backbone is being Competent. Competence means that you are self sufficient. You don't need anybody to take care of your business for you. You can take care of your own necessities of life. If you are not completely competent, then you have to start being it. If that means going back to school and getting that degree, or learning something new to help make your life better, or going for that lifelong dream of yours, you have to get the competence you need to make your backbone grow.

Confidence is key when it comes to growing a spine. You need confidence. If you are really going to grow a backbone, you are going to have to stop "not believing" in yourself. You are just as special as everybody else in the world; you just have to believe it. You have to convince yourself that you have what it takes and you can do better job than the next guy. You have to get comfortable in your own skin. If that means you have to go to a couple of self esteem workshops, or spend several hours in the gym getting buff, so be it.

Start risk taking. If you are ready to plunge into a new career or ready to venture out into the unknown, then do it! Stop letting risks stop you. I am not saying go to Vegas and drop all of your savings on Russian Roulette; I am simply saying, stop being afraid to take a risk or two, non gambling. Making eye contact with your fellow co workers can be a risk for some, or standing up to your boss when you are being disrespected. Ask the question you always wanted or say what you feel, yeah, you may get in trouble, but then again you may get the response you have always wanted. Don't be afraid, live a little, and take a risk.

Why do you need a backbone? You need it because you might fail without it. I am not saying test failing, but life failing. You may end up in a dead end job, working for people who barely pay you and don't respect you. You dread going home to your family because you feel that you don't have a place. When all of your friends want to go to a ballgame and you the movies, you just take the back seat and enjoy the miserable ride. You don't have fun, you don't enjoy your life, and you let the world tell you how to live. This is why it is vital, essential to your own happiness that you grow one. You have to stop being the scrawny nerd that everybody picks on and head to the gym or Tai Kwon Do classes and start growing your backbone.

So no more excuses! Don't be afraid anymore to say what you feel, don't worry about the next guy; don't make anymore excuses for yourself to have to take the back seat. Live a little, change that spineless gut into a strong backbone; you can do it you just have to believe.