Confidence is something that everyone strives for, but it can often be difficult to achieve. It is important to be aware that confidence is not a constant state, as even those who are extremely confident can have episodes of doubt and fear, while those that lack confidence can sometimes find it within themselves seemingly from nowhere. This also means that self-confidence is something that can be developed and it is not a “you have it or you don’t” case like many believe. So, if you want to improve your self-confidence but you are unsure how to do so, then read on for a few helpful tips.
List Everything You Like About Yourself
Self-doubt is the main reason that people lack confidence and this is because there will be a constant negative voice in their head telling them that they are not good enough. It can be hard to silence this voice, but it can be of great help to make a list of everything that you like about yourself. During times of need, you can then look at this list to remind yourself of what is so great about you. It could be something small like having a nice smile through to something much larger like the volunteer work you do or a life accomplishment.
Positive Visualization
The mind is a powerful tool, and if you can visualize yourself as being confident and succeeding, then you will find yourself feeling a lot more confident. Unfortunately, many people automatically picture themselves failing or doing something stu-pid which will very quickly eliminate self-worth and stop people from stepping outside their comfort zone. If you have an interview or anything that makes you feel nervous, instead of picturing yourself failing, try visualizing yourself succeeding and it will do wonders for your self-esteem and help you to take that step.
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Following on from this, it is important that you are regularly stepping outside your comfort zone as otherwise, your state of mind will not change. It is all too easy to avoid taking any risks or trying something new, but ultimately this will only hold you back and could stop you from experiencing things which will develop confidence. It may be daunting to step out-side your comfort zone, but it is something that is usually not regretted and always a good learning experience.
Question Inner Critic
As mentioned earlier, that negative voice inside your head can wreak havoc with your confidence and stop you from devel-oping as a person. Instead of listening to this voice, make sure that you are questioning why you are developing these neg-ative thought patterns. Often they are wildly inaccurate with no evidence to support the negative thoughts.
Self-Care
It can be hard to care for yourself when you are feeling low on confidence, and this is a vicious cycle as neglecting self-care will only make you feel less confident. The importance of eating a healthy diet, regular exercise and personal hygiene can-not be overlooked. When this is combined with taking pride in your personal appearance by dressing well and getting a haircut, it can have a powerful impact on how you feel and how others will perceive you.
Body Language
Body language is a secret weapon when it comes to confidence. In addition to appearing more confident to others, it can also have a huge impact on how you feel about yourself. Be sure to stand tall, do not be afraid of taking up space, smile and talk slowly. There is a lot of fantastic advice online for using body language to boost confidence, and it is a quick and easy way to make a difference.
Help Others
Often when people are low on confidence, they will be so focused on themselves that they shut off the world around them. Instead of thinking about yourself, go out of your way to help others as this will provide a good distraction and give you a sense of purpose. It could be as simple as giving somebody a lift, volunteering at a local shelter or even looking after a pet.
Create Goals
Confidence can be drained when people lack focus and ambition in their lives as they feel like they have no purpose. Care-fully consider what you want from your life and where you want to be both in the near and far future. It will help you to establish goals which you can work towards to build confidence. Be sure to set regular attainable goals so that you can track your development and feel like you are making progress.
Learn To Say No
It is a common habit for those with low self-esteem to say yes to everyone and to pander to those around them in hope for approval. Ultimately, this diminishes confidence and can result in being taken advantage of. You can gain a tremendous amount of confidence and respect by establishing boundaries and not being afraid of saying no to people. Although it is important that you are able to do this, you should remain kind and generous as you do not need to bring other people down to make yourself feel better. It is a matter of having principles and boundaries and sticking to them.
Positive Change
Finally, it is a smart move to make at least one positive change in your life no matter how big or small. It could be to get up 10 minutes earlier, to read one book a month, to quit smoking, join a club or anything else which will have a positive impact on your life. Self-improvement is essential for developing confidence, and you can learn more about this on this website.
Confidence can be elusive and fleeting, but the above are all excellent ways to boost your self-confidence. There may be times where you feel fantastic and unstoppable, but also there are sure to be dips which can be difficult to come back from. The key is to identify negative thought habits and to make adjustments in your life which will breed confidence and make you a better person. Confidence is not a constant state, and it is something that requires regular thought and effort to maintain.
