3 ways to improve your self-confidence
We all know that one person who has that inexplicable ‘it’ quality. They’re not necessarily the most successful or even the loudest person in the room. But there’s just something about them that draws people in. They’re warm, charismatic and radiate self-assuredness, but never in an arrogant way. So, what do all these people have in common? More often that not, it’s an internal sense of self-worth and confidence that shines through in everything they do.
They have a strong sense of who they are and what they stand for, which allows things to flow effortlessly in their life. The good news is, self-confidence doesn’t always have to be something you’re born with. Through a few simple actions, you can develop your self-worth and work towards living the life of your dreams. Here’s how:
One: challenge limiting beliefs
Often, the things that happen when we’re younger have a big impact on our lives as we grow up. For example, if during your school years someone tells you you’re bad at sport, you may internalise this and hold back in competitive activities as you get older.
We subconsciously seek confirmation of these beliefs and after a while, we begin to see them as fact. But as spiritual teacher and speaker Anthony de Mello once said, “There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.”
Grab a notebook and jot down what your limiting beliefs are and why you think you have them. Then go through and start undermining those reasons with evidence. Often, you’ll find that you were wrong about them all along!
Kinesiology is also great for this, as it can help you physically let go of some of those limiting beliefs, leaving you feeling like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders!
Two: practice affirmations
Once you’ve rid of those limiting beliefs, it’s time to reprogram your mind with new ones. That’s where daily affirmations come in. These may feel a little silly at first, but they’re a great way to introduce powerful, positive beliefs into your subconscious mind.
Affirmations are best done in the mirror, before you get ready for your day. You simply repeat the mantra over and over again and after a while, you truly start to believe it. I recommend doing these for at least 5 minutes a day. Below are some examples of empowering affirmations you can use, but feel free to change to whatever resonates with you!
“I set myself free and allow my inner beauty to shine”
“I love myself for who I am”
“I trust my inner wisdom”
“I am worth loving, there is love all around me”
Three: improve your body language
No doubt you’ve heard the expression “Fake it til’ you make it.” This is definitely the case when it comes to increasing your self-confidence. If you make a conscious effort to present yourself as a confident person (ie. standing tall, shoulders back), it’s been proven that you will eventually start to feel that way, too. This can also be used as a short term trick to boost your confidence before a nerve-wracking event, like a job interview. Check out Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on power posing for some great tips on how to do it.
Hi, I’m Yasmin
I’m a Melbourne based Kinesiologist, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner & Mindset Coach, working with clients in person and online.