After coaching people for years on how to build confidence, I noticed a few of the same tips always seemed to come up trumps. This is just a simple list of those ideas, rather than a full blown step by step guide. Some will resonate with you, others will seem rather old hat and tired, but the fact of the matter is that these really do work.
If you do find one that particularly stands out for you, make a commitment to do something about it. As with all personal development or life goals in general, pick something that is new and previously untried. Take just one step, rather than trying to cram in as much as possible in an attempt to see what sticks, it unlikely that overwhelming yourself will have any positive effect.
A simple list of ideas to help build your confidence:-
- Compliment other people.
- Accept compliments gracefully.
- Keep fit, you don't need the body of a god(ess) to feel good about yourself.
- Keep a journal, it helps to calm a judgmental inner voice.
- Recognise your insecurities, accepting them is the first step to conquering them.
- Avoid perfectionism, good enough will do, tell yourself you can always come back to it later.
- Take care of your appearance, then it's one less thing to worry about.
- Practice smiling before entering a room.
- Learn a new skill to gently challenge you.
- Listen to your doubts, but challenge their validity.
- Reveal a little bit of the real you to people you meet.
- Fear is a way of letting you know that you're about to stretch yourself and grow.
- Scared of looking a fool? Remember to laugh with them, so they can't laugh at you.
- Confidence sometimes means admitting you're wrong.
- Sometimes the most confident thing to do is ask for help.
- Don't compare yourself with others, they have a whole heap of issues you aren't aware of and certainly wouldn't want to swap with.
- Being validated by someone else is not the answer to anything.
- Being confident is a journey not a destination.
- Seeing a task through to the end builds confidence, quitting because it was hard damages it.
- Distract your inner fears by directing your focus on helping others.
- Allow yourself to accept failing as a lessoned learned in the school of hard knocks. It's the best form of education.
- Recognise your successes, don't be afraid to say you're good at something especially to yourself!
- Remember that no one is perfect, in fact most are a lot less perfect than you :-)
How to use this list effectively
- Print it out, cut out each line and then:
- Hide them in various places that you'll find them to help remind you
- Put them all in a jar and pull out one each day
- Set a diary reminder in your phone to alert you to review the list
- Use one of them as a mantra for a day
- Post it on Facebook
- Tweet them
*Note* Just reading this list will have diddly-squat effect on building your confidence, only taking action will. So if you really want to build your confidence what action will you take?