Confidence Building for the Non Dummies!

Confidence Building for the Non Dummies!

As human beings we have this amazing and incredible ability to experience and feel so many different emotions. Very often we let these emotions dictate our actions without giving much impetus to our core beliefs. Over time, these emotions affect how we feel and act every single day. If we’re fueled by a sense of well-being, we exude happiness and calm. If we are bogged down by negativity, those around us will sense unhappiness and fear. As E.E Cummings said – “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” 

It’s only when we believe in ourselves that others around us see our worth and appreciate us as well. So our first step to success is building confidence and shining through. So here are a few quick tips to think about as you continue on your journey of success, confidently.

1. Get Things Done  – Follow through

The pillars of confidence lie on accomplishments. If you achieve your goals, you’re going to feel much better about yourself. The best way to reach your goals, big or small, is break them into smaller goals and to monitor your progress. If you set big goals and have big dreams, you’re going to feel overwhelmed, and you’re inevitably going to feel like you can’t do it. So break them up into smaller milestones and celebrate each little accomplishment.

Stick to your commitment and think hard before you make one. Respect is built on the word you keep.  Moreover, you will respect yourself if you say you’re going to do something and you do it, and belief in yourself will come easier, because you know you are not afraid of the work. 

2. Live by your values   – Be self aware

When you’re learning how to build confidence, it’s tempting to focus on your “ideal self” – the person you wish you were, a superhero who never experiences fear or doubt. Accept yourself as you are, with your flaws. Own up to the mistakes you make. It is only when you accept yourself unconditionally, you’re able to look at your feelings objectively and appreciate what they teach you about yourself. 

Most confident people live by a value system and make their decisions based on that, even when it’s hard and not necessarily in their best interest, but in the interest of the bigger picture. Your actions and your decisions define your character. People change the world every day, despite everyone around them telling them it can’t be done. If you think you can do it, you can do it. Believe in yourself and keep going.

3. Know and use your Superpowers (Strengths)

We as a society are weakness focused. We look for faults, areas of improvements and that’s well and good. We need to build those up. But weaknesses take time and they help normalize. But, knowing, acknowledging and leveraging our strengths helps us shine, because we do well with them and it enables success quicker. 

As our strengths are our super powers, leveraging them will give you a sense of confidence and help continue to build confidence as well. So as you work on your areas of improvement, make time to lean into your strengths as well.

4. Practice positive thinking & doing

What do you love to do in your spare time? Is it to get outside, hike, kayak and enjoy the outdoors? Or do you live for reading that next New York Times bestseller? Maybe for spending time with your loved ones and enjoying playing that new board game you just bought. Whatever it is you love, create space for it, because life is short- you need time to enrich your life and to recharge to be your best self.

Feeling confident starts from within by doing and thinking of things that encourage positivity into your life. When you’re building confidence, focus on reframing your thoughts to enable a more positive mindset and it will inherently make you feel more self-assured. 

5. Embrace a solution oriented & growth mindset

If you are problem focused, it is time to change your focus to being solution oriented. Focusing on solutions instead of problems is one of the best things you can do for your confidence, for your career and for your growth. 

Discovering self-confidence requires consistent action and thought. When you’re overcoming your self-doubt, having a growth mindset is key. When you view your challenges as opportunities, you’re able to approach them with assurance. 

6. Use confident body language

Even if you don’t feel confident all the time, you can appear confident when needed, by adjusting your body language. Our physical actions, postures and thoughts if trained and practiced well, can enable our brain to believe in the actions and thoughts. Research suggests that, when we project confidence through our actions, the degree to which we “feel” those actions makes the confidence feel real, too. So behave confident to feel confident!

7. Work with a coach

 “It’s better to know when you need help, than not,” 

One shouldn’t need to rely on others’ opinions for an ego boost. Confidence is an inside job and sometimes seeking help and working on self development with a coach can be very effective in building it up. Working with a coach enables streamlined forward progress towards self-reliance, confidence and maximizing your potential quicker. To learn more about growth coaching, to improve your confidence , click here  to see how I can help you!