It could be you are over-thinking things. Allow you to be you and cut yourself some breaks. Just do, and let the chips fall where they may.

Get into yoga. During the stretching and then relaxing session, the instructor plays soft, soothing music that helps you get deeply comfortable in your own skin, go to the deepest, darkest, most absolute center core of your being, and that being is wonderful.

Being aware of anything that's getting in your way, is helpful.

Determination can overcome most anything. When you look back over the day or week, focus on all the things you did right.

You know sweetie, I used to have stage fright. I would just go numb and turn every shade of red known to man. But I started singing in a choir, and after doing it for a few months, I started to feel really good about it and now I can sing solos. I just finally let go and did it for myself because it just made me feel happy.

Everyone has to find their confort zone, give it time and I bet you will find you are doing just fine. Or maybe this is just not the volunteer job you really want? And sometimes it is just the people you work with, maybe not a good match. :)

I used to be like that too...then one day I just said screw it! Trust me...everyone you see, no matter how "confident" they seem has the same worries and feelings! At this point in my life I really don't care what anyone else thinks of me :) You will get there...it just takes time! Take care B!!

I have the same problem, and this thread really helped me. There is some really great advice here!

Remind yourself how wonderful you are to volunteer. I am sure there is a lot of great things about yourself that you forget to tell yourself. Look in the mirror every morning and remind yourself how wonderful you are.

once you find what you are passionate about you will feel right. you just haven't found the happiest thing yet. it takes time. for me, being a stay at home mom makes me happy. I've had part time jobs off and on but I always come back to being a mom. It's what's right for me. You just need to find what is right for you. Don't give up trying

Being in love and making love helps too. It helps one feel comfortable in one's own skin when one is comfortable in another's skin. Are you married or involved physically with someone?

I use to be the same way and it was due to the past, and how I was treated by others. An example: When I was in school, from pre school all the way through high school, I got mostly D's. F's and an occasional C. In my 30"s I went back to school and was scared to death! However, I got all A's and B;s and 1 C throughout my entire college career. It was perseverance, believing in myself, and not letting the past speak for my future. I have all of the confidence in the world in you and I know you can find that confidence too. Don't give up on yourself, because you are the most important person in this world. Don't ever forget that. Hugs GB

Thank you all for the wonderful responses and advice. I am determined to build my confidence.

Koolman, unfortunately I am single.

Cypress, I am glad this helps you, too!

Oh darn... I thought this was going to be a how to thread.

You see it is winter where I usually pack on a few pounds and I was thinking.... well I was thinking i just wanted to be comfortable this winter....

Thanks for the laugh, doghunter!!

try this one; think of your intellect as you and view everything else as an ape that has been given to you to care for. it is a lot easier to be sympathetic and understanding with something or someone you are caring for :)

once you do that, observe the strengths and weaknesses of your ape and try to understand why it is good at some things and bad at other things. get to know it as much as possible so you can figure out what you can change by taking action and what is just a part of who that ape is and needs to be just accepted.

we are all lovable and precious but lose sight of that by placing too many expectations on ourselves. i might find it easy to be judgemental about myself but I could not do that to an animal under my care :)

*silverback hugs*