Guessing how people percieve you or what they think about you might cost an opportunity for a great friendship. No one can read another person's mind or heart, so try not to constantly worry about what other people think. Be yourself and be honest, and let time produce the truest of friends.
Surrounding yourself with positive people will aid you in gaining self confidence. Positive energy is contagious and these types of people will always encourage you to reach for your goals, giving you the confidence you need to succeed. Surrounding yourself with negativity has the exact opposite effect as they will not encourage you when you need that vital lift.
A key to personal development is setting priorities and developing a game plan. Setting priorities enables you to focus on what is important and eliminates wasted time on things that are not essential to reaching your goals. Having a game plan will reduce stress and help make big goals more manageable.
As the above article discussed, the establishment and maintenance of boundaries whether it's in relation to others or our own behavior is a useful self-improvement tool. Whether it is relationships where we compromise or tolerate behaviors that do not coincide with our value system or whether it's eating foods we do not want to eat, it is important to identify and maintain boundaries in order to achieve successful change.