9 Steps to help build better self-confidence in your life – Zollysmusings
Have you ever taken a back seat in a conversation, let others go ahead of you when you know you ought to lead, speak to someone you admire or aspire to due to a lack of self-confidence?
As tough as self-confidence is hard to build up and an important ingredient in your road to success or happiness. Self-confidence needs you to make long-term changes to your lifestyle.
Who is a confident person?
We are not all born confident. Confidence can be hard to develop because of personal experiences that have made you lose confidence or low self-esteem.
A confident person is one who:
- is okay to take risks
- is optimistic
- does an unpopular thing for they believe it is right
- is willing to learn and admits to mistakes
Why does self-confidence matter?
Some people struggle to find self-confidence, yet it is vital in almost every part of our lives. But, unfortunately, the search becomes a vicious cycle that affects their likeliness to success in life.
Human beings are inclined to listen to confident people. The assurance exuded through their body language as they present themselves is all it takes to inspire others. Therefore, managing to gain your audience’s confidence is one key way to success.
Here are some tips for building your self-confidence:
First, change your attitude toward life change. Adopt a positive one, and the confidence in you will show. Next, choose how and what to think and consciously eliminate any thoughts geared towards tearing you down.
Many factors may be at play as to the attitude that you carry around. However, choosing to be in control helps you build the self-confidence that you need.
- Self-belief
Believe in your abilities. We all have strengths and talents; point out yours. Then, build on what you are good at by understanding that you may not be perfect but are good enough and embrace it. Doing so faults and all will be a journey toward attaining your confidence goal.
Believe in your abilities, and then you will achieve.
2. Facing the fears
It is overcoming your fears by facing them. Attempt that thing that brings out the fear in you. Doing so gives you the confidence that helps in tackling the next item on your list and leaves you empowered to do more.
3. Use your body
Your body language says a lot about how you are feeling. For example, we tend to slouch when we are feeling anxious. However, sitting up and maintaining a correct upright posture helps one feel more assertive.
What others may view or think about us is contributed to by our bodies. More so, how we feel about ourselves. A good posture reinforces our self-confidence.
4. Get support
Stop hanging around negative people; they will reduce your self-confidence. Instead, surround yourself with people who want to see you grow. People who will support you in your endeavors. Cheer you on as you make life changes and offer a shoulder to lean on when you need one.
People who may not necessarily understand your decisions and choices but support you nonetheless. They believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself.
5. Prepare and plan for success
Never take things or opportunities for granted. If need be, practice a lot; give yourself enough time to plan and prepare for meetings or functions. Preparation helps you remain calm, lets you do your best and leaves what is not in your control.
6. Set some goals
Set goals and see what action you need to achieve them. Take small steps toward your goals and tick them off your list. Doing so will help you know you can get things done.
The goals do not have to be big, and you can start by setting small manageable goals.
7. Ignore what others think
If our success were tied to what others think, we would not achieve anything in life. Base your thinking on what YOU want and not what others think you need. Follow your heart and stop worrying about others.
We tend to think about what others are thinking about us. Most probably, they, in turn, might be wondering what we are thinking about them—wasting our time and energies on nonexistent thoughts.
Ignore what they might be thinking and focus on getting closer to achieving your goals.
8. Change “I can’t” to “I will.”
It would be best if you changed “I can’t” or I wish and used “I will”. When said, using the words “I can’t” weaken and remove power from you. Your words affect your brain, and what you say will affect how it responds.
If you are continuously told that you can’t do something, eventually, you believe that you can’t even when you know you can. So you stop believing in yourself. How about you embrace “I can” and “I will.”
9. Build confident habits
Develop good habits and do away with bad ones to help improve your confidence. For example, follow a healthy diet and do physical and mental exercises. In addition, work on your personal branding, which will present a positive image that gives positive feedback to improve your self-confidence.
Key points
You trust your abilities and have a strong sense of self-belief when you are self-confident.
Develop good habits, set goals and short-term strategies to build self-confidence and maintain it for the future.
Change your language to reflect where you want to be.
Remember that you have had success in the past and acknowledge that your self-confidence will give you more success in the future.
