By Joanne Esposito
Confidence isn’t something you have to wait to feel. You build it by taking small actions, keeping promises to yourself, learning from your mistakes and treating yourself with respect.
It’s like going to the gym and building your confidence muscle.
Here are 7 ways to build your self-confidence:
No.1: Start with tiny commitments and keep them
Every promise you make to yourself and follow through on gives your brain evidence that you can trust yourself.
Those small wins build momentum and strengthen your belief to keep showing up, even when things get hard.
No.2: Set tiny, achievable goals
Don’t try and change everything at once. Break big challenges into smaller steps.
SMART Goals help you choose one step at a time. Small frequent wins build momentum and make bigger goals feel possible.
No.3: Face your fears gradually
Don’t wait until you feel confident. Face uncomfortable or awkward situations in small, manageable doses.
Each time you take the step instead of avoiding it, you teach your brain: “I can handle this”. Confidence works the same way; you build it by taking action.
No.4: Use confident body language
Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, make eye contact, and breathe steadily. Your posture can influence how you feel as well as how others perceive you.
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy says “standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident, can boost feelings of confidence”.
No.5: Change your self-talk
Look at the way you speak to yourself and would you speak to others the same way.
To overcome negative self-talk, notice harsh thoughts and replace them with supportive, realistic ones. Instead of “I can’t do this” try “This is hard, but I can take the next step” or “I can’t do it just yet”.
No.6: Accept mistakes and keep going
Believe or not, mistakes are part of learning and using setbacks as feedback helps build resilience. Errors show that you are trying new things and growing.
Letting go of perfectionism makes it easier to start and finish tasks.
Pause and reflect on your mistakes so that you can adjust your plan and move forward with life.
Read: 7 Steps to Self-Esteem & Confidence
No.7: Environment is everything – have the right people around you
Spend more time with people who encourage you, believe in you, and want to see you grow.
Your environment shapes your habits, and you adapt to the culture of the people closest to you which can influence the way you see yourself.
Positive people lift you up, while negative people drain your energy and goals.
Featured image: When you feel good about yourself, your day feels so much better. Photo: Pixabay
