It’s okay if you’re feeling a little shaky.
Maybe you stumbled over your words in a big meeting. Perhaps you’re second-guessing your career choice, and not sure of where to go next. Or you might be embarking on something entirely new and foreign—and could use a little boost to your confidence.
Confidence isn’t meant to be concrete. It’s natural that you might hit times in your life that may shake your confidence—and you might also feel moments where your confidence soars.
If you’re in a place where you’re invested in boosting your confidence, we’ve compiled a guide to help you get started. We’ll also talk about why confidence matters—and how to continue to invest in yourself and your future.
Why is confidence important?
Everyone needs a healthy dose of confidence in themselves for personal and professional success. Before we dig into how to boost your confidence, let’s outline 6 of the biggest benefits to investing in your confidence.
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Improves performance: Confidence helps you perform better in various situations. When you believe in your abilities, you’re more likely to take action, make decisions quickly, and solve problems effectively.
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Increases resilience: Confident people are more resilient in the face of failure or challenges. They view setbacks as learning experiences rather than personal shortcomings, which helps them bounce back quickly.
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Enhances communication: Confidence improves how you communicate. It enables you to express your ideas clearly and assertively, making it easier to connect with others and inspire trust.
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Builds credibility and trust: When you project confidence, people are more likely to trust you and your decisions. This is essential in leadership roles, negotiations, and collaborative settings.
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Encourages risk-taking: Confidence allows you to step out of your comfort zone and take risks that lead to personal growth and new opportunities. Without confidence, you may hesitate and miss out on potential success.
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Boosts mental health: Confidence contributes to a positive self-image and reduces anxiety, stress, and self-doubt. It helps you maintain a balanced mindset and stay motivated to achieve your goals.
7 Ways to Boost Your Confidence
Before we dig into the tactics to boost your confidence, remember this: it’s the journey, not the destination.
It might sound cheesy, but paralleled to happiness, your confidence will naturally go through waning periods. You might have phases of your life that you feel more confident than ever—and that’s great. But you might also hit roadbumps and roadblocks along the way that’ll challenge your confidence. When you’re feeling low, return to these 7 tactics to help boost your confidence.
1. Set and achieve small goals
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Start small: Set achievable, short-term goals that you can accomplish. Every time you complete a task, you build a sense of accomplishment, which gradually strengthens your confidence.
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Celebrate wins: Acknowledge and celebrate even small successes to reinforce a positive mindset.
2. Practice self-compassion
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Be kind to yourself: Talk to yourself like you would any good friend or loved one. Avoid harsh self-criticism when you make mistakes. Practice self-compassion and treat yourself with the same understanding you’d offer to a friend. In your journaling, try to write down reasons why you’re proud of yourself, even if it’s simple—like making a good meal for dinner or helping a friend.
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Challenge negative thoughts: Change your mind, change your life. When negative self-talk creeps in, challenge it by questioning its validity and focusing on your strengths.
3. Commit to lifelong learning and growing
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Learn and improve: Building competence in a skill or area you care about is a powerful way to feel more capable. Take courses, practice, and refine your abilities in areas where you want to excel.
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Knowledge is power: The more you know about a topic, the more confident you will feel in discussing or acting on it.
4. Bring awareness to your body language
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Stand tall: Good posture can help you feel and appear more confident. Stand tall with your shoulders back and head up.
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Eye contact: Make consistent eye contact when talking to others. It shows confidence and helps you connect better with people.
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Smile and use open gestures: Smiling and using open, relaxed gestures makes you appear more approachable and can boost your mood, enhancing confidence.
5. Surround yourself with positive people
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Seek supportive relationships: Spend time with people who uplift and encourage you. Positive feedback from trusted friends or mentors reinforces self-belief.
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Limit toxic interactions: Minimize exposure to people or situations that drain your confidence or constantly criticize you.
6. Focus on personal strengths
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Recognize your strengths: Make a list of your personal strengths and accomplishments. Reminding yourself of your abilities can give you a mental boost when you need it.
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Use postive affirmations: Repeating positive affirmations helps to rewire your brain toward self-belief. Statements like “I am capable,” or “I trust in my abilities” can help reframe your mindset. You can use tools like affirmation cards to get your juices flowing.
7. Get comfortable being uncomfortable
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Step outside of your comfort zone: Regularly take on challenges that scare you a little. Each time you face a fear and overcome it, your confidence will grow.
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Fail forward: Accept that failure is a natural part of learning. Each failure is an opportunity to grow, and building resilience strengthens self-confidence.
No matter where you are in your confidence journey, we’ve got your back. Remember: you know yourself best—and you own your own journey. You’ve got this.
Written by Madeline Miles
