Having confidence is important in helping you feel better about various aspects of your life. Maybe you want to be more confident in your professional life, crush goals, and get a promotion. Or maybe, you want to boost your self-esteem and see yourself in a more positive light. Either way, taking the steps to better yourself and build confidence can go hand-in-hand, and lucky for you, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are four steps to build your self-confidence: 

1. Practice Positive Self Affirmations

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve given yourself a pep talk in preparation for what’s to come? These pep talks, also known as self-affirmations, can be a great way to boost your confidence. They’re good for building confidence due to the fact that they get your head into a positive mindset. Additionally, studies have shown that practicing positive affirmations can ultimately reduce health deteriorating stress. By practicing self-affirmations often, you will begin to believe them, leading to the ability to make positive changes in your life.

To get you started, here are a few powerful affirmations that can help guide you on your journey to confidence:

  • I am my best source of motivation.
  • There is no obstacle that I can’t overcome.
  • Challenges are opportunities to learn and grow.
  • I am the best at what I do.
  • I am self-reliant, creative, and persistent in whatever I do.

If you need more suggestions on affirmations, you can say to yourself, don’t be afraid to create your own! You can also find plenty of positive words for any occasion, such as this one here

2. Implement a Self-care Routine

Self-care is essential to feel like your best self and can directly influence your confidence. There are many elements of what a self-care routine can look like, but the best part is that it’ll be unique to you. Be sure to incorporate activities that not only help you relax but also benefit you in other ways.

For example, ever heard the saying, “look good, feel good?” There may be some truth behind it! Taking the time to craft a skincare regimen can be just what you and your body needs. Your skin is the body’s outermost layer of protection, so it’s important to give it some TLC in return. If you’re troubled by skin concerns—such as acne—there are specific products and ingredients you should consider implementing into your routine. An acne cream with active ingredients such as tretinoin and niacinamide will be beneficial in clearing your skin as these ingredients not only work to combat blemishes and reduce the appearance of dark spots but also improve both the tone and texture of your skin.

Setting this time aside for yourself each morning and night will leave your skin glowing and your confidence increasing. Of course, a skincare routine isn’t the only way to practice some self-care. Other activities to try are reading, picking up a new hobby, or even getting some fresh air. Giving yourself quality time to nourish your body and relax will reflect in your day-to-day mood and overall confidence. 

3. Change Your Habits To Be More Confident

Changing some of your daily habits in both of your personal and professional life can help transform the way you feel. Maybe you find that you’re the type of person that hates to ask for help. Most of the time, we fear asking for help because we feel as though we’re supposed to have all of the answers and do not want to come off as weak or unknowledgeable. Interestingly enough, some of the most confident people are the ones who take the initiative to ask for help when they need it.

Another habit to be more aware of is your posture. While this may not be something you actively think about in your daily life, it can affect you more than you think. According to research completed by Amy Cuddy, your body language can directly change the chemistry in your brain. To practice better posture, consider power poses that open your body up instead of closing it. Improving your posture comes with a handful of benefits in addition to boosting your confidence, helping you in more ways than one!

Next, aim to strengthen your willpower. To do so, transform your thoughts into something more positive. For instance, flood your mind with thoughts of how much you want something, why you want it, how you’re going to get it, and what will happen once you achieve your goal. Focusing on your goals with a positive mindset and paired with your self-affirmations, you will be sure to help you build the confidence you need to achieve them. 

4. Learn Something New

Allowing yourself to learn a new skill or hobby can be just what you need to improve the way you view yourself—even if it means putting yourself into an uncomfortable situation. Working on something simple such as your communication or social skills can transform the way you view yourself. While, of course, self-confidence doesn’t directly make you better at what you do, it does prime you to take the steps and risks needed to achieve your goals. New skills can help guide you through conversation better, participate in knowledge transfer, and even make you a go-to person for a specific topic at hand. Ultimately, however you decide to begin your self-confidence journey is up to you, but a great place to start is with these four steps.

Self esteem