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What is self-confidence? We hear the words and think we have it or don’t as the case may be. But what is the real definition of self-confidence?
According to WordHippo
Noun
The state of being self-confident
A measure of one’s belief in one’s own abilities.

And Wikipedia has this to say:
Confidence is a state of being clear-headed either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Confidence comes from a Latin word ‘fidere’ which means “to trust”; therefore, having self-confidence is having trust in one’s self.

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I really like that last bit “having trust in one’s self.” If you don’t trust yourself then how can you ever trust anyone else?

Now that we know what it is let’s take a look at some tips to help you feel more confident.

1. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone learns and grows at their own pace throughout life. There is nothing to be gained by comparing except to compare yourself to yourself in the past.

2. Spend time with positive people. They have a tendency of rubbing off on you and that’s a very good thing. Maybe you have a friend so confident they are sometimes called cocky. You could learn a thing or two by observing their behavior. You may never be cocky like them but you could feel more confident in general.

3. Speak with conviction. Say ‘no’ when you mean it and don’t say ‘sorry’ unless you’ve done someone harm or been disrespectful to them. Instead, try saying ‘thank you’; i.e. “thank you for asking but I’m busy”, “Thank you for thinking of me but I’ll have to say no this time.” You don’t have to give an explanation – just no.

4. Make your goals small and achievable. Try not to set yourself up for failure before you even begin. If you have big dreams that’s awesome, just break them up into small manageable goals with step-by-step lists of tasks required to reach them. You’ll feel more confident finishing each small task and reaching multiple milestones.

5. Stand up straight and tall. Sit up straight in your chair and walk tall. Just these simple acts can make you feel more confident. Your posture also lets other people see that you feel confident

6. Smile at people you pass by on the sidewalk. It takes no effort and very little thought but can make you feel more confident, especially when they smile back. Where I’m from it is very common for strangers to smile, nod, and/or say hi when passing on the street. It makes the whole community feel friendly and welcoming which is great for your self-confidence.

7. No negative self-talk! That inner critic needs to go. Sometimes it’s helpful and keeps us on track but when it dips into insulting and belittling us it has to stop. This type of negative self-talk ‘I’m not good at anything!’ ‘I’ll never get that promotion!’ is detrimental to your success and is rarely based on facts. When you catch yourself having these thoughts just tell your inner critic ‘You’re fired! I’m getting a motivational coach instead.’ then turn your thoughts to more positive things.

8. Accept compliments with a gracious ‘Thank you’. Don’t insult yourself or put yourself down as so many people do. “Oh, this old thing? I just threw it on.” When you think about it, it’s kind of insulting the person who paid you the compliment if you put yourself down. And it feels really good to accept the compliment knowing the person really meant it. Talk about a confidence boost!

9. Remember things you’ve accomplished in the past and be proud of your achievements. Write them down if it helps to see them on paper. Put on that cocky attitude and praise yourself for all the things you’ve done. You’re amazing!

10. Start and end your day with positivity. Positive affirmations to start you off right and gratitude journaling before bed to give you peace of mind for sleeping.

With these ten tips I really hope you’ll grow your self-confidence and realize the incredible human you are. What makes you feel more confident when you’re doubting your abilities or afraid you’ll fail? Let us know in the comments.

Roze