Simple Ways to Boost Your Self Confidence

How to Increase Your Self Confidence

       Low self-esteem is unfortunately a self-fulfilling prophecy. The worse you feel about who you are, and what you do, the less motivated you will be to do what is necessary, to build your self-esteem.

Beliefs are not something that can be learned like a set of rules; self-confidence is a state of mind. Positive thinking, practice, training, knowledge, and talking to others are all useful ways to help increase your self-confidence level.

In one small study, researchers from Cornell University in New York found that students who sat in front of their own Facebook profile reported greater increases in self-esteem, than those who sat in front of a mirror, or a picture of themselves. The student surmised that the boost was caused by the way social media gave you control over how you presented yourself to the world.

Confidence stems from a feeling of well-being, acceptance of your body and mind (your self-worth), and belief in your abilities, skills, and experience. Self-confidence is an attribute most people have.

Nobody is born with unlimited confidence. If you have tremendous self-confidence, it's because you've been working on it for years. Self-confidence is something you should build on, as today's challenging world of business, and life, in general, can wear it down.

Many people experience self-confidence issues at some time. But if your self-confidence issues are interfering with your job, your social life, or your education, seek professional help. Sometimes low self-esteem stems from a bigger issue, such as a traumatic event in the past, which may be a symptom of a mental health issue.

What is Self Confidence Definition?

Psychology has a specific definition for each term. It is very helpful to distinguish between the three:

Self-confident:

Self-confidence means more than a general idea of how likely you are to achieve a goal, especially based on your past experiences. When you practice playing guitar, you increase your confidence in your guitar-playing skills.

It can also apply to how likely you are to believe you will be accepted into a social group. If you're being made fun of for your underwater basket weaving hobby, you may not be confident enough to share it with others next time. Self-confidence and self-efficacy are rooted in experience, but self-confidence reflects a broader view of yourself, than your confidence in certain tasks.

Self-Esteem: 

The term that is most often confused with self-confidence is the term that is least similar to it. Self-worth refers to your beliefs, of your overall worth. Examples of statements such as "I am a good person" fall into this category. Self-esteem is one level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and increasing self-confidence can contribute to your broader self-esteem.

Self Efficacy

Your confidence in your ability to complete certain tasks. If you believe you can cook dinner or finish a project, this reflects high self-efficacy. People with low self-efficacy often put less effort into a task, if they don't believe they will succeed at it, and that increases the likelihood of failure.

Why Self-Confidence is Important to Build Yourself

Self-confidence is essential in every aspect of your life, but many people struggle to find it. Unfortunately, this can become a vicious cycle: people who lack self-confidence are less likely to achieve the success that could have given them more self-confidence.

You may not want to support a project put forward by someone who seems nervous, fumbles, or keeps apologizing. On the other hand, you may be persuaded by someone who speaks, holds their head up, answers questions confidently, and is ready to admit if they don't know something.

How Can I Boost My Self-Esteem and Confidence?

Here are simple and practical tips to boost your self-confidence now, and make you feel and act your best.

Smile.

If there's one surefire way to instantly boost your self-confidence, it's a smile. Showing off beautiful pearl-white teeth will instantly make you appear confident and calm. However, the smiling effect is not only external. Studies show that smiling can also help relieve feelings of stress, and pave the way for a happier, more relaxed you

Smiling is very important for happiness and increasing your self-esteem. Studies show that smiling more (even if forced) can reduce stress, as well as many other benefits. Not only will your mood improve, but you'll also do the same for others; Remember, when you empower yourself and smile more, you are shining a light for others to follow. They also will permit themselves to smile more.

Dress nicely.

If you are well dressed, you will feel good about yourself. You will feel successful and well-groomed, and ready to take on the world. Now, being well-dressed means something different for everyone.

Dealing with failure.

The great Michael Jordan once said, “I've failed many times in my life. That's why I'm successful." And it's this mentality, which is: being able to live with failure and learn from it, that will help you build self-confidence.

Be nice to yourself.

Strive to be kind to yourself, and if you slip, try to challenge any negative thoughts. A good rule of thumb is to talk to yourself in the same way you would talk to your partner. It can be really hard at first, but practice makes it perfect.

Customize Your Posture

Much like the way you dress, the posture you take can affect how you feel about yourself. While it might feel a little silly at first, trying to be strong can help adjust your frame of mind. Research from Ohio State University shows that something as simple as sitting up straight can make you feel more confident in what you do.

Exercise.

Exercise is good for you! Besides having many physical benefits, it is also good for the mind. Case in point: One study showed that regular exercise can increase self-confidence (and reduce stress). Yet more research notes that exercise in general leads to an increase in self-confidence (regardless of how hard you exercise).

What seems to matter—as far as confidence is concerned—is whether you sweat in general, and not how heavy your sessions are.

Positive thinking.

One of the things that I learned when I started running was how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. How I can change my mind, and by doing so make great things happen.

Do what makes you happy

If you spend time doing the things you enjoy, you are more likely to have a positive attitude. Try to schedule a small amount of time each day. Whether it's time spent reading, cooking, or just lounging on the couch for a bit, if it makes you happy, make time for it.

Learning something new

It doesn't matter how old you are, or what profession you are in, learn something new. Study whatever fascinates you, and find out what's interesting. Learning something is a perfect way to stay engaged and away from self-destructive thoughts, which are one of the main reasons for low self-esteem.

It can be anything from learning to cook or learning a new language, to doing a technical course. Remember, it is never too late to learn. Learning empowers you and gives you a feeling of achievement. It makes you creative so you get new opportunities. When you accomplish something after studying, it gives you a sense of pride. And self-confidence is about how you feel.

Photoshop your self-image.

Your self-image certainly means a lot to you, more than you often realize. You have a mental image of yourself, and that determines how confident you are in yourself. But this picture is neither fixed nor changing. You can change it. Use your mental Photoshopping skills, and enhance your self-image. If it doesn't look good, change it. Find out why you see yourself that way, and find ways to improve it.

Sit up straight and walk tall—you are awesome!

Sit up straight and believe that you are awesome. Don't slump in your chair or hunch over your shoulders. The right attitude can not only boost your self-esteem and mood but can also make you more confident.

The best way to sit is to open your chest and keep your head straight, so you look and feel calm and confident. And when you wake up, stand up straight and walk like you're on a mission. People who sit up straight and walk taller are more attractive and feel more confident immediately.

Avoid Arrogance.

As you begin to express yourself more confidently, it's only natural to worry about getting cocky in the process. However, arrogance is not excessive belief. Pride is more a result of insecurity than overconfidence. Self-confidence is self-gratification, while pride requires external validation to feel good. So you might get people who brag about asking others for approval. A person with true self-confidence can be assertive and stand up for themselves, but they are unlikely to adopt a tone that others might find arrogant.

The main defense against arrogance is to develop a sense of true self-confidence. If you doubt yourself, it will take some time, before you feel inferior. For a while, your creeping doubts can try to tell you that feeling good about yourself or standing up for your stand, is just vanity. Recognizing that this is a symptom of insecurity, and realizing that it is a form of inoculation itself, will help you get past it.

Summary

It's very possible to be overconfident. If you're overconfident in your abilities, you're probably not going to take action. Being overconfident about your ability to pass the test may be holding you back from studying. Or assuming that you don't have to rehearse your presentation can leave you unprepared. It is very important to have healthy self-confidence, which helps you perform at your peak.