Why does confidence matter? Well, confidence can be everything. It’s the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling like a victim.
It’s what allows us to take risks, be resilient in the face of setbacks, and persevere when things get tough.
Confidence isn’t something we’re born with – it’s something we develop over time. In this blog post, we’ll explore why confidence matters and share some tips and takeaways to help boost your confidence!
What does confidence mean?
People sometimes describe confidence in coaching discussions as something “aggressive.” They recall the school bully and believe that’s what real confidence is. But it isn’t. Confidence is about having faith in your abilities and not being afraid to fail because you realise that in time, you’ll improve.
The term derives from the Latin term “fidere,” which means “to trust.” Therefore, self-confidence is about trusting yourself.
There was a point in your life when you didn’t doubt your potential to do new things. You weren’t scared by a challenge. It’s how you learnt to walk, talk and read. You didn’t worry about failing because learning and growth were everything. Every time you fell, you picked yourself up.
Confident people have that trust in themselves. People who lack confidence allow something to prevent them from being who they are.
The fear of what others would say or think is the most common reason people don’t achieve their goals. In my experience, these same doubts prevented me from being my authentic self. Until I learned how to deal with rejection head-on, rather than running from it, I was never going to find success.
In truth, if you’re afraid of succeeding because of someone else’s judgement, then you will never find the happiness you deserve!
What’s wrong with being confident?
There’s nothing wrong with being confident. In fact, confidence is one of the essential ingredients for success. Without confidence, we would never take risks or step outside our comfort zones. We would never achieve our goals or reach our full potential.
However, there is a fine line between healthy confidence and arrogance. When confidence crosses that line, it becomes a liability rather than an asset. Arrogance is characterised by a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and an inability to accept criticism or failure. Arrogant people are often too self-absorbed to see the world around them clearly and end up alienating themselves from others.
While confidence is essential for success, it’s important to remember that it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Too much confidence can lead to arrogance, which is ultimately counterproductive. It’s important to strike a balance between healthy confidence and humility if we want to achieve our goals and create lasting success in our lives.
Why confidence matters
As anyone who has ever given a presentation or gone on a job interview knows, confidence is important.
When we feel confident, we project an image of strength and competence. We are more likely to take risks and be successful in our endeavours.
On the other hand, when we lack confidence, we send out a signal of weakness and insecurity. We are more likely to doubt ourselves and hesitate in our actions.
In today’s competitive world, confidence is essential for success. Those who have it are more likely to achieve their goals, while those who lack it will find themselves falling behind.
Fortunately, confidence is something that you can learn. By taking the time to develop your confidence, you can put yourself on the path to success.
11 behaviours and attitudes of confident people
- Confident people don’t compare themselves to others. They know that they are their own unique individual and that they have what it takes to succeed. They focus on their own strengths and abilities. In the end, the competition is with yourself and who you were yesterday.
- They don’t worry about what other people think of them. They’re focused on living their life the way they want to and couldn’t care less about what anyone else thinks. They march to the beat of their own drum.
- They don’t fear being wrong because they know mistakes are part of the learning process. Confident people refuse to let the fear of being wrong keep them from living their best lives.
- They’re not afraid of a challenge. They welcome it. They thrive on it. It’s what motivates them to keep going. Ultimately, it pushes them harder, and they achieve more.
- They keep a positive outlook on life. That means they don’t dwell on the bad stuff that happens. This positive attitude keeps them strong when things go tough because they know they can succeed.
- They’re not afraid to take risks. They know that nothing in life is certain, and that’s what makes it worth living. They understand that taking risks is the only way to truly experience life. And they know that success is a journey with failure. The story behind KFC is a perfect example of this. Colonel Sanders’s confidence in his restaurants didn’t allow him to give up after suffering repeated setbacks.
- They only say yes if they mean it. Sometimes you might say yes to avoid conflict and ensure everyone is happy. However, confident people share their opinions without worrying about what others think- they will also compromise to find a win-win solution.
- They are comfortable listening more to understand people. This allows them to build relationships. It also makes them more likely to be successful in achieving their goals.
- They ask for help. We all need a little assistance to get to where we are going. Asking for help doesn’t mean you have failed. It means that you aren’t willing to fail.
- They will celebrate the victories of others. They know that someone else’s success is not a threat but something to be celebrated. They understand that, by celebrating others’ successes, they are also celebrating their own. They use the victories of others to motivate themselves.
- They don’t wait for permission to act. Time is precious, and it all goes by too quickly. You are wasting your time if you wait for someone to tell you it’s ok or you can do it. Prove you can do it. The light’s green for you to act. You just aren’t looking.
How to be more confident
- The first step to becoming more confident is to become aware of your self-talk. What are you telling yourself on a daily basis? Are you putting yourself down or lifting yourself up? If your inner dialogue is negative, it’s time for a change. The most effective way I have found to stop harmful self-talk was meditation. Ten minutes of daily mindfulness will silence the voice in your head that tells you that you’re not good enough.
- Secondly, start working with a coach that specialises in confidence. I work with people who have low confidence every day because I’ve been there myself. Low confidence is something I struggled with for many years. I know how it feels to be afraid to speak up, to put yourself out there, and to doubt your abilities. But I also know how incredibly rewarding it is to overcome those fears and build lasting confidence. If you’re ready to make a change, a coach can help you get there. They’ll provide support, accountability, and guidance as you take steps to build your confidence. So if you’re ready to make a change, reach out to a coach today. You deserve to feel confident and capable in your life.
- Next, Focus on your strengths and what you’re doing right. You’re always going to have critics. But the only way to succeed is to focus on yourself. Tony Robbins says, “If you want to be successful, you have to believe in yourself. You have to focus on your strengths and what you’re doing right.” It’s advice that anyone can follow, and it’s sure to lead to success.
- Make a list of things you’re grateful for and things that went well. This will help to retrain your brain to focus on the positive. It’s been scientifically proven that gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions we can feel. It’s also been shown to directly impact our overall well-being, including our physical health, mental health, and relationship satisfaction. You can find out more about gratitude here.
- It’s not enough to have goals. You need to take action towards them if you want to achieve anything. That’s where confidence comes in. When you’re working towards something that matters to you, it’s hard not to feel confident. Whether it’s a new job, relationship, or hobby, taking action towards your goals will give you a sense of purpose and direction. It will also help you to stay motivated and on track. So don’t wait for things to happen – make them happen. Take action today and start working towards the life you want.
- Finally, don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison is the thief of joy! We should focus on our own unique gifts and talents. We all have something special to offer the world. When we embrace our uniqueness, we can let our light shine brightly for all to see.
So there you have some tips and takeaways to help boost your confidence. Remember, confidence is something that you can build over time. Start by taking small steps and focus on your progress. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your confidence will grow. And before you know it, you’ll be achieving things you never thought possible. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start building your confidence today!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I’d love to hear from you! until next time, take care of yourself and stay positive! 🙂