Welcome to this post about how to boost your confidence!
Imagine giving a speech in front of over a thousand people. Imagine being sure about getting an A+ on a math test. And, imagine doing whatever you want to do without caring about what anyone else will say or think.
All those things take confidence. The feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. Well, confidence doesn’t have to be as complicated as that definition, but it’s definitely not something that you can buy or attain easily. Nobody’s born with confidence; it comes from life experiences, like facing obstacles and doing things that scare you.
You may think that confidence is only needed for people of authority, like the president. However, it is because of confidence that one can be such a power of authority. Confidence is used in our everyday lives, whether you notice it not. It takes confidence to talk to a stranger, to set goals, and try new things. As well as this, confidence is a huge part of our life and our future. It helps us work hard to achieve our goals, do things regardless of what other people say, and it makes us a more positive person.
Throughout life, we often have negative thoughts that stop us from being the best we can be. The fear of failing, receiving bad judgment from others, thinking that we’re not capable enough. Confidence is the solution to this problem. It is like a wand that can make all those negative thoughts disappear. But, obviously, this wand doesn’t come easily.
Confidence isn’t just a word to describe one’s personality; confidence is a state of mind. It determines your next actions and goals, as well as thinking positive and focusing on the future, not your past.
In order to be the best we can be and give 100% of our effort to whatever we do in life, we must be confident about it. But, how do we boost our confidence? Do we just sit around and wait for it to appear in our personality or do we take action and work hard to gain action? Of course, the second option is correct. So, if you want to boost your confidence and are willing to work hard towards being confident, you’ve come to the right place. This blog is about how to boost your confidence so that you can live life how you want to live! Read on to learn about 10 things you can do to gain confidence.
1. Know and accept yourself
Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu, author of the internationally acclaimed book The Art of War, said, “Know yourself and you will win all battles.” Even in the battle with lack of confidence, you will need to know yourself to win.
Knowing yourself starts with understanding that people are not all the same, neither are all social situations suitable for everyone. You might not be confident in large gatherings, but you could be bold and confident in one-on-one and small group interactions. We all have our own unique gifts and unique ways of expressing ourselves. Embrace yours!
Introverts, for example, have a quiet confidence that is, unfortunately, often confused for shyness. They are naturally low key and prefer to spend time alone. However, this natural disposition affords them certain unique gifts, such as an ability to listen better than most people and notice things that others don’t.
Your uniqueness is where your strength and advantage lies. You won’t be comfortable and confident in all situations all the time.
www.lifehack.org
2. Trust your own voice
Often times in our lives, we get influenced by other people regardless of whether or not they’re right. If someone tells us to do something, our instant response is to do exactly that. And, if someone tells us that we’re wrong, we think that we are. However, just because someone else says they’re right, that doesn’t mean they are 100% correct.
When we do something to try to please another, we don’t always do what our heart wants to do. In order to be confident, you must trust your own voice, not someone else’s. When you do something for yourself and trust that you’re right, that’s when the confidence kicks in. That’s when you truly believe in yourself, and you know that you can achieve something if you commit to it.
3. Get out of your comfort zone
In order to become confident, you have to do things that are out of your comfort zone. If you spend your whole life in one bubble, you won’t be secure when that bubble pops. This is because you would be used to doing the same things every day, not being able to experience all the different adventures in the world.
To become confident, you must do things differently. Face your fears by doing things that scare you. Gain new knowledge by learning something you don’t already know. Have more memories by going on different adventures. All these things can prepare you for what the real world is like, making you confident in your ability to handle it.
4. Focus on what you can control
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, ups and downs, and new surprises. So, why do we always try to control every aspect of our lives, every second?
Life is supposed to be adventurous, but if we try to control it all the time, it limits our experiences and advancement. Moreover, by trying to be in control of our lives, we become a hindrance in our progress to be confident. By wanting to have control over everything, we get anxious when something new comes into our lives. In order to be confident, we must embrace all things in life and take everything as a blessing.
5. Act positively
“More than just thinking positive, you have to put it into action. Action, actually, is the key to developing self-confidence. It’s one thing to learn to think positive, but when you start acting on it, you change yourself, one action at a time. You are what you do, and so if you change what you do, you change what you are. Act in a positive way, take action instead of telling yourself you can’t, be positive. Talk to people in a positive way, put energy into your actions. You’ll soon start to notice a difference.” (zenhabits.net)
6. Embrace a growth mindset
Just because you got an F on one test doesn’t mean you’re going to get it all the time. Just because you made one mistake doesn’t mean you’re going to make that same mistake all the time. And, just because you aren’t able to accomplish something doesn’t mean you will never be able to.
