Confidence is often cited as the number 1 reason for people not achieving the results they want in life. Below I discuss 8 ways to increase your confidence levels and help you attain the life you want.
From working with numerous clients, I have realised that the number one issue holding people back from achieving their desired life is: confidence.
Many people believe that confidence is a personality trait; you were either born with or without it.
That’s not true.
Confidence is a mental state that you can develop IF you’re prepared to put in the work.
Building your confidence is a crucial step in progressing towards whatever you want to achieve in life.
Confidence enables you to…
- Go where your heart tells you
- Have the strength to overcome adversity
- Exude an aura that attracts people to you
- Increase others’ trust in your ability
- Instil a feeling of safety when people follow your lead.
Babies are born with natural confidence… So, why do some of us lose ours?
As children reach the age of three or four, they start to become self-conscious.
We realise that being ourselves isn’t enough to hold on to unconditional love – instead, being something else or acting a certain way is the only way that you get the love you crave.
This soon develops into a belief system that if you are somehow different to how you naturally are, you will be deserving of love.
It’s a cruel cycle and it affects all of us to some degree.
And, this cycle will never end unless you take action to free yourself of any self-limiting beliefs and build up your confidence.
The question is, how can you do that?
Here are 8 tips you can follow to help build your confidence…
1. Clean up your self-image
We all have a mental picture of ourselves printed into our subconfscious minds.
That image determines the results we get in every area of our lives – we cannot outperform it.
However, you can change this image over time.
Each day, you can use visioneering, affirmations, journaling, life scripts or other tools to upgrade your self-image.
The key is to practice seeing, thinking and feeling the way you want to become and the new image will begin to take root.
2. Dress for success
It’s amazing how much more confident you feel when you shower and put on fresh clothes. Don’t just dress for success, stand tall with your shoulders back, walk briskly, give firm handshakes and smile.
Your mind follows the physiology of your body and it is a scientific fact that simply smiling will lift your mood.
Even if you are faking it at first, you’ll soon start to feel more successful, presentable and ready to take on the world.
You’ll talk to people more positively, people will take notice of you and this will grow your confidence tenfold.
3. Get to know yourself
Even if you think you know yourself well, scientific studies might say otherwise.
Often, we have beliefs about ourselves that do not serve us well.
The next time you feel insecure or like you’re incapable of something, look at the situation from a new perspective – recognise that it’s not a beneficial belief to harbour.
If you do this a few times, you’ll start to see that many of your limitations are not limitations, but symptoms of negative beliefs.
I have two exercises I ask my clients to do which really help with getting to know yourself, email me if you’d like to try them out.
4. Train your mind to see the good in everyone and every situation
Are you looking for the good or the bad in people?
If you train your mind to look for the good in people, even if their words and actions indicate that they don’t see the good in themselves, you will soon see a difference in your confidence.
The good that you find in others is a reflection of the good that is within you.
Doing this will build your confidence to see that you are a worthy person, deserving of success.
5. Make sure your goals and values are in harmony
Have you ever asked yourself what your values are?
When you take time to think through your fundamental values and then commit yourself to live your life in alignment with them, you will feel a surge of mental strength and determination.
You will feel more centred and sure of yourself, what you are doing and where you are going.
The goals you want to accomplish will no longer feel out of reach.
6. Change a habit
It’s not easy to change a habit.
That is why you have to start with something small, like waking up 10 minutes earlier or meditating for 10 minutes a day.
If you do it for a month, you’ll be eager to continue or improve.
Two years ago, I began introducing one new habit into my life every 6 weeks.
After a year, I’d implemented 10 new habits that are now part of my daily routine.
Introducing these habits in a disciplined way had an incredible effect on the way I felt about myself.
I felt proud of what I’d achieved and in turn, felt more confident – you can do the same.
7. Get physical
Exercise is one of the most empowering things you can do for your self-esteem.
When you exercise, endorphins are released which trigger a positive feeling in your body.
It doesn’t have to be extreme, you could simply add a gentle walk into your day – this will make you feel better physically, mentally and emotionally.
Maybe if you do fancy something a little more intense, you can do a short, high-intensity workout, which will elevate your heart rate and increase your strength in the main muscle groups.
You can find these types of exercises online, or I’d be happy to share my workouts with you.
8. Take action
Study self-development regularly, so that you better understand the natural laws of the universe, how your mind works and the great potential that lies within you.
It’s the most important thing you can do to become more knowledgeable and increase your self-confidence.
Uplift yourself with daily affirmations, you could say “I am confident” or “I am strong”.
Read a book, watch a video, listen to a podcast – do whatever it takes to enhance your knowledge and your confidence.
Block out some time in your day for this and you will soon see changes in the way you think.
I help entrepreneurs and go–getters turn their dreams into reality.
I can help you build a business that delivers the income, freedom and fulfilment you truly desire.
