Struggling With Low Self-Confidence Or Self-Esteem
Brian Ford
Using personal development to fundraise for charity | Behavior Change & Life Systems Coach (20+ million podcast downloads) | Social Impact Leader (Founder of For Purpose Foundation)
As part of the Self Improvement Fast Track series, today I want to elaborate on the fourth reason why people like you choose to invest time in their self-improvement, which is to improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Now that it’s so easy to see everyone’s success on social media, many people feel sorry for themselves because they don’t feel successful in comparison. We see people with beautiful bodies, going on amazing trips, building incredible businesses and leading impactful initiatives, and we question if we’re even capable of any of it ourselves. It makes us doubt if we can live up to the big vision we have for our lives and wonder if we’re just average.
If you’re low on self-confidence, you’re less likely to put yourself out there. You’re hesitant to take risks and create opportunities in your career, settle for relationships and friendships where you’re undervalued, never get that new idea or passion project off the ground, and invest in the things that you know will help you get to the next level. You’re letting limiting beliefs and overthinking keep you from doing the things you’re feeling a nudge to do, and because you’re not taking the necessary actions you keep falling short of generating the desired results.
First and foremost, self-confidence and self-esteem come from having an intense trust in yourself. It’s a belief that you'll do what you say you will do, that you have what it takes to make the most of whatever situations you find yourself in, that you can fix the mistakes you make, trust your own judgment over what other people think about you, and that you’ll always be okay because you’ve got your own back. Improving your self-confidence goes along with improving your mindset and becoming more self-disciplined, resilient, and faithful in your ability to improve.
To build those mindsets, you need to start collecting evidence that all of those things are true. You make that difficult call because you said you would, and doing so most serves you. You get bold about a new idea you have and start asking people for help. You do your best to reframe any feelings of criticism to datapoints of feedback. You challenge yourself to express yourself more because you know that you’re more than just how you look, and a full package of great ideas, a caring heart, and unique personality that other people enjoy being around. It’s the consistency in action that builds up proof that you are a confident person.
Once you get your self-esteem up, then you’re unstoppable! You have full conviction in your abilities and you’re someone who others seek advice from because your life example inspires them. You don’t put so much pressure on yourself because you know you can rise to the occasion, which helps you to take action with more ease and flow.
Easier said than done of course, which is why I’m here to support you in building your confidence back up! Sign up for the Self Improvement Fast-Track and I’ll start sending you personalized recommendations to help you become the more confident, self-assured version of yourself that you’d feel proud to be.