Confidence isn't constant
Building, gaining, and maintaining confidence is a lifelong journey, and people can certainly boost their self-assurance with some deliberate effort. Here are five points to help them do just that:
Self-care and fitness: Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve one's physical and mental well-being, leading to increased confidence. Feeling good about your body can positively impact self-esteem. Try something as simple as squats, start with a few, and build up, you’ll see improvement in the first week. Remember you’re only comparing yourself to yesterday, nobody else.
Personal development: Continue learning and setting new goals. Acquiring new skills or knowledge can boost self-confidence, as it gives a sense of accomplishment and growth. Set out something small it will reaffirm your own capabilities. An easy win, think of a word you’ve always struggled to spell, spend 10 minutes learning it, and you’ll come away with a positive mindset that you can build on.
Positive self-talk: Challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive affirmations. Recognise your achievements and focus on your strengths rather than dwelling on weaknesses. Look back at a successful moment and re-think how you got there, then rinse and repeat. There is more inside you than you think, the tiger is often hidden in the trees.
Face your fears: Gradually confront and overcome your fears and insecurities. Taking on new challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone can be empowering. Think of one small thing that causes you discomfort or something you know you should do but you’ve been delaying it, set aside 10 minutes and devise a plan of how you can tackle it.
Seek support and connection: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and family who encourage your growth and self-assurance. Talking more openly makes you realise most people are ‘winging it‘ and they too have doubts about their abilities.
Remember that building confidence is an ongoing process, and patience and persistence are key. There isn’t an end goal and your confidence may fluctuate, the key is just to improve within yourself over time.