10 Ways to Boost Confidence

Have you ever walked into a room and wished you could turn around and walk back out?  All of a sudden you feel like you don’t belong there.  Believe it or not, that happens to more people than you think.  Or they just never go anywhere because they don’t feel confident.  Building your confidence is a little like building a muscle.  It takes time and discipline to get past your limiting beliefs.  We are drawn to confident people.  They project a magnetic force that draws us in. From politicians to athletes and movie stars, to our pastors and professors, everybody loves a winner. And it’s all because of their confidence.

If you’re over forty, your body has probably started to change and you have begun to gain weight.  If you’re like me you’re spending more time on the sidelines of the field than actually taking the time you need to work out or take a walk.  When we allow our health and fitness to slip, we feel out of control and we start to lose our confidence.

The first step in becoming more confident is to recognize what is going well for you. You will start to feel better just by emphasizing the positive.

Helen Keller once said, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”  We can take that to heart in theory, but it will only work with a plan.  Having a plan puts you in control of your personal growth.  Having control can be empowering.

Take a look at the following 10 things you can do to create more confidence.  Try adopting one at a time until it feels natural and then you can move on to another.

1. Be Grateful.

What’s working in your life?  Think about what you have accomplished so far in your life and write down everything that you makes you feel grateful.  Don’t forget to give yourself perspective.  How far have you come over the years?  Are you different from who you were 10 or 20 years ago?

2. Be Realistic.

You will probably become aware of what is not working when you think about what is working. And those can be opportunities for growth.  Look for ways to improve yourself or your life.  It’s actually a healthy practice to keep getting a little better.

3. Start Small.

Start by setting a small goal that would improve one of the things that you identified as an opportunity for growth.  Take baby steps.  Make small changes and be consistent and then you can go from there.  Remember to celebrate the small wins.  Every single one.  That will build your confidence.  One of the best things you can do is to make your bed right after you get up.  There’s your first win right there!  Celebrate it!  

4. Stand Tall.

Studies show that when you stand up straight, put those shoulders back, and lift your chest up high, you are sending the message to your brain that you feel confident.  Take up space by putting your arms on your hips and spreading your legs like Wonder Woman. It will build your confidence.  You can change your beliefs by changing your stance.

5. Get Moving.

There are so many benefits of exercise and moving your body.  You release endorphins, so that makes you happy.  Exercise helps your digestion, your sleep, and can improve your health, just to name a few.  Getting outside adds even more benefits.  So go out there and get moving!

6. Look Great.

When you take the time to wash your hair, put on a little bit a makeup, and put a cute outfit together, you will feel better than if you just rolled out of bed without any thought or time for yourself.  The better you look, the better you feel.  It’s worth the extra effort.  You’ll be glad you did.

7. Think Ahead.

Ideally start preparing for the day the night before.  And if you know you have a big day ahead of you, take care of yourself.  Go to bed early.  Make sure you have healthy food prepared for the day.  Drink your water.  Schedule some time for yourself to de-stress with a workout or a walk.  Go get ‘em and win the day every day

8. Be Positive.

Smile and look people in the eye.  Create positive vibes to connect with people. You will come across as friendly and you will put people at ease.  That’s what confident people do. Warmth and kindness make our world a better place to live.

9. Practice Kindness.

A little help can go a long way.  Your strengths are a gift that you can share with others.  And you will reap the rewards.  Knowing that you are helping others will make you feel better about yourself.  And when you feel good about yourself you feel more confident.  Confidence is a superpower.  Wear it in style!

10. Remove Negativity.

You have a choice.  If you have negative influences in your life like friends, family members, or bad habits, you can make what might seem like a difficult choice and eliminate them from your life.  If you want to feel good and confident, you can’t be weighed down by anything negative.  Just do it, even if it’s difficult.

You can do it.  You can improve your confidence.  Emphasize the positive.  Put the work in to improve yourself.  You will be confident before you know it and you will feel both calm and brave to achieve whatever you want.