Confidence can be the foundation for success in a variety of different areas, whether it’s your career, relationships or even just day-to-day activities. Developing and nurturing this important quality is something every person should strive for. But how? It seems hard to build confidence when you’re already feeling low or overwhelmed – so here are 12 easy and simple activities that build confidence. They will help you boost your self-esteem on a daily basis!
what is confidence?
First thing first there is no remedy or pill by taking which you can become confident in yourself. Confidence is a process that takes practice. Think about it as a habit that once formed will define and condition your further life.
But what really is confidence and who can we call a confident person?
I like to think that confidence is not something to showcase or demonstrate, it is not something that we see on the outside. Rather it is an internal and deeply rooted accumulation of ideas we have about ourselves. These ideas do not necessarily include only awareness about our strengths or beliefs about our superiority. They also include our weaknesses and the courage to accept them.
Looking at yourself with honest eyes, being able to see yourself for who you truly are without delusions and self-lies, accepting your flaws and imperfections without judgment and criticism, acknowledging your assets without arrogance or conceit, and most importantly being able to apply those qualities better to yourself and the world around you – that is confidence at its best.
How to build confidence?
As mentioned earlier, confidence can be cultivated, and all it takes is practice. If you find that confidence doesn’t come naturally to you and your self-esteem is often low, know that you have the power to improve it.
If we think of self-confidence and self-esteem as a collection of ideas about oneself and the world around us, we know that we can CHALLENGE and RESTRUCTURE these concepts and adopt the mentality that is far more beneficial.
So I’d like to suggest a list of activities that build confidence and improve self esteem. Choose some that fit best your lifestyle and practice them daily.
Activities that build confidence
1. Practice daily affirmations
Affirmations are short but powerful statements that can reprogram your thinking patterns and help you change your core beliefs. The goal of affirmations is to rewire your brain with ideas that serve you better.
When crafting affirmations (and I recommend that you create yours instead of using premade ones) be specific and make sure they resonate with who you are and how you feel.
That means steering clear of generic statements like “I am the most beautiful person in the world” and instead finding statements that are more realistic and believable. The affirmation“I have outstanding qualities in my appearance that many people wish they had” is quite the one, what do you think?
2. Challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone
Doing something that is uncomfortable for you, is the most obvious and straightforward, yet efficient way to gain some self-respect and see yourself in a better light.
This could include anything, from trivial things like wearing a bold outfit that you’ve always shied away from to quitting the job you hate and moving to a different country.
Actually, introducing challenging activities in your life regularly is almost a MUST for personal growth and self-esteem.
For example, each time you want to do something but feel uncomfortable, do it on purpose anyway, even if it seems to be not a big deal.
For instance, if I am at a window sitting in the airplane and ten minutes into the flight I need to use the bathroom, I can feel uncomfortable bothering other people. My logical mind might find that it’s an unnecessary inconvenience for others and I should just hold it in for longer. But instead of giving in to that discomfort, I choose to stand up, apologize politely, and make my way to the bathroom.
By learning to live with discomfort, take risks, and conquer fears you will not only become more flexible and resilient but will also gain more confidence.
Start doing something out of your comfort zone already today, you will be surprised how many things you are capable of. Little activities that build confidence must become a part of your everyday routine.
3. Learn to say "no"
It may seem counterintuitive, but the inability to say NO can actually harm you more than anyone else. While it may feel like you’re being selfless or generous by constantly saying yes, in reality, you’re neglecting your own needs and desires.
Trying to please everyone is a POORLY CHOSEN STRATEGY that masks the intention to feel secure in human relationships.
In simple words, it is the way to hustle for the feeling of self-worthiness instead of owning it.
That being said, the importance of saying NO is hard to overestimate. It gives you a sense of power, control and freedom.
By saying NO you are setting and protecting your boundaries, finding more energy and time for the things that truly matter to you and gaining respect from yourself and others for being honest, self-aware and authentic.
To learn more, check out the article: The Power of Saying NO: When and How to Do It.
4. only answer what you've been asked
Have you noticed that when someone asks you a simple question that requires a short yes or no answer, you feel like adding an explanation in the end?
It’s almost like you don’t want to be misunderstood, so you give an explanation that is usually longer than it needs to be. But who asked you for it?
Not only is it unnecessary, but it can also give the impression that you are guilty, insecure, or fishing for validation.
For instance, imagine your boss asking when a project will be completed. Your answer should only include a specific date, not a long-winded story. Saying you’ll finish it by the end of the day on Monday is perfectly acceptable. But adding unnecessary details like your cat was sick, that’s why it takes longer may come across as insecurity and can actually get you in trouble.
