How to Build Confidence?

The social media effect on our self-esteem is not devoid of controversy. One scientific camp claims that comparisons to others’ selectively-crafted “reality” can lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction with our bodies and lives.

Lack of self confidence manifests itself in such a body language. A way to build confidence is to adopt a body language of somebody who does feel confident.

The art of “showing off”—when done properly and tastefully—provides a great opportunity to put ourselves in others’ orbits, to be noticed, valued and respected. Simply put, we should learn to emphasize our strengths whenever and wherever possible.

Self-confidence depends on a combination of good physical health, emotional health and social health. It is hard to feel good about yourself if you hate your physique or constantly have low energy.

Here is great TED talk (it’s one of my favourite) that gives tips on just that:

Gestures and posture are more than mere reflections of our self-assurance. They can be purposely used by us to project confidence on the outside, which will, in turn, make us feel more powerful and in control.

Others are neither as perceptive nor care as much as we assume—the only way to get noticed is to make yourself get noticed.

Make time to cultivate great exercise, eating and sleep habits. In addition, dress the way you want to feel. You have heard the saying that “clothes make the man.” Build your self-confidence by making the effort to look after your own needs.

Often our lack of self-confidence comes from the fact that we don’t feel good in our skin. We have a few extra kilos which makes us want to hide. We don’t care much about how we dress. Our haircut is out of fashion.

They also tell the story of our characters, of our brand to the world. Use them wisely.

Loving and helping others is important—true, but we shouldn’t forget that the only constant in our universe is truly ourselves.

Learn to say no. Teach others to respect your personal boundaries. If necessary, take classes on how to be more assertive and learn to ask for what you want. The more control and say that you have over your own life, the greater will be your self-confidence.

Compare it to models and celebrities. They feel beautiful, they feel sexy and attractive. It boosts their confidence!

Words are “living organisms” – they not only have a profound effect on others, but are also shapers of our confidence image. What we say does matter, of course, but how we say it is of no less importance.

No one can and will love us more than we can cherish ourselves, no matter what the movies tell us. That is, confidence originates from self-respect. It starts within us.

People with low self-confidence see others as better or more deserving than themselves. Instead of carrying this perception, see yourself as being equal to everyone. They are no better or more deserving than you. Make a mental shift to an equality mentality and you will automatically see an improvement in your self-confidence.

If you keep focusing on your shortcomings, sooner or later you will lose much of your confidence After all, if there are so many things you’re bad at, and so many mistakes you’ve made, then where is that confidence going to come from?

“Color Psychology,” or the sub-conscious effect colors have on people, is a real phenomenon, which can influence how others perceive us. For instance, shades of blue, black and red are linked to confidence.

Finally, be cognizant that to enhance our self-esteem is not the same as to feel superior to others. The whole process is merely a journey toward re-discovering our own worth as human beings, of what we stand for, and how we want to evolve. It’s that simple.

Rather than thinking of what you’re bad at and working on that, embrace your strengths.

Visualization is the technique of seeing an image of yourself that you are proud of, in your own mind. When we struggle with low self-confidence, we have a poor perception of ourselves that is often inaccurate. Practice visualizing a fantastic version of yourself, achieving your goals.

Mindfulness meditation, apart from its apparent benefits for our mental health, is also a great way to boost our self-awareness and esteem.

You might be awesome at public speaking, or a great cook, or a very talented businessman.

It helps to reign in our anxieties and fears, makes us more open to new experiences, and brings us the much-coveted self-acceptance. It also quiets our minds and self-doubts—thus, removes our self-inflicted impediments to progress and improvement.

Look at all areas of your life. This will help you believe in how good you are and increase your value.