Everyone struggles with their self-confidence, even those who seem the most self-assured. Building confidence in oneself and being able to outwardly project that confidence starts with a strong sense of self-worth, which is at the heart of your self-esteem. Others often admire people that are self-confident and inspire confidence in those that are around them. They can face their fears head-on and are seen as risk takers. They know that no matter what challenges they face and what obstacles come their way, they can move past them. Self-confident people look at their lives in a positive light, even when things are going wrong. They also tend to be more satisfied with themselves and have healthy self-respect.If you suffer from low self-confidence, don't worry, it isn't a life sentence. Confidence, like any other skill, can be learned and mastered. Once you have mastered it, everything in your life will change. Self-confidence comes down to one question: if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to believe in you? If you are currently struggling with low self-confidence, know that you are not alone. Everyone on the planet has suffered from low self-confidence in their lives. If a particularly tough situation has shattered your confidence, here are five powerful ways you can boost your self-confidence and help you become less vulnerable to all of life’s future adversity.
Practice Self Love Every Day
Building your self-esteem and confidence doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s actually super easy and takes less than a minute! This little trick is based on a couple of well-known psychology principles. The first one is called the facial feedback hypothesis.Basically, it means that if you force yourself to smile, your emotions will follow suit. Yep, just by smiling, you can trick your brain into feeling positive vibes thanks to that simple action.The second principle? Tons of research backs the idea that positive affirmations work wonders on your subconscious.There’s a bunch of studies showing how saying positive things out loud can totally boost your mood and emotions.Take it from Brian Tracy, the self-help and public speaking pro—he’s been telling everyone about this simple trick forever. All you do is stand in front of a mirror and say, “I like myself, I like myself, I like myself,” while looking yourself in the eyes.Sure, it might feel a bit goofy at first, but trust me, you probably won’t even make it to five repetitions before you’re smiling or laughing! It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a total confidence booster. Give it a try—you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
Check Your Body Language
Looking to feel more confident? One super easy hack is to own your body language. Yeah, it sounds simple, but studies totally back this up—just by striking a confident pose, you can trick your brain into feeling instantly more self-assured.
Here’s how to nail that confident body language:
- First things first—stand up straight. Imagine there’s a string pulling you up from the base of your spine all the way to the top of your head. Let that invisible string do its thing and lift you up!
- Next, roll those shoulders back and down. Keep your chest level. Trust me, this makes a difference.
- Now, relax a little. Slightly bend your knees, take a deep breath, and yep, smile. It does wonders.
Standing tall and owning your space (while still looking chill) is the secret sauce for coming off as confident and feeling it too. Another quick tip? Try a “power pose.” It’s basically standing like a champion. Picture yourself winning Olympic gold—hands up in a big “V,” feet apart, head held high, and a huge smile. Hold that pose for a solid minute. While you’re at it, breathe nice and deep into your belly. With every breath, picture yourself taking up more space—like you could fill the whole room. By the end of that minute, you’ll probably feel like you can take on the world.
Train Your Brain
Feeling low on confidence? It might just be because your brain won’t stop pointing out what’s “missing” or what you think you don’t have. Honestly, we’re all guilty of it—focusing way too much on the stuff we think we lack instead of appreciating what we’ve got going on. Here’s a tip: flip the script. Each day, take a second to actually think about your good traits. Yep, the awesome stuff about you that you totally overlook. Make it a habit to remind yourself of all the wins, big or small, you’ve got in your life right now. Let’s be real—some of the nastiest things we hear actually come from our own heads. That little inner voice? It’s not always the nicest. And when it starts going overboard with the negativity, your confidence can take a serious hit. But there’s hope! Strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy can help you give that inner critic a reality check. It’s all about learning to question those negative thoughts and figuring out if there’s actually any truth to them (spoiler alert: there probably isn’t). And don’t forget to celebrate yourself! Seriously, cheer yourself on, give yourself a compliment, or treat yourself to something awesome. Shift the focus away from that negative self-talk and start building yourself up—you totally deserve it.
Remember Past Achievements
When you’re feeling down about yourself or not-so-confident, try thinking back to a moment that made you really happy and proud. It could be as simple as a nice email from a coworker saying “great job!” or a heartfelt compliment from a friend, family member, or partner about something awesome you did. Think about moments when you earned something special—whether it was an award, medal, or even a great grade on something you worked hard on. The key is to focus on something that fills you with a happy, warm, “I did that!” kind of vibe.To really bring those good feelings back, grab a keepsake from that moment—a trophy, a letter, a photo—whatever reminds you of it. Look at it, hold it, and let yourself soak in those happy emotions again. Those moments are proof of how amazing and capable you are. The more you remind yourself of that, the more your confidence will grow.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Let’s face it, nobody’s totally safe from crossing paths with people who just zap your energy and mess with your confidence. So, to keep your confidence intact, it’s all about who you hang out with. Take a good, hard look at your relationships and figure out how to cut back on time with the people who bring you down—or even let them go altogether. Stick with the people who actually have your back and who give off good vibes. They’ll give you the positivity you need to stay confident. Seriously, make it a goal to surround yourself with people who fill your life with love, warmth, and care—you totally deserve it. When you’ve got a solid group of positive people cheering you on, giving you confidence boosts, and supporting you no matter what, you’ll feel unstoppable. Nobody will be able to shake your self-esteem. Having these kinds of relationships is a total game-changer—they’ll help pick you up when you’re feeling down. And as for those people who just drain you emotionally? Limit how much you deal with them. Seriously, keep them in the “text only” zone—emails, voicemails, or messages only. Giving yourself that space will make it way easier to stop them from wrecking your confidence with their negativity. The people you spend the most time with can really shape your confidence, so stick with the ones who lift you up and make you feel good about yourself. You’ll be amazed at how much more confident you’ll feel when you’ve surrounded yourself with positive energy.
Conclusion
Life is full of challenges, and maintaining your confidence can sometimes feel overwhelming. During these moments, take a step back and create a list of everything you're grateful for and all the milestones you've achieved so far. Put this list somewhere visible—like your refrigerator or a bulletin board—so you can glance at it whenever your self-confidence starts to waver. If you're struggling with low self-esteem, these five transformative techniques can guide you toward feeling more confident in yourself and your journey. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back from chasing your dreams and becoming the best version of yourself. With dedication and the right mindset, you can rebuild your self-confidence and start living a more joyful, fulfilling life.
Until Next time,
Stephanie Kay
Add comment
Comments