Confidence.
It’s a big word that means a lot of things to different people. The one thing we all have in common though?
We wish we had more of it.
Even the people around you who seem totally confident in who they are have bad days from time to time. Low confidence is a part of being human, but that doesn’t mean we must surrender to it.
The key is to have a set of tools in your back pocket that will reset your mindset on the days when you aren’t feeling your best. Not sure where to start? Here are our favorite tips and tricks to boost confidence, so that you feel your best inside and out.
Find Your Purpose
When your confidence is low, it may be because you are feeling a lack of direction in your life. When we don’t have a clear idea of what we are working towards, it is hard to find meaning and purpose in life.
Finding a purpose sounds grandiose, but it can be quite simple. Maybe your ultimate goal is to create a comfortable life for your family or travel the world, or just keep improving at your hobby.
Ask yourself what you would do if you had no limitations or fear of failure. When you have an answer, take steps towards meeting your goal in whatever way you can. Even if these are only small actions, taking time to invest in the things you care about will help you find that direction you are missing. When you know what you are working towards, you are much less likely to compare yourself to those around you. Stepping away from comparison will help you build your confidence back up.
Take Care Of Yourself
It’s hard to feel confident when you are constantly putting yourself on the back burner. Maybe you haven’t been eating in a way that makes you feel your best. Maybe you’ve over scheduled yourself, and haven’t given yourself a chance to relax. Maybe you aren’t feeling as fit as you’d like to be.
Taking care of yourself can mean something different to everyone, but it boils down to the same core truth. You matter.
If you are not treating yourself like you matter, you cannot expect to build self-esteem and confidence. Prioritizing yourself will help you build up your sense of self-worth.
Give Back
If you are looking to build self-esteem, the best way to do that is through esteemable acts.
When our confidence is low, it can be a sign that we are disproportionately focusing on ourselves. A good way to combat that is by taking the opposite action. Helping others can be a great way to build our own confidence.
Reach out to local charities and organizations to see how you can get involved and help people in need.
Find a Creative Outlet
It can be all too easy to get caught up in the daily grind of work and taking care of your home and family. Finding a creative outlet is a great way to take time for yourself, and work through your emotions.
Don’t think of yourself as a naturally artistic person? Don’t worry about it. There are lots of ways to lean into your creativity. Playing an instrument, sketching or painting, working with clay, or knitting are great tactile activities that can help release stress. However, there are lots of less obvious ways of stretching your creative muscles.
Working in a garden, or on a home project are great practical activities that still require you to use the creative side of your brain.
A creative outlet will allow you to make something that didn’t exist before you made it. The act of making something can be a great way to build confidence, as well as giving you the mental space to process any negative emotions you are going through.
Express Yourself Boldly
When your confidence is low, sometimes the best thing to do is fake it until you make it. Being unapologetically yourself, even when you don’t feel up to the task, can help you remember all the things you like to celebrate in yourself.
Maybe you love your sense of style or are proud of the way you decorate your home. Maybe you love to sing, dance, or run laps faster than anyone you know. Whatever it is that helps you define yourself, lean into it on days when you don’t feel confident. Wear the bold outfit, post the photo, and try the new challenge. In time, you might find that acting confident will eventually lead to feeling that way, too.
Reconnect With Your Happiness
Sometimes the best way to fight negative emotions is to lean into the things that make us unabashedly happy. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else around you. If it brings you joy, that is enough.
Connecting with the people and activities that bring us happiness can help us create a better sense of what we value. When you know what you value, you can start to build a life around these things. Having a life that is uniquely tailored to the things you care about will help you gain confidence in the way you are living.
What are your favorite ways to build confidence? Share with us in the comments below!
