The following post comes to us from Patrick Bailey, a professional writer focusing on the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. Learn more about Patrick in his bio following his article.
Being the best version of yourself is a powerful feeling, and it’s one you can achieve no matter where you are right now. Confidence is a feeling we often chase and forget that we are perfectly capable of making it happen. The best way to build your confidence is to remember that you can practice over time and learn from things that boost your self-esteem. By paying attention, going easy on yourself, and doing more of those things, you’ll become your most confident self in no time. Practice these easy habits to build your self-esteem and enjoy a powerful mindset.
Acknowledge Your Wins
You will never feel like your best self until you can celebrate what you have already accomplished. It is tempting to constantly look forward to the next thing and try to improve, but then you miss out on the feeling of confidence right now. You can celebrate yourself and acknowledge your strength in the present moment even if you are not yet where you’d like to be in life. In fact, celebrating your achievements and incredible traits now can give you the confidence you need to keep pushing for more. When you feel celebrated and capable, confidence is automatic.
Think about the last time you:
- Did something healthy for yourself
- Helped someone else
- Tried something new
- Completed a major project
- Impressed someone new
Eat What Feels Good
Eating foods that make you feel your best is an underrated key to confidence-building. A malnourished body can affect your mental health and mood over time. If you are unable to focus, prone to negative thinking, and relying on terrible energy levels, you are unlikely to feel good about yourself. Eating whole foods you enjoy is a habit you can practice three times a day to reinforce the idea that you deserve to feel good. This builds subtle improvements to your confidence over time, and your energy levels will show in the way you carry yourself and present your attitude.
Learn to eat foods such as:
- Homecooked meals
- Unprocessed and organic ingredients
- Hydrating fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains, plant proteins, and healthy fats
Learn to Ask for Help
Asking for help is an act of bravery and belief that you deserve to live your best life. It is not a weakness to need support, in fact, it is a display of confidence in your ability to make it through a problem. Taking a holistic approach to serious aspects of your life and health (including mental health challenges) is a habit you’ll need to learn in order to feel confident in your well-being. This alleviates insecurity and gives you the confidence that you will be alright in the long run. Also, practicing vulnerability and openness will make you a more powerful communicator in the future.
Asking for help can include:
- Seeing a psychologist proactively
- Getting regular check ups
- Consulting with your boss
- Checking in with loved ones
Get Uncomfortable
The best way to build your confidence is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Insecurity often stems from the idea that you don’t know how to succeed or present yourself well in a situation. By actively finding new experience to test your limits and show you new perspectives on people, you will find your rhythm. The most confident people can take new situations in stride even if they have no previous experience or skill sets. What matters is the idea that you are willing to learn and put yourself out there more than people who are insecure. Over time, you will find that new situations only strengthen the way you carry yourself and promote your confidence.
Get uncomfortable by:
- Trying something new
- Public speaking
- Attending a networking event
- Taking on a project that scares you
- Introducing yourself to new people
Practicing these habits to build your confidence will give you an easy road map if you need somewhere to begin. Remember, confidence is a habit and a feeling you can draw on at any moment, not simply a far off destination. If you can adapt, get uncomfortable, take care of yourself, and ask for help to be well in the long term, you will build all the confidence you need to be successful.
About the Author: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them. You can find Patrick on Twitter, Linkedin and Google+.
