5 Ways to Build [Self] Confidence

It’s one of the most important ingredients for success; whether you’re a business leader, a salesperson, an athlete, a speaker… Confidence. That ability to be your best when it counts.

How do you build confidence? Here are five things you can do to get started on your journey:

1 Be mindful of your self-talk Your subconscious mind is always at work. Your thoughts create your emotions and are your programming – just like a computer. Negative self-talk steals your confidence, self-esteem and happiness. Recognising what your subconscious mind is saying to you, taking a moment to reset and replace that negative thought with a positive one will get you moving in the right direction. Consciously focus on your strengths, achievements, and successes rather than your flaws and shortcomings.

2 Use the power of “yet” I’ve heard people say it many times: “I’m not good at [that]” whatever that might be. I’m not good at maths, I’m not good at public speaking, I’m not good with people, I’m not good at controlling my anger... What if we added the word “yet” to each of those sentences? I’m not good at public speaking - “yet”. That one little word changes it from being an absolute, to a work in progress - and that means we can keep getting better.

3?Exercise regularly Taking care of yourself physically helps boost your confidence. It’s well supported by research that in addition to improved mood and happiness, one of the many benefits of exercise is a boost in confidence. So, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and take the time to relax and recharge.

4?Set achievable goals It’s disheartening not to achieve your goals and if it happens too many times, you’ll probably stop setting them altogether. Just like a muscle, we can build up our goal setting and goal achieving abilities. As you reach each goal, your confidence grows. Start with small, achievable goals and work your way up to bigger ones. The more you take action and tick each goal off, the more confident you will become.

5?Learn new skills Learning new skills can help build your confidence and competence. Take a course, read a book or watch a tutorial to learn something new. Be constantly learning how to make something, play something or do something you haven’t done before. Get out of your comfort zone; that's where dreams go to die! The learning process sparks important changes in your brain, including the creation of new connections between your neurons – a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. The more you practice, the stronger these connections become. That is fundamentally how you become better at anything.

Remember, building confidence takes time, effort and consistent practice. Be patient and every time you take another step, congratulate yourself for taking control of your thoughts, emotions and actions.