Switching On The Science of Confidence

Whether it’s stepping into a big new role, asking for the order, raising capital, or hitting publish, confidence is required. In this week’s episode of Elevate, we’ll break down the science and the specific steps we can take to activate more of this critical state of being in our lives.

Since the second century BC humans have been recorded saying “Fortune favors the bold”. The phrase originally meant in Latin that Fortuna, the goddess of luck, was more likely to support the people that boldly and confidently went after what they wanted. These individuals were more likely to be successful than those that played it safe.

We’ve all, at some point in our lives, enviously watched these beautifully confident people pursue their dreams while we struggled to work up the nerve to shout our name into the wind and claim our place in the world.

Without a doubt, this phenomenon has been a part of my story. Lack of confidence was the thing that almost derailed my early career and robbed me of some of my greatest personal and professional accomplishments.

Despite what I thought in the moment, it wasn’t my lack of intelligence, skills, competencies opportunity, or resources that held me back, it was confidence. My own self-doubt. And if you’re anything like me, the little voices in the back of your mind have probably held you back at times too.

Confidence – without it there’s little we can do; with it, anything is possible.

People often think confidence is something the lucky few are born with, while the rest of us are left wishing for.

It’s simply not true.

What I have come to discover is that confidence is not a fixed attribute. It is the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take.

It’s not based on our actual ability to succeed at a task. It’s based on our belief in our ability to succeed at that task.

For instance, your belief in your ability to speak in front of an audience, to lead a team, to navigate a difficult conversation, to start a business, change a career, it begins with belief. It’s long been established that the beliefs we hold, true or otherwise, direct our actions and shape our lives.

The good news is that new research in neuroplasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains to shift and shape our beliefs and behaviors at any age that can ultimately boost our confidence. And with that newfound confidence, the more likely you are to succeed at work, influence and persuade others, solve problems, and stress less. So how do we activate this new science of confidence?

Three Strategies to Boost Belief:

1. Act As If

The most powerful way to boost self-confidence is to act with the confidence that you aspire to have. Speak up, stand out, reach out, exit your comfort zone. While there is a ton of research out there on building self-confidence, it basically boils down to your decision to back yourself and take a risk.

2. Activate Your Body

Stop slouching, sit-up, put yourself into a position of power and confidence. Movement. Motion creates emotion in the body. Perfect your power pose. Give me a superhero power position. The science shows that “when we activate a powerful position in our body, confidence is boosted.”

3. Resist Comparison

Mark Twain said, “Comparison is the death of joy,” and the science would agree. Comparison leads to thoughts of envy and lower self-confidence. Relinquish the desire to compare, especially in the era of social media and technology that we must navigate in this digitally charged world. Instead of trying to be as good or better than anyone else, focus your energies on being the very best version of you.

Trust that that version of you, is always enough. And remember, “Audaces fortuna iuvat”.