Self-confidence is like water in your house. You won’t notice it, but it’s painful when it’s not there.
There are three expressions which are alike, but you should not use them as one: self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-confidence.
When you say “I’m a good person” about yourself, it’s self-esteem. Self-confidence is not self-esteem.
Self-efficacy is like self-confidence, but self-confidence is broader view of yourself. Self-efficacy is about when you say “I can cook a meal”, but self-confidence is about when you believe in yourself to achieve a goal.
How to improve your self-confidence?
There are some ideas and some techniques about improving self-confidence. I listed some of them that seemed more perceptible.
Be honest with yourself
For example, If you’re embarrassed and can’t talk about your job, change your job, or just accept what it is.
Start working out
Start walking, running, etc., and do it regularly. American psychological association said that!
Step outside of your comfort zone
If you stay in your comfort zone nothing will change, so your self-confidence will not change either. It’s a zero-change zone.
Step outside of your comfort zone and try things that make you uncomfortable!
Face your fears
Look them in the eyes and smile. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure (Helen Keller).
Try a new look
It is sometimes hard for us to appear in society with a different/new look. We can’t bear the way others look at us, but if you want to empower your self-confidence, you should try that new look.
They say if you dress like a doctor, you behave like a doctor.
Defy your imposter syndrome
It’s really a bug in our mental system. It means you doubt yourself to do a job when in fact you have the ability to get it done. It’s easier to remember faults than to remember successes.
Sit up straight
It may seem ridiculous, but sitting up straight and not humping will help you to improve your self-confidence.
Stop comparing yourself to others
Stop this terrible thing. Especially don’t do it in the social networks like Instagram and Facebook. It’s not healthy. You compare your life’s reality with appearance of other people’s lives. They usually are happy in their selfie-pictures that they share on Instagram. Rarely do people share their sad moments on social networks. So you end up thinking that your life is sadder than others, and it’s bad for your self-confidence.
Accept imperfection
Accept that it’s OK to be imperfect. Everyone is imperfect. People maybe good (not perfect) at something, but they are not good at so many other things.
Conclusion
Do good things and be among good people. Try, and keep up.
P.S. – I used these two articles among some others to write this one with almost my own words: