7 Ways to Build Confidence Today
Have you ever sat down to do some work and thought, I’m not qualified for this?
Or tried to achieve one of your goals, but stopped because you felt you weren’t “good enough”?
Or looked at someone who seems fulfilled and happy, and thought, I’ll never get there?
Sometimes our doubts can be so strong, we struggle to see our own value. So today, here are seven things you can do to improve your confidence right now, from Jay Shetty. If videos are a better way for you to process information, you can see Jay talk about these tips here
1. Work through your past
Confident people make sense of their past experiences. They recognize the gifts their past has presented them with. If you struggled through hardship, maybe that means you’re strong, or resilient.
2. Develop a high-value skill
When we’re skilled, we value ourselves and don’t let others tell us what we’re worth. As you learn and grow, you’ll face challenges that build your resilience, and your resulting confidence will be based on ability, rather than arrogance.
What’s a skill you can develop that our society puts a high value on? If you’re really into numbers, you might want to learn data analysis or statistics. If you love working with people, that could mean pursuing project management or taking some leadership training. If you like design, maybe take a class in UX/UI. Whatever gets you excited is the right path for you.
3. Constantly learn
I say it all the time: learning is a lifelong pursuit. Reading, listening to podcasts, attending workshops, watching videos. When you learn, you feel a sense of accomplishment and growth. And you start to trust that you actually have some of the answers, which builds confidence.
If you’re looking for some books to read, check out some of my favorites to enrich your thinking.
4. Show yourself compassion
Have you ever made a mistake, and immediately classified yourself as bad? Even though it’s just one single mistake?
Everyone makes mistakes. It’s part of being human. Good doctors sometimes give bad advice. Good teachers sometimes say falsehoods. Good parents sometimes lose their temper.
Being confident is about recognizing that one misstep doesn’t mean you’re “bad.” Next time you make a mistake, rather than beat yourself up, show yourself some love. Nobody has all the answers. Why should you?
5. Respond calmly
Confidence isn’t a result of lightning-fast reactions. It’s slow and calculated, like a lion sizing up its prey before it strikes. Confident people listen fully, and speak intentionally. They still feel fear, or anger, or sorrow — but they take a deep breath and make sure they act from a place of clarity.
When you lose your cool and give way to your big emotions, you can say and do things you later come to regret, which damages your confidence.
6. Develop a sense of certainty
What do you like? What do you dislike? What works for you? What doesn’t? Most importantly: what are your values?
Confident people know themselves, and don’t base their decisions entirely on external factors. And they don’t just know how to answer questions about what they like — they spend their time accordingly.
Try this. For a week, keep a journal where you write down how you spend your time (e.g. Monday – Exercise: 45 minutes, Work: 8 hours, Cook dinner: 20 minutes, etc.) At the end of the week, really look at that list. Where is your time going? That’s what your values are — at least the way you live them now.
7. Be prepared
While it may seem like confident people just show up, they do way more than that. They practice. They visualize and rehearse, so that when they need to perform, they excel. They come equipped with the skills and tools they need in order to succeed
What are the daily habits you need in order to feel prepared for life’s challenges?
