Finding Self-Confidence

What does it take to succeed? You might think you need lots of money and powerful friends. However, there’s a more significant factor that’s free and within your reach: self-confidence.

Self-confidence may be your most valuable resource. It has a powerful impact on your behavior and experiences. It’s a mindset that gives you motivation and helps you to reach your goals. You deserve to be happy and fulfilled – do you believe that? If not, try this foolproof formula for increasing your faith in yourself.

Building Your Confidence

Even the most confident people on the planet have times when they feel unsure of themselves. The great thing about self-confidence though is that it’s not something you’re born with – it’s a learned skill that you can develop. You might need to fake it sometimes, but gradually you’ll accept and trust yourself more no matter what’s going on in your life.

Practice these things daily to begin to build yourself up and improve your confidence:

1. Review your achievements. It’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. Give yourself credit for your major accomplishments and the incremental progress you make each day.
2. Set goals. Keep adding to your track record by creating specific and compelling goals for the short and long term. Making an effort is just as important as the end results.
   • Especially at the beginning of your journey, make sure you include a good amount of short-term goals that are easier to attain. Achieving a goal is a great boost to your confidence, even if it was a small goal!
3. Change your inner dialogue. How do you talk to yourself? Choose words that lift you up and inspire you to try harder. Also, try your best to never talk down to yourself or say self-deprecating things, even in jest. Your brain has a way of taking the words you say literally!
   • Here’s an example of how to turn a self-deprecating phrase around. If a friend invites you to one of those paint and sip places, instead of saying something like “I’m a terrible artist” say something like “I don’t have a lot of practice with art.”
4. Continue learning. Maybe you need additional resources and qualifications to pursue your passions. Take courses online, read books, and talk with others about their areas of expertise.
5. Think positive. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and hope. Start your day with a smile, and savor small pleasures. Write some self-affirmations on your bathroom mirror or on a sticky note on your computer monitor – anywhere that you will see it every day. A simple change of mindset can work wonders on your day and your life.

Taking Care of Yourself

Your daily choices reflect how much you value yourself. If you adopt habits that protect your physical and mental wellbeing, you are much more likely to be confident in yourself and your abilities.

Here are some examples of habits you can try:

1. Exercise regularly. Physical activity reduces stress and increases hormones that help you to feel calm and happy. Aim for at least 2 hours of moderate exercise each week – at least enough to get your heart rate up!
2. Eat healthily. It’s easier to have confidence when your energy levels are high, and your blood sugar is stable. Enjoy a diet rich in nutritious whole foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Avoid excess salt and sugar.
3. Sleep well. While there is a lot of debate over how much sleep people need and what works best, you know yourself. Make it a priority in your life to stick to whatever sleep habits work best for you and make you feel the best. Here is some of the most common advice for sleeping better:
   • Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed
   • Only sleep in your bedroom – avoid doing other things like watching TV or working
   • Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake time, even on the weekends
   • Develop a before-bed routine and do it every single day (this prepares your brain, letting it know that you’re getting ready to go to sleep, so you can “turn it off” when you’re ready to go to bed)
4. Manage stress. How do you deal with daily tensions? Learn constructive coping strategies to ensure that you actively deal with stress as it comes, instead of bottling it all up until you explode.
   • Working out is a great way to manage stress, but you can’t very well leave your business meeting and run to the gym! Other options you can try to relieve stress at work or in social situations are to practice deep breathing, recite a self-affirmation or mantra, or massage your hands.
   • Try to also develop a proactive approach to stress management so you can avoid getting stressed out in the first place. You could develop a daily self-care practice, dig deeper into your faith, and/or try meditation.

Reaching Out for Support

Believing in yourself also means being realistic. Relying on others can sometimes be a sign of wisdom and strength.

Try these strategies:

1. Advocate for yourself. Mutually supportive relationships are based on healthy boundaries and asking for help when you need it. Communicate tactfully and directly and allow yourself to be vulnerable.
2. Network actively. Build a strong network of personal and professional contacts. Join clubs and go to places where you can meet others who share your interests. Nurture your relationships by staying in touch and being willing to communicate on a deeper level where you share your thoughts and feelings.
3. Find a mentor. Working with a trusted advisor is a great way to gain guidance and valuable feedback about your career path and other aspects of your life. Look for someone you can relate to and be respectful of their time. You can start with someone you know or ask your contacts for introductions.
4. Be generous. Giving to others can increase your regard for yourself in many ways. In addition to making yourself more popular, you’ll see proof that you have strengths that can make a positive impact on the world and your community.

Final Thoughts

Self-confidence is one of those things that you never seem to have enough of, so these strategies can help no matter how confident you are right now! Believe in yourself and your abilities. You ARE worth all of the time and energy you can put into building up your confidence. Love yourself for who you are and create the life you want.