8 easy steps to boost your self confidence

Self-confidence is believing or trusting in one’s own capabilities regardless of how others think of you or your own imperfections.

By Taniya Choudhury

• Published on 29.6.2020

Being confident will help you get noticed among friends, perform better, and is good for your emotional health and personal well-being. Illustration: Shutterstock

Confidence is one of the key factors that determine success in life. It doesn’t matter whether you are a high-school student, a fresher in college, or a newly passed out hoping to land your dream job, your self-confidence level will help you achieve your educational goals as well as your career growth.

College life is one of the most important phases in a student’s life. It is much more competitive and can be very challenging for young adults who leave the comfort of their school life and enter into a completely new environment in college. 

Some students who are extremely shy or hesitant often fail to interact or connect with other fellow students and find it difficult to settle in the new environment. On the other hand, being confident will help you get noticed among friends, perform better, and is good for your emotional health and personal well-being. 

Advertisement

Having said that, one must remember that building self-confidence is a gradual process and takes time. Let us now explore a few ways that will help you believe in yourself and be more productive in your life. 

What is Self-Confidence?

Self-confidence is believing or trusting in one’s own capabilities regardless of how others think of you or your own imperfections.

Self-confidence and self-esteem compliment each other and the latter happens when you start to respect yourself and are ready to take on new challenges, accept setbacks or rejection, and stand up for your dignity and rights. 

8 Easy Tips to Boost your Confidence:

People who suffer from low self-worth or confidence are constantly judging their capabilities and fail to achieve success in their lives. On the contrary, confident people are not only successful, but are happier, make positive choices, are good leaders, and encourage others around them. Let us now have a look into some of the ways to boost our confidence level.

• Accept Your Flaws

The first step in building a positive image is to accept your strengths as well as the weaknesses. Nobody is born perfect. Self-acceptance will help you embrace your flaws and overcome your fear. It will also help you to understand the nature of your weakness and overcome it. For example, you want to pursue a career in singing but the mere thought of performing on stage makes you anxious. Well, you definitely do not want to give up your dreams. To control nervousness, start performing in small groups or family gatherings. This will help you overcome your fear in no time.

• Practice Self-Praise

Now that you know about your flaws, it's time to focus on your achievements. Review your past awards and achievements. Stop comparing yourself with others and focus less on what others think of you. Motivate yourself with positive affirmations. Every morning once you wake up, take a piece of paper and write down a few of your achievements or positive statements about you. We all are born with some natural gifts. Embrace them and your uniqueness will be your greatest strength. 

• Work on your Body Language

Your body language can speak a million words even if you don’t. Stop branding yourself as a shy and awkward person. Believe that you are a confident person and start acting like one. Always take an open posture, stand straight, and do not slouch while you are talking to someone. Wear a smile. It gives out positive vibes and makes you look more composed and confident. If you are an introvert and shy away from face-to-face communication, it's time to take action. Engage more with people and do not avoid eye contact. You may be hesitant in the beginning but will gradually gain confidence.

• Dress Up

Confidence comes with physical care. Some people are too conscious about their body especially those who are suffering from obesity or any physical deformity. Smart outfits and accessories will boost your inner confidence and give you a sense of authority. For students who are going for campus placements or job interviews, you must work on your self-image and dress up professionally. Do regular exercises. They are great stress busters and will help to tone your body muscles and make you look more confident.

• Set Goals

It is important to set goals. Try out new things that you are passionate about like music, dance, art classes, etc. Make personal changes that make you feel better. Attend seminars and workshops and learn about new things. Try to meet challenges that you have never tried before or been afraid to do like rock climbing or horse riding. This will make you believe that nothing is impossible.

• Be Assertive

Shy people often speak in a very low voice. Speak out loudly, take a seat in the front row, and make yourself visible to others. If you are being bullied in school, college, or at your workplace, it's time to take action. Confront them and talk to them and make them believe that their actions are harmful. Set personal boundaries. Take charge of your life. Do not let others harm your mental peace and well-being.

• Surround Yourself with Like-minded People

Surround yourself with friends that make you feel comfortable and happy about yourself. You are not here to please everyone. Spend time with people who appreciate and encourage you. Distance yourself from toxic people who harm your mental peace. Join social groups or activity clubs and indulge yourself in programs and events which will bring the best out of you.

• Learn to Take Rejections

You must learn to take rejections and criticisms. Sometimes your professor may point out a mistake or a friend may make a harsh comment. Try to take criticism constructively and use it to improve yourself. Avoid missing lectures simply because you are not good on that subject or you are afraid of the faculty. This will only worsen the situation and make you more nervous.

Let confidence do the talking for you!