The same goes for arriving late somewhere. Just apologize for being late and move on. It’s not necessary to place blame on traffic or any other external factors unless someone asks for an explanation.
Remember, being specific and straightforward is a quality of confident and calm people.
5. Express right away when you are uncomfortable
One of the activities that build confidence is to be more assertive in expressing your likes and dislikes. Meaning, you are able to communicate effectively, and that includes expressing your opinions without fear of judgment or retribution.
If you're uncomfortable with something, it's important to let people know right away. Instead of beating around the bush or trying to sugarcoat your words, be straightforward and direct.
By doing so, you not only take control of the situation, but you also show others that you respect yourself and your own boundaries. With time and practice, expressing yourself assertively will become second nature and you’ll find yourself feeling more confident in all areas of your life.
6. Ditch perfectionism
Perfectionism is NOT self-improvement. Perfectionism is a tool, weak people use to earn approval and acceptance. It is a self-destructive, never-ending, abstract and bizarre idea that has once been sold to us as a possible way to obtain self-worthiness and respect.
The real power and the real confidence lie in the mentality of imperfection.
Being ok with who you are, owning each and every quality of yours, accepting personal flaws and striving for improvement (not perfectionism) – that’s the behavior of a truly confident person.
I always advocate AGAINST PERFECTIONISM and it is my strong belief that life is much better without it. If you would like to know more, here is a wonderful article about the danger of perfectionism and how to let it go.
7. Get a habit of winking at yourself in the mirror
I am convinced that we will all benefit from bringing winking back. Only this time it will be winking at oneself.
The reason behind it is PSYCHOLOGICAL with the intention to make friends with yourself and to give this “friend” the support that each of us needs.
In this insanely lonely and highly competitive world we all have excelled in criticizing and judging ourselves. But can we befriend this person in the mirror? Can we extend a friendly gesture like a wink? It is like saying “Hey, I am here for you! We got this!”
8. pretend like you already confident
To boost your confidence, try acting as if you already have it – fake it till you make it!
Think of a person you know who emits high self-esteem. Observe their posture, manner of walking, and tone of voice. Then, position yourself in front of a mirror and play the role of that confident person.
Take note of how you feel when you do this exercise. Are you standing taller? Speaking with more conviction?
Remember, confidence is a skill that can be honed, and practicing this exercise regularly can help you develop the necessary skills to exude confidence in any situation.
9. Tame your inner critic
One of the most effective ways to develop self-confidence is to manage your inner critic. This part of your brain can be highly critical and negative, but you can learn how to control it instead of letting it control you.
When your inner critic produces negative comments, you don't have to engage in a fight with it. Instead, you can simply acknowledge the remark and be grateful for your inner critic's opinion but ultimately choose not to accept it.
In doing so, you’ll be practicing a form of mindfulness that will help you to cultivate a more positive and empowering perspective. With practice, you can retrain your brain to be more supportive rather than critical.
10. Practice self-compassion
Self-compassion is a powerful practice that focuses on developing SELF-LOVE and SELF-ACCEPTANCE.
In our fast-paced and demanding world, it can be challenging to fully embrace what we do and how we choose to live our lives. It takes courage to recognize that our struggles, insecurities, and vulnerabilities are not unique to us but are universal experiences we share as human beings.
Self-compassion is about acknowledging our emotions, recognizing our boundaries, and most importantly respecting our personal limitations.
So if you’re seeking a way to increase your confidence and strengthen your sense of self-worth, try incorporating self-compassion into your daily routine – you won’t regret it!
Please, take some time and read this wonderful article on the subject of self-compassion – it might change the way you think about yourself forever.
11. Slow down and stop rushing
To improve your confidence, it’s important to slow things down. Rushing through a conversation or feeling the pressure to constantly speak and move quickly can actually hinder your ability to project a calm confidence. Instead, take the time to relax and pause before you speak or act.
Slowing down can help you appear more confident, grounded and in control.
In general, taking the time to slow down in life can be incredibly beneficial. By doing so, we give ourselves the opportunity to better control and analyze any situation we may find ourselves in.
We can take the time to fully assess what’s happening around us, consider different options, and make more informed decisions. In a world where we’re always go, go, go, intentionally slowing down can help us perform better both personally and professionally.
12. Make self-growth your priority
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to make self-growth your number one priority. By continually striving to better yourself, you can significantly boost your self-esteem and improve your confidence.
However, this isn't something that happens overnight; it's a permanent and ongoing process that requires consistency and dedication. Whether you're learning a new skill, setting goals or practicing self-care, it's essential to stay motivated and disciplined.
Focusing on self-growth can help you overcome self-doubt, improve your confidence and unlock your full potential. So why not make it your mission to become the best version of yourself?
