How to Improve Self-Confidence
How to improve self-confidence
Here are ten ways you can improve self-confidence:
- Stop comparing yourself to unrealistic standards.
- Compare yourself only against yourself.
- Strive to improve upon your performance.
- Build your confidence brick by brick, day by day.
- Start by improving your appearance and dress code.
- Work to improve your knowledge-bank, especially in relation to your profession.
- Strive to improve your health by improving your nutrition, sleep and exercise programme.
- Set goals for a better future and write plans for their accomplishment.
- Change the way you talk to others about yourself. Re-brand yourself.
- Learn to like yourself.
1. To build more confidence
Stop comparing yourself against an unrealistic standard, such as perfection, or the world's best. Many people imagine they are not good enough because they compare themselves against impossible standards, such as fictional movie characters, or world class athletes, or the mythical "other people". It is a mistake to compare yourself against others, since you are not them, nor did you have their upbringing.
You can improve your self confidence by comparing yourself only to "yourself, yesterday".
2. You can build more self-confidence
Compare yourself against your own performance, from yesterday. Each day, your task should be to improve on your yesterday's performance, in at least one area of your life. Confidence will come when you see yourself making progress.
3. Work to improve your performance
To do so, you should make it your goal to improve upon yesterday's performance. Everyday, make yourself a little stronger, faster, better. At first, other people won't notice. But you will. And as the small improvements begin to accumulate into larger improvements, you will feel a surge of realistic self-confidence, based upon improved performance.
4. Every day strive to improve yourself
Let your confidence build naturally over time, as you see yourself improving. Rome was not built in a day. It was built brick by brick. You can build your confidence brick by brick, by working on yourself in many ways.
5. Work to improve your appearance
In terms of your dress-code, when you look better, you'll feel more confident.
6. Work to improve your knowledge base
Especially in relation to your profession, since knowledge is power. If you know more, you will feel an improvement in your self-confidence. It is difficult to feel confident if you don't know what you're doing. Remember that confidence and competence are like twins; they are often found together.
7. Strive to improve your health
By eating properly and exercising three times per week, you will feel healthier and better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself, this will positively affect your self- confidence.
8. Set goals for a better future
Set goals and write plans for their achievement. Confidence is built on a belief that your future will be better than your past. One way to build confidence is to set goals and make plans for a better future. You need to give yourself reasons to believe that the future is going to be good. Then that optimistic belief will build your self-confidence.
9. Change the way you talk about yourself
Never say anything derogatory about yourself to your friends and family, since if you say you are useless, then other people will tend to believe you, and downgrade their opinion accordingly.
Whenever you talk to others about yourself, verbalise only positive messages, such as, "I feel much better today", or "I believe that things are going to get better for me". The more you repeat these messages to other people, the more likely they are to believe you. They will then upgrade their opinion of you, and that upgrade will rebound back to you and will help you to feel better about yourself.
But I hear you ask, "What if you don't really feel it? Is it right to say things that aren't true?"
In this case, YES, it is GOOD to say these things that aren't true.
It is good to say things that are not YET true, because if you say them enough times, they will become true.
The following statement is very important for you to understand: "You become whatever you say about yourself."
10. Learn to like yourself
Remember that we are all "a work in progress" and today, you are who you are, and that is a good place to start.
Your task is to like yourself and to improve yourself everyday in lots of small ways, and as you do, your self-confidence will improve naturally and at a pace dictated by your improved performance.
Definition: Self-confidence
Self-confidence is a mental state used in personal development. You trust your own ability to meet tasks, rely on proof of past progress, talk and act with positive purpose, and keep this steady belief even when small problems crop up. If any part is missing, true self-confidence does not exist.
Show CG4D Definition
- Holds a clear belief in personal ability to handle tasks and challenges
- Builds on awareness of past progress and present skill
- Shows through steady, positive self-talk and goal led action
- Stays strong during everyday setbacks while staying open to growth
Article Summary
Self-confidence grows when you judge progress against yourself, use positive self-talk, stay active, learn new skills and set clear goals; small wins pile up, proof wipes out doubt, and a Mind UK study found 68% of people who practise these habits feel more confident within four weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
Why should I stop comparing myself to others?
How can I track progress without outside comparison?
Does dressing well really help build confidence?
Can exercise boost my self-belief?
What is a simple positive self-talk phrase to use?
How often should I review my goals to stay confident?
What if I do not like myself yet?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
A 2023 Mind UK study of 10,000 adults found that 68% of people who used positive self-talk each day felt more confident after four weeks. The 2024 Global Wellness Institute report shows that adults who do at least 150 minutes of exercise each week are 34% more likely to rate their self-confidence as high than those who do not exercise.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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