5 Empowering Ways To Boost Your Self-Confidence!

Building and Maintaining Self-confidence is critical to personal growth and development. Do you struggle with self-doubts and insecurities? You know this is holding you back but you don’t know how to deal with it? I am familiar with this problem, I have an inner critic as well who is trying to hold me back. However, I am constantly trying to shut her up and go ahead. Some are born confident, you get to see people who are so confident and you admire them. But it is not innate to everyone. But don’t worry here are some practical strategies to build self-confidence.

1. Get to know yourself

Do you spend any time with yourself? Do you know why you lack confidence? Who is that inner critic voice? Is it your own voice, or your parents’ may be a primary school teacher? You need to figure this out on your own. Make sure you take some time for yourself every day, and have a conversation. I can’t say this enough, but the most important relationship you can have is with yourself. You need to understand your strengths and weaknesses. The best way to know yourself is through introspection. Have you heard of morning pages? It is the practice of writing down whatever comes to mind in a journal first thing in the morning. Write 3 pages, it could be hard to reach 3 pages but write anyway, push yourself and unclog your mind. Accept yourself with all your flaws and glows. But be sure to know that you can change too. You can develop skills that you may not have today -have a growth mindset!

Set realistic goals and celebrate your achievements

Break down your larger aspiration into small achievable steps and work on achieving those. sense of achievement boosts your self-confidence and motivates you towards your next goal. This could be learning a new skill that would help you towards your bigger goals. I moved to New Zealand by myself from India when I was 24, personally, this was the most significant event that contributed to my self-confidence. Whenever I doubt myself I take some time to go back 10 years ago and tell myself “If I was able to do it 10 years ago with no support, I can do anything now” But even then it was a series of small achievable goals. From getting through the long haul flight when you have never been on a plane, to finding my way around in a new city to find a place to live etc. I am sure everyone has similar experiences, one way or another, you just need to look back and appreciate it! Celebrate your achievements, and remember how you felt when you have achieved something.

3. Challange Negative Self-talk

Negative self-talk is a significant obstacle to Self-confidence. Do you do a lot of negative self-talk? The very first step is to identify and acknowledge that you do it. The quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your outcomes. Have you heard about neuroplasticity? It is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Now, think about the way you talk to yourself. Do you tell yourself that you are smart or do you tell yourself you are stupid? Before starting on something do you tell yourself, this is going to be great or I know how it gonna play out, nothing good ever happens to me? If your self-talk is the latter, there is no surprise. Dr Tara Swart’s podcast ” Reinventing Yourself with Dr Tara” has been hugely helpful to me. Try listening to it. Use positive affirmations to replace negative self-talk. Here is a meditation technique you can use to prepare for new experiences. I talk about when you are in a toxic surrounding but the toxicity could be within you.

4. Expand your comfort zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone is key to developing self-confidence. In step 1 where you get to know yourself, identify your comfort zone and what can you do to step outside it. Face your fears head-on, and take calculated risks. For example, you dread the thought of going to a gathering, you hate small talk, and you would rather be at home. Go to the gathering anyway, try talking to one stranger. If this put you out of your comfort zone, it will make you feel better as well once you have done it. This is only an example you know what your fears are make a plan to look at it in the face. Embrace new experiences, be open, and you will find newfound confidence.

5. Cultivating a supportive network

Look around yourself, look at the type of people surrounding yourself with. Are they positive people, who lift you up and give you confidence? Are there any vampires in your group? click here to learn about the vampire test. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. I am thinking of a few friends who believe in me more than myself at times. I am immensely grateful to those friends. Be that friend for someone too, tell them that you believe in them. It can mean a lot and change someone’s life. Having a strong support network can boost your self-confidence and provide valuable insights and guidance along your journey. So choose your network carefully and stay away from vampires.

Conclusion

Boosting self-confidence is a transformative process that empowers individuals to overcome obstacles, embrace their potential, and live a fulfilling life. It takes time and effort to practise building confidence and consistency is the key here. By following the strategies outlined in this article and dedicating yourself to personal growth, you can unleash your inner power and unlock a world of possibilities. Remember, self-confidence is within your reach—believe in yourself and embrace the incredible journey of becoming the best version of yourself. Please let me know your thoughts below. Enjoy your day 🙂