09 Steps How to Increase Self-Confidence
If you are currently feeling low in self-esteem or self-confidence, is it possible to convert this feeling into one of higher self-esteem or self-confidence?
At the moment, during bouts of low confidence, this may not seem possible, but I believe there are intentional actions you can take to increase your self-confidence.
You have the internal power to take handle of your confidence and change it to create higher levels of self-confidence.
By taking handle of your life, and taking the opportunity to boost self-confidence, through intentional actions and habits you can increase your self-confidence without the help of others
Below, I run through 8 intentional actions you can take to increase your self-confidence.
These are a mix of proven strategies for my clients and some that have worked really well for me.
You don’t need to do all of them. One or two may align with you better than others, so pick the ones that appeal most and give them a try.
If the ones you’re tired of don’t work, try a different one to find the perfect actions to boost your self-confidence.
Here are the 9 actions, in no specific order:
1. Increase Your Capabilities
How can you boost self-confidence? By increasing your capabilities.
By making a commitment and having the spirit to follow through.
Through practice and achieving improvement every day.
Just do small bits at a time.
If you want to be a more competent speaker, for example, don’t try to speak in front of 100 people on your first go.
Just begin to speak more.
Speak at smaller networking events. Record some short videos.
Talk to a small group of close friends or like on a subject you know well.
The more you speak, the better you’ll be. That incremental improvement will boost self-confidence.
Set aside 15 minutes to practice oral (for example), and the practice will increase your capabilities.
2. Use Your Past as A Guide
Think back to a time when you achieved something but were fearful at the beginning.
What lessons can you learn? How was your confidence when you accomplish that thing?
Was there is a process you went through to overcome that fear?
If you have a number of examples of overcoming fear, you may notice patterns of courage developing that you can use to overcome any current challenge that scares you.
This simple thinking exercise will prove to you that you have the ability to overcome things you are fearful of.
Knowledge of previous achievements can help boost self-confidence.
3. Start with Small Steps
Rather than jumping straight in and tackling the big frogs, set a small goal and accomplish it. This helps remove overwhelm.
People often make the mistake of shooting for something far huge than their current capability.
When they fail, they get discouraged, frustrated, and start beating themselves up for failure.
Instead, focus on achieving something you know you can achieve.
Once you’ve achieved it, you’ll feel good and self-confident.
Then, set another small goal and achieve that.
This builds positive momentum and belief.
You’ll develop new capabilities, and in turn boost self-confidence.
Soon you’ll be setting bigger goals and achieving those too.
Rather than focus on weaknesses that you wish to improve, focus on your strengths, and expand them.
One of the things I learned when I started my coaching business, was how to replace negative thoughts (see next action) with positive ones.
Intentionally creating positive thoughts, and reframing bad situations into a positive focus, made great things happen.
With that tiny mind shift, I was able to get new clients quicker and stay confident and positive every day.
5. Stop Negative Self Talk
This is an essential mind-set to master to increase your self-confidence.
You have to be aware of your own thinking and give yourself some time and distance to think about your thinking.
Become better aware of your self-talk and the thoughts you have about yourself and what you’re doing.
If there are different themes to the negative self-talk, step back from that thought and ask yourself “why am I thinking that?” “Is there a better positive way of looking at this?”
When you catch negative self-talk, try to change the thought with a positive one.
If you think you are far away from accomplishing your goals, stop and reframe that thought.
Think instead about how far you’ve come from where you started.
Negative becomes positive and self-confidence rises.
6. Understand Your Unique Strengths
When you spend time doing things you love and you’re great at your self-confidence is at a high level.
Conversely, doing things that bore you, that frustrate you can lower your energy.
Spend some time understanding your unique strengths, and then try to spend more time doing those things that utilize those strengths.
7. Celebrate Achievements Every Day
Self-confidence grows when we achieve something important to us.
However, we often fail to recognize and celebrate all the great little wins we achieve every day.
At the end of each day, write down 3 things you’ve to accomplish or are grateful for.
This simple habit of celebrating accomplishment is one of the best practices for boosting self-confidence daily.
8. Really Understand Yourself
When you’re trying to overcome a negative self-image and change it with self-confidence, your enemy is often yourself.
Most personal transformations start internally and come from committing.
The key to creating this transformation to really understand yourself..
9. Focus on what you can change
It’s easy to get hung up on all the things that are out of your control, but it won’t accomplish much. Instead, try to focus your energy on classifying the things that are within your control and see what you can do about them. Read more about how you can agree on things that are out of your control.
