5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence

Self-confidence or confidence in itself is not a static quality. Rather, it’s a state of mind that requires some effort to keep it intact when things get difficult. It must be learned, practiced, and mastered like any other skill. However, great results follow once you master it. In this article, we show you some simple and effective ways to boost your self-confidence. Doing so will allow you to face your day-to-day life with ease and improve your emotional health.

1. Act the part

In a single moment, your body language can show that you’re either confident or insecure. Make your first impression reflect that you’re ready and in control. If you demonstrate confidence and believe in yourself, not only will you feel more secure, but others will trust you more easily as well.

Also, several studies show that adopting the body language of a self-confident person makes you feel better. A self-confident person keeps their head up, sits up straight, pulls their shoulders back, and looks directly at the person they’re talking to. This is what you should do. Give a firm handshake and make eye contact when someone speaks to you.

2. Dress the part

When you look better, you feel better. If you choose clothes and accessories that make you feel attractive, you can boost your self-confidence. 

Dress for the position you want. In other words, dress for success. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through with the accessories you choose. A piece of jewelry, an interesting watch, or a striking tie can all be good conversation pieces.

3. Speak firmly and with confidence

The next time you listen to your favorite speaker, analyze their delivery. A great speaker speaks with confidence in a rhythmic and constant tone. Instead of using word tags like “eh” and “mmm” when you need time to think, simply pause. This causes less of an interruption to the flow of what you’re saying.

Adopt an assertive but non-aggressive way of speaking that shows your esteem. In doing so, you will definitely feel an increase in your self-confidence. Also, if you want to be taken more seriously, don’t speak in a high-pitched or nervous tone. You should also get rid of nervous laughter.

One example of a great speaker is Neil deGrasse Tyson in the documentary series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. In the episodes, we can clearly see how he speaks with confidence, addressing the audience at all times and keeping their attention.

4. Think and act positively

Another way to boost your self-confidence is always looking at the bright side of things and avoiding negative comments. Smile and surround yourself with happy, positive people. You’ll feel better and your co-workers will enjoy being around you.

To make it a bit easier, keep a gratitude diary. This diary will help you remember some pleasant moments of your day and your achievements.  You’re more at peace and more confident when you’re in a grateful state of mind.

5. Take action

To boost your self-confidence, you must go beyond how you dress and carry yourself. You must take action. Approach a complete stranger at an event or accept a project that you normally would say no to. Practice taking bold actions and it will soon come naturally to you.

Lack of action breeds doubt and fear. However, stepping out of your comfort zone builds trust and courage. As a practical exercise, write down your strengths and weaknesses. Most people will tell you to work on your weaknesses. But you should actually examine your strengths and capitalize on them. Once you put more energy into your positive traits, your confidence will shine on its own.

Finally, whatever you do, keep in mind that there will always be people who don’t like you. So, focus on what you really want to achieve and don’t worry about what others think of you.