“Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honourable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

 

Simply put, Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s own abilities, qualities and judgment. The capacity to stand solid is a useful resource when confronting life’s challenges. Confident people have a positive perception of themselves and carry themselves in a way which reflects that. There is a huge body of research that suggests confidence is an important ingredient for physical and psychological well-being. However, self-confidence does not come naturally to all and a dearth of self-confidence has a huge negative impact on your health and lifestyle.

 

But, there are ways to work on improving your self-confidence. It’s a matter of changing your self-beliefs and doing so will take some effort and work. Simply looking into the mirror and telling yourself things like, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, People like me,” etc. wouldn’t hurt, but there are many other more effective and practical, effective tools you can use.

 

10 Tips On How You Can Improve Your Self-Confidence:

Recall Your Achievements: It’s easy to lose confidence if you believe you haven’t achieved anything. Make a list of all the things you’re proud of in your life, whether it’s getting good scores on an exam or learning a brand new skill. Keep the list close by and add to it whenever you do something you’re proud of. When you’re low in confidence, pull out the list and use it to remind yourself of all the awesome achievements.

Identify Your Strengths, Work On Your Weaknesses: Take some time to reflect on things you are good at. Consider positive things others have said about you. Focus on these things and strive to integrate these activities into your daily life. Similarly, reflect on areas in your life which need improvement. Consider ways in which you could improve in both – work and personal life, and set goals to improve these attributes.

Explore Things That Make You Uncomfortable: Confidence is ultimately about being comfortable in a wide variety of situations that would make most people uncomfortable. Stretching your comfort zone bit by bit, you’ll have a large comfort zone and feel increasingly comfortable even when outside of it. This need not be daunting changes but also simpler activities like striking up a conversation with someone new if you’re normally shy, or trying out new food. Remember, it’s more important that you regularly expand your comfort zone rather than occasionally throw yourself into the deep end.

Engage In Positive Self-Talk: The things we tell ourselves hold great power. You might want to take a closer look at the conversations you have with yourself. When you catch yourself being overly critical or making negative predictions about your chances of success, take a pause and reflect, “What would I say to a friend who was thinking like this?” Chances are, you’d likely offer some compassionate words of encouragement. For some reason, it’s much easier to be kind to others than it is to be kind to ourselves. Self-compassion is the key to helping you feel better about yourself. Changing the pattern of your inner dialogue can shift your mind-set over time, so your brain will begin to recognize that you’re more capable and competent than you give yourself credit for.

Let Go Of Negativity: It’s easier said than done. The first step is recognizing what it is that causes this negativity. This can be difficult because, often, negative things can be so deep-rooted and constant in our lives, that we don’t even realize that they are a problem. When you catch yourself feeling poorly, think about what is causing that feeling. Once you identify it, take steps to remove that negativity from your life.

Set Realistic Goals: for yourself – that you know you’re capable of achieving. Work on setting realistic goals by breaking your big dreams down into small steps. For example, if your dream is to run a marathon, work on your speed and stamina over a period of time in smaller intervals. Every small goal you complete, brings along a self-esteem boost and propels you one step closer to achieving your dream!

Get A Hobby: Find something that you’re really passionate about – it could be photography, sports, knitting, singing or anything else! When you’ve worked out your passion, commit yourself to giving it a go. Your passion is more likely to keep you motivated and you’ll build skills more quickly.

Start Working Out: Many people start working out to lose weight or build muscle, but exercise provides a huge boost to your self-confidence. The American Psychological Association has noted that exercise improves your mood, and along with regular treatment and therapy, helps combat depression and anxiety. It helps improve your confidence overtime.

Defy Your Own Impostor 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 your failures as opposed to your 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.

Adjust Your Posture: Much like how you dress, the posture you adopt can affect how you feel about yourself. While it might feel a little silly at first (remember that tip about stepping outside your comfort zone), trying out powerful stances can help adjust your frame of mind. Research suggests that something as simple sitting up straight can make you feel more confident in what you’re doing.

Everyone struggles with confidence issues at one time or another – for the most part, its normal. In many cases, learning how to act confident by incorporating minor changes in your life can actually help you feel more confident. At times however, low self-confidence might be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. Please note – if your self-confidence issues interfere with your work, social life, or education, consider talking to a mental health professional.