Ever felt like you’re not good enough? Confidence doesn’t just make us feel great, but it also opens doors to opportunities in life and work. It’s an essential quality for tackling life’s challenges. But why do some of us lack it?
Perhaps during your childhood, well-meaning parents told you certain dreams were out of reach, instilling a belief that “I can never achieve that.” Maybe past experiences have opened the door to self-doubt, leading you to think, “I’m worthless” or “I’m no good at anything.” It’s also common to compare ourselves to others – friends, colleagues, even celebrities.
Maybe you feel something’s missing in your life – fulfilling relationships, the dream job, a loving partner, or financial satisfaction. Whatever it is, know that you’re not alone in occasionally or constantly feeling inadequate. In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel left behind and let self-doubt creep in.
But here’s the good news: there are scientifically-backed ways to build genuine confidence. Let’s dive into these 8 strategies.
Building Confidence: Strategies for a Doubt-free Life
1. Be Specific: Identify the Root of Your Insecurity
Start by pinpointing what exactly shakes your confidence. When do you typically feel unsure of yourself? What situations amplify your self-doubt? Where do you think your skills or abilities fall short? Identify areas where you’d like to be more confident. For instance, when watching content creators on platforms like YouTube, have you ever felt, “I can’t do that”?
Understand that each video reflects hours of unseen hard work. Recognize your unique challenges. Maybe you want to enhance your writing skills, expand your knowledge base, or navigate relationships better. Take a moment to reflect: where would you like to boost your confidence?
2. Discover What Boosts Your Confidence
This is deeply personal, and it varies from person to person. Not every method works for everyone, and sometimes, it’s a journey of personal discovery. While a certain approach might work wonders for one, it might not resonate with another. Think about those moments when you felt absolutely confident. Got a few in mind? Ponder why those instances made you feel so empowered. The more you understand about what boosts your spirit, the easier it becomes to channel that confidence whenever you need it.
3. Embrace the Real You
One surefire way to lose confidence is by trying to be someone else. The real key to genuine confidence is being the best version of yourself. When you strive to mimic someone else, it feels unnatural because it’s not genuinely you. For instance, if your humor is subtly sarcastic but you try to be boisterously funny like someone you admire, you might end up feeling conflicted.
Embrace your unique traits and qualities. Think about what makes you stand out and value that. As you begin to accept and grow in your own mold, your confidence will naturally soar.
4. Remember, You’re 100% Smart in Some Areas
I once read a book about confidence where the author shared a story about a school activity called “100% Smart.” Kids had to complete a puzzle and rate their intelligence in areas like thinking, self-awareness, physical, math, words, music, and art. It’s a wonderful exercise because it shows us that while we might lack in one area, we shine in another. So, before you go to bed, jot down at least three things you did well or things you’re proud of. Recognize your strengths and believe in your unique skills. This will help you live your authentic life.
5. Stop the Comparison Game
Nothing shreds confidence faster than comparing oneself to others. With the rise of social media, it’s easier than ever to stack ourselves up against countless others. As mentioned earlier, some even feel inferior just by watching a video. More often than not, our confidence dips not because we aren’t good enough, but because we measure our worth based on others’ achievements.
So, what should you do?
Stop comparing. If you must measure, compare with your past self. See how far you’ve come, celebrate your progress, and set goals to reach the heights you desire.
6. Embrace New Skills
One of the best ways to boost confidence is to step out of your comfort zone and acquire new skills or experiences. As you enhance your skills, your confidence naturally rises. Remember, no one is perfect, but we can always grow and improve. If you’re a perfectionist, thinking things aren’t perfect enough to boost confidence, this mindset will hold you back. It won’t drive you forward.
When you aim to improve, ask yourself: Is it genuinely a lack of ability or just not being perfect enough? Identify where you feel less confident and consider how you can expand your knowledge in that area.
7. Change Your State
Altering your mental and physical “state” is one of the quickest ways to feel confident. To do this, recognize what confidence looks like and feels like. Observe people who you think ooze confidence. What’s their posture? What do they do differently? Here are some strategies to adopt:
- Remember – Think of a moment you felt confident. Dive into that feeling and recall every detail.
- Imagine – Picture yourself being confident. How would you act, speak, and move?
- Model – Think of someone you know who radiates confidence. Emulate them.
Once you have a tangible grasp of what confidence feels like, you can revisit these methods whenever you’re feeling down and reignite your confidence.
8. Cheer Yourself On
“Just do it” – Nike’s famous slogan. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, recite this mantra. It’s a proven strategy to boost confidence. In your journey to be more confident, regardless of the challenges, be your own cheerleader. The longer you procrastinate due to fear, the more you’ll doubt yourself. But taking that first brave step can immediately amplify your confidence. Every step you take boosts your confidence. Consider the immediate actions you can take to move in the right direction, and watch the magic unfold. One fantastic thing about the human brain is, once it realizes something is working, it keeps the momentum going!
Remember, you’re the lead actor in the play of building your confidence. You can choose to grow and act or remain paralyzed by fear and doubt. Your mind believes what you tell it.
Feed it with positive affirmations and actions, and that’s the secret sauce to becoming more confident.
