Self-confidence and self-esteem are two terms often confused in meaning. Self-confidence is what you believe regarding yourself and the abilities you possess. Self-esteem has to do with the amount of value that you give yourself as a person. Having low self-confidence and self-esteem can affect every area of your life. Increasing your supply of both is not something that can be accomplished overnight, but with work you can help them to grow.
Step 1
Speak positively and make a conscious effort to think positively. Focusing on your problems and the difficulties in your life will bring you down and will hinder improvement. Avoid negativity, such as constantly speaking about your problems or criticizing yourself or others. Instead, search for solutions and highlight the positive in any situation.
Step 2
Learn from your mistakes and failures instead of dwelling on them and internalizing their attributes as your own. Failing at a task or making a mistake does not mean that you as a person are a failure or a mistake. Analyze the situation and learn from the experience, taking the situation as a lesson to prevent it from occurring again.
Step 3
Make a list of your achievements and keep it in a place where you can view it often. Add new achievements to the list as they occur. Read over the list at least once a week to keep your achievements fresh in your mind.
Step 4
Create goals for yourself, and then break them down into manageable pieces. Some goals that seem too large and unattainable are easily accomplished when broken down into tiny steps. Accomplishing each step is also beneficial to your self-confidence and self-esteem, as you’re able to see the progress you are making toward the end goal.
Step 5
Offer yourself forgiveness for mistakes you have made in the past and for those you will make in the future. Realize that you aren’t perfect and that it is acceptable to forgive yourself.
Member Comments
jamiematthewman June 12
Here's a comment I wrote on Linkedin which I thought I'd share with you...
Confidence is a result. It is built through time like any learning process. It requires action to get the ball rolling...the rest in my experience tends to fall in to place if you're committed to it. We all start out shaky...that's just life. For a longtime I used to believe I had to be perfect - that stops confidence dead! Nikes 'just do it' phrase has some real merit and I also appreciate it doesn't always feel easy. Sometimes, if it's really important you just have to do it and ignore those thoughts that say you can't or you're not good enough, because it's your thinking that creates the fear. Nothing else...fear is a self created illusion.A poor use of the magic you have available in your imagination.