How to improve confidence

Confidence is one of the most important things a person can have. Many people wish they were more confident, but don't know how to actually increase their confidence. Many self-help sites talk about "going out and accomplishing things"...sadly this approach misses the forest full of trees. The reason why  accomplishing things improves confidence is because it changes the way  a person perceives themselves. The direct route for improving confidence is to change the way you think. We all have seen the kind of person who has all the confidence in the world who has nothing to show for it. I believe a combination of confidence and motivation is required to accomplish (many overly confident people lack motivation and/or intelligence). But this post is about confidence, I'll make sure to write about motivation later down the road. Anyways, confidence can be changed by changing thinking, by thinking consciously, with purpose, in a way that builds on the self. No matter what the situation, if you interpret yourself in a positive way, confidence will come. Confident thinking is strongly conducive of a general feeling of confidence (thinking confidently eventually becomes a habit, and happens subconsciously). To make this clearer, what I mean by "thinking confidently" is to constantly praise, compliment, and love yourself (in a way that is rational of course, don't cross the line into narcissism).

Using affirmations like those below can be effective, just make sure to feel them each time you repeat them in your mind. You may notice thoughts pop up that contradict the affirmation, this is a good thing. This is the negative thought(s) rearing its head. When you notice such a thought, logically find a way to falsify the negative idea (which can be easily done with enough practice).

"I love myself"

"my life is important"

"I am loved"

"I can do it"

"I am a very capable person"

"I am a strong person"

"I am confident in myself"

"I have a good life"

"I am proud of myself"


Having low confidence can lead to having problems with depression, anxiety, and anger (among others).