How to boost self-confidence
By: Kali Pappas
Tags: Psychology, Self Confidence, Self Improvement, Confidence, Positivity

Lack of self-confidence can prevent us from achieving our dreams and becoming the amazing person we’re meant to be. Everyone faces these struggles to a certain degree, but how can we overcome it? By learning how to boost self-confidence of course! Once you get a handle on it, you can take back full control and live a more positive life, free of what others think!

STAND TALL

This is one of the most simple yet effective methods for giving yourself that quick boost of self-confidence. Stand tall, chest out and head to the sky, known as the “superhero stance!” This move projects power, improves mood and exudes confidence. Psychologists say we can alter our presence by simply adjusting our body position to be in-line with more positive and powerful feelings, which can impact people’s perception of us, and even our own brain chemistry. Therefore creating a more successful, happy outcome! Try the superhero stance in the mirror each morning for the next week as an experiment, and watch your confidence grow.

WRITE THREE THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF

Sometimes you just need to remind yourself how bad-ass you really are! Falling into a negative mindset can be easy, especially because our brains are wired to react much stronger to negative situations. However try to focus on the things you love about yourself, not the things you don’t and watch the perception of yourself flourish.

Here’s some food for thought: imagine if we obsessed about the things we loved about ourselves! The space in our heads would be such a beautiful place. There’s nothing wrong with loving YOU and being obsessed with all of YOU! If you don’t love yourself, how can anyone else?

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS

Practicing daily affirmations will build positive self-confidence habits and help remind you that you’re truly amazing! While giving you the push you need to take on anything that comes your way. Here are a few self-confidence boosting affirmations to help get you started:

I am special, there is no one like me

I believe in myself

I love myself more and more each day

I am worthy of love/joy/happiness/success

I’m worthy of having what I want

I have the power to create the life I want

Nothing can stop me from achieving my dreams

Challenges are simply opportunities to grow and improve

I am grateful for my personal journey and the lessons I’ve learned

I am becoming a better version of myself each day

BE GRATEFUL

Showing gratitude is associated with many positive outcomes such as: helping to improve mood and boost confidence. Studies have found that showing gratitude can literally rewire your brain and release dopamine (those happy, feel-good hormones), which can lead to improved happiness and positivity overall. Flood your brain with dopamine and start feeling better with the simple practice of gratitude! Start by writing down three things you’re grateful for each day, it can be anything you want, there are no limits to gratitude!

EXERCISE

Incorporating a healthy exercise routine has shown to greatly improve self-esteem and keep you feeling and looking your best, both mentally and physically. Exercise has more benefits than just improving your body image alone, it can also help reduce stress, improve brain function and help you feel more accomplished. As Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins makes you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands!”

SET SMALL GOALS

Setting smaller goals increase your chances of achieving them. People often set extreme goals that take a lot of time, energy and focus to accomplish, which can become very discouraging. If you set a smaller goal that you know you can achieve, you will feel good about it and in turn boost your confidence, which can result in achieving bigger goals over time!

FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS, NOT THE PROBLEMS

This is one of the best, most positive things you can do to improve self-confidence, especially in your career and love life! Have you heard the saying “like attracts like” — well it’s true, especially when facing problems. Finding solutions let you resolve the problem, therefore creating a positive outcome that you actually have control over versus what’s already in the past! Be positive and create solutions for your problems and watch them fade away.