5 Easy Ways to Build Your Self-Confidence—Starting Now

Many things in life can impact your self-confidence.

Think back to events in your childhood. Perhaps your parents divorced, you relocated to a new neighborhood or school, or you struggled with a physical illness or disability.

In adulthood, you may have experienced a difficult relationship, dealt with a toxic work environment, or trudged through financial losses.

Life has a way of twisting and turning in unexpected ways. Often, these experiences carve away at your self-esteem.

Perhaps—knowing that you’re falling short—you’re ready to build your self-confidence but don’t know how.

No worries. Here are five easy ways you can start today!

1. Reclaim Your Calm

When you struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety often infiltrates your life. Many times, this is the result of people pleasing or the constant worry that you’re not “good enough.”

So, to build your self-confidence, you must first reclaim your calm. Building confidence in a place of anxiety isn’t effective. Left unchallenged, the intruding thoughts and panicky sensation have a tendency to overrule self-confidence.

To take back the control, you must slow down and breathe.

For example, when you sense anxious feelings or thoughts creeping in, take a step back and breathe. Deep belly breathing for five minutes is a proven method to achieve tranquility.

2. Locate Your Strengths

Once you’re able to turn off that frantic or worried feeling, the world sort of slows down a bit. From this place, do some introspection.

It may be hard to examine yourself if your mind is engulfed in self-hatred. And that’s okay. Focus on just one good thing about yourself. It could be that you’re a dynamite negotiator. Or it could be that you cook phenomenal lasagna.

Try not to judge the strength of that good aspect at this point. Simply acknowledge it as it comes to you. Later, you can take it a step further, keeping a running list of your strengths.

3. Acknowledge Your Downfalls

To build your self-confidence, it’s important to realize that it’s not simply about giving yourself a boost. Rather, you’re building upon your core foundation.

Brick by brick, you build your self-confidence by getting to know yourself and learning to love yourself.

When loving anyone—yourself or another person—it’s vital to acknowledge your weaknesses. A weakness is simply a character trait or habit that doesn’t support who you aim to be.

But these personal downfalls aren’t an indictment. They’re a reminder that you’re human and can change. Sadly, though, many people ultimately reject themselves because of these traits or habits.

In contrast, as you’re examining your downfalls, learn to accept them and forgive yourself for the way you’ve approached them in the past.

4. Speak Kindly to Yourself

When you build your self-confidence, it’s critical to learn to forgive and accept yourself. Which, as you may know, can be an incredibly tall order.

Also, when examining both your strengths and your weaknesses, you may feel a bit exposed. These are the moments when you need to be a friend to yourself.

In other words, to build your self-confidence, you have to be kind and compassionate to the person in the mirror. You’re going to have to practice looking in the mirror and loving what you see, flaws and all. And then, telling yourself you love what you see. Just like a good friend would do to you.

It takes deliberate and strategic work to get to this level and feel comfortable.

To make it easier, keep your list of strengths handy and read them out loud. Little by little, speaking kind and encouraging words will become second nature.

5. Be Who You Want to Be

As you begin to feel more accepting of yourself and feel boldness rise up in you, there will also be the urge to express it.

So, do it!

Many people express themselves in fashion, wearing that daring style they’ve only ever dreamed of wearing. Others find it empowering and uplifting to take on a challenge such as running a marathon or taking a trip to explore another part of the world.

Find the form of self-expression that fits you, and do it. Be who you want to be. And love yourself for it.

Sure, you may feel a little uncomfortable at first. But rocking that power outfit or getting to that finish line will be a feeling like no other.

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When life is like a windshield and you feel like the bug, I’m here to help.

Please reach out today or visit HERE to learn more about my therapeutic approach. Together we can navigate through your life’s difficulties and help you build your confidence.