If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Many people suffer from low self-confidence, and it can stop many people from following their dreams, whether it’s pursuing that dream career, asking that person out on a date, or standing up to that bully in their life.
Self-confidence is something that we can all build. Here are just a few ways to kill your inner critic and start trusting your abilities, allowing you to be the best version of yourself.
Think positive
Every time you have a negative thought, try to consider the positive side. The negative thoughts are holding you back and destroying your self-confidence.
Rather than thinking of the worst thing that could happen in a situation, consider all the brilliant things that could happen if that situation goes well.
Meanwhile, stop examining your flaws and start focusing on your strengths.
Turn your weaknesses into strengths
Everyone has weaknesses – it takes self-confidence to admit these. However, did you know that you can also turn your weaknesses into strengths?
Many negative qualities can have positive side effects. If you’re indecisive, it could mean that you’re good at weighing up options and in some ways more patient.
If you’re quiet, it could mean that you’re a good listener. By realising this, you could become more comfortable with these weaknesses and in turn more self-confident.
Hang around with the right crowd
Don’t hang around with people that make you feel bad about yourself. Instead, find people who build you up or simply accept you for who you are.
A lot of people develop low self-confidence because they spend their time with overcritical friends or family members. Whilst we all need criticism, you shouldn’t have to deal with constant criticism – these types of people are negative influences and should limit your time with them.
Invest in your appearance
Look good, and you’ll feel good. Whilst appearance isn’t everything; there’s no denying it has a big impact in how we perceive things.
Treat yourself by spending money on your appearance. This could be anything from a new outfit to a haircut to even breast augmentation.
Just ensure that you’re investing in your appearance for your sake and not anyone else’s – you should never change your appearance for someone else if it makes you uncomfortable.
Challenge yourself every day
Challenging yourself helps you to overcome fears. We often fear what we don’t know, but once we’ve seen something a few times, it becomes more familiar and less scary.
An excellent example of this is jumping in a pool. It can seem scary at first, but once you’ve been in the water, it’s less daunting.
The same could apply to public speaking, making an important phone call, having a difficult conversation or trying a new activity – unless you dive in, you’ll never get used to it. Start taking on these challenges even if it’s just small steps and you’ll start to become more confident in what you can achieve.
Consider counselling
If your self-confidence issues are serious, it could be worth talking to a counsellor. You may simply need someone to build you up, and counsellors can do this.
They may also be able to motivate you to challenge yourself. There are so many different options and counsellors worldwide, find one that suits you!
