Improve Your Self-Confidence
Common Causes Of Low Self Confidence And How To Work On Them
Low self confidence can plague us all. Even the most outwardly confident people you’ve met in your life might be faking it! Without ever seeming like it, they could be deeply insecure and struggle with their self image. It’s a very common problem, after all.
But where does this sense of low worth, or a lack of self esteem come from? And when you feel like you’re not good looking enough, or you’re not capable enough, or you have nothing to offer, what can you do to beat the blues?
A Bad Relationship Experience
If you’ve ever been in a relationship where your partner made negative comments or regularly treated you unfairly, you’re likely to carry those memories with you into the future. Similarly, if you had a parent who was always yelling at you or never thought your efforts were good enough, you’re going to struggle with that trauma from time to time.
And in cases like these, seeing a therapist, and working with them to rationalise your thoughts is the best way forward. Remember you’re not in that situation anymore, and even if it’s hard to let go of the low confidence it’s left you with, there are ways to help you move on and improve your self-confidence.
Photo by Toa Heftiba
Perceived Personal Flaws
When you look in a mirror, do you find it hard to focus on your body in a positive light? Do you just see all the personal flaws you have, like too big a nose, or too small lips, or even a receding hairline or thinning ends? Focusing on these perceived flaws is the biggest cause of low self confidence.
It takes a lot of work to break out of the habit of finding something wrong. You might start looking into the hair transplant cost, or ways to contour the face to reduce cheek size, and end up feeding into your insecurities along the way. However, while some cosmetic procedures are absolutely worthy, make sure they’re truly what you want. And in the meantime, try to say at least two positive things about the way you look whenever you check out the mirror!
A Mental Health Issue
A mental health problem can wreak havoc on multiple areas of your life. When you’re not feeling well in your mind, it’s going to be hard to see things in a positive light. Anxiety, stress, depression, and various disorders are all going to affect the way you perceive the world and your place in it.
Once again, you’re likely to get the best results from professional help, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless outside of the counselling office. You know yourself, and you know the way you react to things; you can work with this information to come up with coping techniques that work for you, no matter where you are or what’s going on around you.
You don’t have to live with low self confidence forever. Remember, you’re the one person who can make a change for better self image!
Your Well-Being: 5 Ways to Improve Your Self-Confidence
Yes, self-confidence can be difficult to build up, especially if you’re feeling particularly low. And low self-esteem can lead to feelings of insecurity and sadness. However the good news is that it’s possible to bolster your confidence levels with some simple techniques.
Here are five ways to improve your self-confidence arsenal to promote overall well-being in the long term.
Photo by Anthony
Improve Your Self-Confidence #1
Believe in Yourself
The first step in improving your self-confidence is believing in yourself. Many people have negative thoughts about themselves or their abilities which can lead to feelings of low esteem or even depression.
To develop a sense of trust and belief in yourself, make sure to set realistic goals for yourself and stick to them. It’s also important to give yourself credit for any successes, no matter how small.
Be sure to challenge the occasional negative thought that you may have about yourself. Replace those thoughts with positive ones, such as ‘I can do this’ or ‘I am capable of achieving my goals’.
Improve Your Self-Confidence #2
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others:
Comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to make your self-confidence suffer. Remember that everyone is unique and has their own gifts and skills which make them special.
So, instead of comparing yourself to others or feeling envious of the successes of others, focus on the things that set you apart from them and celebrate your individuality.
Also, remember that the people you view as successful have probably gone through their own struggles and failures before getting to where they are today.
Photo by Ashley Nicole
Improve Your Self-Confidence #3
Practice Positive Self-Talk:
Negative self-talk can be one of the biggest obstacles standing between you and higher confidence levels. Start by replacing negative thoughts that you have about yourself with positive ones.
Try to focus on the things you’re good at and remind yourself of them whenever necessary. This will help build up your self-esteem and make you feel more confident.
Improve Your Self-Confidence #4
Rectifying Insecurities:
We all have insecurities, and it’s natural to want to address them.
From the way we look to the way dress, even our behaviours can be addressed, and improved on to help us feel more confident.
For example getting fit can help you rectify body insecurities. Seeing your GP, dentist, therapist or nutritionist can help rectify your health insecurities. Visiting your beauty therapist can help with skincare issues. Exploring cosmetic surgery such as rhinoplasty procedures can help you rectify insecurities you have about your physical appearance (or help to improve breathing problems). And discovering holistic therapies such as reflexology, can help reduce stress, anxiety and pain whilst improving your general well-being.
Photo by Sanni Sahil
Improve Your Self-Confidence #5
Become an Expert:
Finally, one surefire way to gain confidence in yourself is by becoming an expert in something you’re passionate about. Whether it’s a hobby, sport, or subject area, taking the time to understand something in depth can greatly benefit your self-confidence.
Learning new skills and knowledge always brings with it a sense of achievement which can only be beneficial for boosting your confidence!
With some hard work and dedication, it is possible to improve your self-confidence over time. Remember though, that these improvements won’t happen overnight so don’t be discouraged if things take longer than expected.
Instead, be patient with yourself and use the above techniques as guidelines on how to increase your trust levels in the long term. Once you start seeing results, you’ll be well on your way to feeling better about yourself and becoming a more confident person.
Feature photo by Sushmita Chatterjee
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