5 Simple Tips to Increase Your Confidence and Become Awesome

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to be born with an abundance of self-confidence? Most people, however, struggle in at least one area of their lives with feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. Don’t let a lack of self-confidence keep you from enjoying all that life has to offer. By putting a few simple tips into practice, you can begin the adventure of becoming the person you always wanted to be!

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1. Fake It Until You Make It!

It takes time and work to develop self-confidence, but while you’re working on real, substantive changes, pretend you’re an actor playing a role.

This is one of the first lessons learned by those beginning a career in sales. The easiest “fix” is usually to upgrade the image others perceive.

Good posture is vital for both your health and self-image. Stand tall, and look straight ahead, not at the ground.

Dress for success. For bargains on designer clothes, find a great consignment shop, where the clothes are usually in excellent, seldom-worn condition or perhaps still have the tags attached. It makes it easier to face people when you know you’re well-dressed.

Consider a makeover. This can give you an astonishing boost in self-confidence.

A fitness coach can help you improve your diet and fitness level, giving you more energy and confidence.

2. Is Fear Holding You Back?

A lack of self-esteem is often linked to a fear of failure. Think about this for a minute. Author Gena Showalter once said, “Giving up is the only sure way to fail.” In other words, if you don’t try, you guarantee failure.

“Giving up is the only sure way to fail.” — Author Gena Showalter

Success is usually only achieved after multiple attempts. When an actor or band is suddenly “discovered,” they’ve probably been working hard for years for little money before being noticed. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, made thousands of different bulbs before he got it right. Failure isn’t the end of the world. Don’t let it cripple you. Accept it and move on. Success is waiting for you.

3. Knowledge Builds Confidence

Take small steps. If you’d like to learn something new, always a great way to bolster your confidence, online courses are readily available. Study subjects that will advance your career or pursue an area you’re passionate about. Be book smart by downloading apps such as Blinklist or listen to books on the go with Audible. When you’re ready, join a club of people who share your passion and will cheerlead for you and help hold you accountable for your goals.

4. Just Believe in Yourself

How you feel about yourself determines how others feel about you. They receive visual clues from your posture and your appearance and verbal clues from your speech. Speaking more slowly can be helpful. Taking steps to bolster your image will begin to affect how others regard you.

To improve your belief in yourself, try these tips...

• It sounds trite, but you need to pay attention to your thoughts. Negative thoughts (“I can’t do it,” “It’s too hard,” etc.) are like poison. Positive thinking is crucial to confidence.
• Know yourself. When going into battle, it’s essential to know your enemy. In this case, you’re your own enemy. Start writing a daily journal about your thoughts, fears, and aspirations. When you reread earlier entries, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ve changed.
• Be kind and generous to others. When you approve of your own actions, you feel better about yourself.
• Think about the principles you want to live your life by, write them down, and put them into action. Honour may sound old-fashioned, but honourable people are respected by others.
• Set small goals and achieve them. Volunteer for a team at work. Join a group that interests you. Complete an online class.

5. Learn to say NO!

Don’t be afraid to say no when it comes to your precious time. There is a saying my Mother had “You can’t pour water from an empty bucket”. You need to reinvest in your own energy before you can give to others.

Don’t make excuses either, if you don’t want to do something then it pays to be honest. Sometimes saying "no" starts with learning how to say no! You could try saying “No, but I know of someone else that could help” or “No, I can’t right now, but would be happy to help on another day”. Try practicing saying no in front of the mirror.

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In Summary

Whilst you’re working on building your self-confidence, don’t forget to smile. You’ll instantly feel better about yourself and will receive smiles from others. Life is for living, enjoy it, and to be honest you don't need to become awesome as you are already awesome!

© Originally published in Language Learners Journal and Medium by Trisha Dunbar, updated for Vocal, 2022.