By embracing a growth mindset, you know that you can improve and be better than before. A growth mindset is key to overcoming your self-doubt. All because you know that you can and will grow. This will help you view your challenges as opportunities and your setbacks as progress. Embrace a growth mindset, and you’ll soar higher than you ever imagined.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
7. Defy your imposter syndrome
Impostor syndrome is a nasty mental bug that convinces you that your accomplishments don’t really count and that you’re going to be found out as a fraud. This doubt can creep in because it’s easier to remember faults but more difficult to remember successes. Make a habit of periodically writing down or reflecting on times you’ve done things well. It’s easier to be confident in your abilities when you remember them.
www.nytimes.com
The feeling of accomplishment is none like another. Be proud of what you accomplished, no matter how big or how small, and know that what you did was a result of YOUR hard work and YOUR dedication!
8. Try a new look
How you dress can affect how other people perceive you, but it can also affect how you perceive yourself. Wearing different clothes can prompt you to think or behave differently. This effect isn’t just limited to feeling good about yourself. Dr. Adam D. Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, found that participants in a study who wore a white lab coat exhibited more focused attention. In other words, when people dressed like a doctor, they behaved more like a doctor, or at least how they thought a doctor might behave. If you want to feel more confident, dress the way a confident version of yourself would.
www.nytimes.com
9. Be prepared
Life is supposed to include failure, rejections, and obstacles. Without them, how do we as humans improve ourselves and become better? If you experience failure and obstacles, you’re not alone. Everybody faces them, but the question is not when they will happen, but how to handle them.
In order to be confident, you must prepare yourself for the possibility of getting rejected. Learn a new skill, like public speaking, that will help you if you do get rejected. And, don’t take any rejections personally, as they are just a part of life. Instead, look at them as a lesson to be learned from. So that you can learn from your mistakes and move on in life!
10. Sit straight, walk tall, and smile
Sit straight. Walk tall. Smile. Yes, you; not the person next to you, not your neighbor, YOU! Everyone has their own specialties and skills they bring to the world, including you. Don’t think that you’re worse than someone else, as that is not definitely not true. You are awesome, just like everyone else is. So, sit straight, walk tall, and smile! By doing this, you can not only appear confident, but tell yourself that you are. Experts say that by doing this, you can boost your mood, improve your self-esteem, and have more confidence in your thoughts.
So, what are you waiting for? Stand tall and walk proudly, like the brave person you are!
The Takeaway:
When you think of confident people, don’t just think of celebrities and people of authority; think of people who aren’t afraid to chase their dreams, people who don’t care what others will say, and people who work hard towards being the best they can be. Are you that person? If yes, awesome! If not, will you work towards becoming that person? (The correct answer is yes.)
Confidence can improve all aspects of our lives, whether personally or career-wise. Career-wise, if you are confident during an interview, you could land your dream job! And on the other hand, if you appear confident, you could have the chance to meet new people and start new friendships. The main point, though, is that having confidence in yourself automatically opens up so many opportunities that you maybe wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
However, there is a downside to confidence. While it is a ‘state of mind,’ don’t let too much confidence get in your head. This leads to overconfidence and more importantly, arrogance. Stay humble, and be thankful for what you have in life!
In order to be confident, you must believe in yourself. Don’t let other peoples’ judgments let you give up. Don’t start doubting yourself for trivial reasons. And, if you really want to achieve something, don’t let anything stop you from doing so. Remember why you started, and how far you’ve come! It all starts with a change of mindset, a switch from negative to positive.
The tips to boost your confidence mentioned in this article include:
- Know and accept yourself
- Trust your own voice
- Get out of your comfort zone
- Focus on what you can control
- Act positively
- Embrace a growth mindset
- Defy your imposter syndrome
- Try a new look
- Be prepared
- Sit straight, walk tall, and smile!
For more information, I highly recommend reading the book: Unstoppable Self Confidence: How to create the indestructible, natural confidence of the 1% who achieve their goals, create success on demand and live life on their terms. Along with this, check out this TED video on how to build your confidence — and spark it in others.
Hopefully, this blog inspired and helped you to start becoming more confident in life! Good luck with becoming the better, more positive, and more confident version of yourself!
“Confidence comes naturally with success. But, success comes only to those, who are confident.”