When you are self-confident, you trust in your own abilities, judgment and virtues. Having confidence in yourself is critical to your physical and mental health, and it helps you to climb the ladder of success, both personally and professionally. It encourages you to ‘put yourself out there’, allowing you to be more open to trying new things. You won’t spend your time worrying that you aren’t good enough, so you will have more time and energy to devote to what is important to you. If your self-confidence could use a little boost, self improvement courses are one approach, and here are three other ways you can improve it.
1. Don’t Compare Yourself to Other People
Are you always trying to keep up with the Joneses? Researchers have found the more that you compare yourself to other people, the more likely you are to experience envy. The more envy that you feel, the least amount of self-confidence you likely have as well. Be mindful of times when you compare how much money or possessions you have with others, or how good of a job you have, or how skilled you are. Making comparisons is a trap that you should be careful not to fall into. Counting your blessings is a proactive way to build your confidence when you feel it slipping away.
2. Care for Your Body
If you are not taking good care of yourself, it is hard to feel confident about who you are. Conversely, if you are doing what you can to lift up your mind, body and spirit, your natural sense of self-confidence will shine through. If you are eating well, you are going to have more energy. When you exercise, your body image is likely to improve. Meditate, and become connected with your deeper, calmer self. Get enough sleep and you will likely look and feel better, which will raise your self-esteem.
3. Utilize the Power of Affirmations
It is universally known that negative thinking brings about negative results in life. On the other hand, being optimistic and utilizing the power of positive affirmations has the ability to alter your mind, and thereby change your life. For example, think about something that you wish were true about yourself at this very moment. For example, let’s say that your wish is that you had a new job. Create an affirmation that expresses exactly what you want, and phrase it in the present moment. Repeat to yourself, “I have the perfect job, in the perfect way, doing perfect work, for perfect pay.”
Creating more self-confidence is often about re-programming your subconscious to think differently about yourself and your life. Acknowledging and being grateful for your talents and gifts that you have is a big part of growing into a deeper sense of self.
