Maria Fatima Reyes
Do you often think that self-confidence is not your biggest asset?
Don’t worry, I know how you feel. It’s something we all struggle with.
It’s not always easy to trust in our capabilities, especially during those moments when we feel we aren’t successful.
But just like any other skill, self-confidence can be developed and mastered.
In this article, we’ll explore some surprisingly simple yet very effective strategies you can use every day to practice and build self-confidence.
Learn more about how you can create healthier and better habits that empower you to be a self-confident person, inside and out.
Let’s get started.
1) Improve your posture
Sitting and standing up straight isn’t just good for your well-being — it can also promote self-assurance.
Many studies have shown that the better your posture is, the less stressful and more confident you’ll feel.
That’s because body posture can heavily influence how you think, feel, and act. Strengthening your mind-body connection can do wonders to improve your mood and mindset.
So the next time you’re feeling a little low, try your best to maintain good posture. It will give you the extra boost you need to power through your day.
2) Make eye contact and smile
Here’s the deal: Body language speaks volumes. Just think about how you feel when someone smiles back at you.
Smiling doesn’t only make you look and feel happy, it also makes you seem more approachable, likable, competent, confident, and trustworthy.
And if you’re speaking, keeping eye contact with the person you’re talking to (or with those in the room) shows that you’re confident in what you’re saying.
These two simple acts let you send positive signals to everyone, including yourself.
3) Get active
We all know the physical benefits of exercise, but did you know that it also helps to pump up deflated self-esteem?
Studies have shown how exercise increases feelings of confidence, well-being, and positivity.
Simply put: Exercise is incredible for your mental health. It’s a great way to practice setting goals and motivating yourself to achieve them.
Whether it’s walking, running, dancing, yoga, or Pilates — get moving and find an activity you enjoy. You’ll see yourself grow and get better.
4) Dress for success
Making time for your appearance may seem indulgent, but it’s a form of self-care. There’s no shame in taking effort and pride in the way you look.
The point is, what you wear matters when it comes to how you feel. When you look good, you feel better, and you act differently.
Go the extra mile and dress nicely. It’ll help you foster a more positive outlook, which will help you be ready to take on the world.
5) Talk the talk
Speaking in front of people is not my cup of tea. It’s not always easy for me to speak up.
Slowly but surely, I’ve learned to find my voice. I’ve become more comfortable expressing my ideas, opinions, and feelings.
Like most things, it takes a lot of time and practice. It helps to rehearse what you want to say and practice speaking clearly and loudly. The more I did it, the better I got at it.
6) Set goals
Having goals — large and small, short-term and long-term — benefits us in many different ways.
For one, they can help you identify the things that are within your control and focus on what you can do about them.
Plus, you’ll also learn to break down longer-term goals into realistic benchmarks. When you make gradual progress, it makes you feel capable and strong.
You get motivated to turn your dreams and desires into reality.
7) Practice gratitude
My favorite thing about gratitude is that it decreases the negative feelings we can get stuck in when we feel defeated or frustrated.
For example, reflecting on five things that I’m grateful for each day helps me shift my mindset from doubt to hope.
It doesn’t have to be something big. It’s the little things — my breath, the sunshine, time with family and friends, my pets — that matter most.
Best of all, you can share your gratitude with others. Saying ‘thank you’ or sending someone a quick appreciation message is all it takes to practice gratitude.
8) Celebrate your wins
Consider this: When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back for even your smallest successes?
No matter how small our triumphs may seem, celebrating them helps build confidence over time.
Keep a list of things you did well at the end of each day — from waking up on time and cooking breakfast to finishing a presentation and winning at work. Read them regularly and understand your strengths.
Also, make it a habit to recognize your efforts regardless of the outcome. That’s how you’ll learn to value your hard work.
9) Get out of your comfort zone
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. It can be very intimidating to try something new. What if you’re terrible at it?
The thing is, you’ll never know if you don’t ‘feel the fear and do it anyway.’ Think about it this way, learning a new skill is an opportunity to gain knowledge and feel better about yourself.
Start small and grow from there. Is there an online class you’d like to join? Have you been wanting to hit the gym?
Your confidence and abilities will improve with each step you accomplish, no matter how big or small.
10) Embrace failure
It’s normal to get upset about mistakes and be afraid of failure. But just because you fell short of your goal doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.
Here’s the deal: Making mistakes is part of a learning process that never ends. The important thing is to learn from mistakes, not dwell on them.
It’s easier said than done but taking steps to normalize failure helps you increase your self-worth. You see, there is no success without failure because failure allows us to grow through things.
Keep in mind that the aim is to strive for progress, not perfection.
11) Stop comparing yourself to others
Comparison can either motivate you or cause you to despair because of low self-esteem. Worse, you can become envious of other people’s success.
There’s no easy way to go about it but you shouldn’t base your self-esteem on how well you measure up against your peers. It’s a comparison trap that never ends.
Instead, remind yourself that you’re not like anybody else. We all have different experiences, resources, and coping mechanisms.
At the end of the day, you’re running your own race. The only person you should be competing with is yourself.
12) Help someone
Many studies have shown a direct link between doing good for others and levels of self-esteem.
Part of this comes from how helping others increases feelings of belongingness and social connectedness.
Being kind to others will not only leave us feeling rewarded but also confirm our self-competence and enrich our sense of purpose.
So, the next time you need to feel better about yourself, look for opportunities to help a family member, friend, co-worker, or stranger. It can be something as simple as sharing your knowledge or skills.
You’ll find that it can also distract you from the negative self-talk in your head. This brings me to my next point …..
13) Be kind to yourself
Repeat after me: “I am worthy. I value myself. I choose to trust myself. I can do it.”
The bottomline is: What you tell yourself matters.
Instead of falling victim to being your harshest critic, why not encourage yourself through positive affirmations?
Challenge any negative thoughts and limiting beliefs you have about yourself. Remind yourself of your strengths, and all the things you have done, are doing, and will do well.
This will help you maintain your self-efficacy and reinforce your self-worth.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Do more of what makes you happy. Love and respect yourself enough to prioritize your happiness and well-being.
I hope that this article helped you realize that building self-confidence is a lifelong journey.
Be patient with yourself. It’s hard at first, but practice makes progress. You’re getting better and better. I’m rooting for you!
