How To Be More Confident With 8 Simple Steps

If you’re lacking in the self-esteem area, you’re not alone. Insecurities are totally normal, but if they’re starting to negatively impact your life or relationships with others, there’s a bigger problem at play. 

A lack of confidence can cause suspicion of others, mistrust, misunderstandings, and resentment. Insecurity can also lead to anxiety or the inability to be vulnerable. This type of behavior can have damaging effects on romantic relationships, especially when one partner needs constant reassurance. 

So, how exactly do you boost your self-confidence? Here are 8 simple ways to improve your relationships by increasing your confidence:

1. Stay Present

Life is one big learning experience, and you’re going to make mistakes along the way. The sooner you stop beating yourself up over past decisions, the more confident you’ll be! The key to avoiding constant regret is to stay present by looking to the future, rather than back at the past. 

Everyone does this differently, but some helpful ways include: 

• Recognizing self-criticizing thoughts as they arise and learning how to dismiss them 
• Replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations (or trying meditation)
• Setting daily intentions for you to focus on 

Regardless of how you commit to staying present, doing so will help you feel more confident in your everyday life.

2. Let Go of Expectations

It’s almost impossible to live up to unrealistic expectations for yourself. After all, you’re only human!

Focus on what you can do now and how it can help you in the future. Life almost never goes the way you plan, and if you accept and embrace that, it can help tremendously! 

3. Exercise

Exercise releases endorphin, which makes you happy and, in turn, keeps you healthy and energized. It’s easy to lack self-confidence when you’re feeling so good about yourself! 

Exercising is also a great way to prove to yourself that you can set and achieve goals. Even if your goal is small, committing to it will give you fitness confidence that you can translate into other parts of your life. 

4. Eat Well

It can be difficult to feel good about yourself if you’re sluggish most of the time, right? It’s not about counting carbs or completely restricting yourself—it’s about choosing healthier options that nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling confident. 

Focusing on changing your diet or eating better in small, incremental, realistic ways will prove to yourself that you can create and achieve goals, which builds a more confident mindset. 

5. Avoid Holding Grudges

You’re not perfect, and neither is anyone else! The people in your life are bound to mess up every now and then, so it’s important to embrace forgiveness. 

When you give yourself permission to get over the grudge and move on, you allow yourself to live in the present. Trusting your own instincts of forgiveness will help you feel more confident moving forward.

6. Seek Support

If you feel like you need support or help building up your confidence, it’s incredibly beneficial to turn to a professional for an outside opinion. Admitting you need help is a huge step toward more self-confidence, and making the decision should feel empowering!

7. Surprise Yourself!

When you challenge yourself to try new things or meet new goals, you prove to yourself that you’re able to adapt and overcome different things. Ultimately, this is a huge confidence booster!

Trying something new can be intimidating, but it also forces you to come out of your shell and show yourself what you’re made of.

8. Provide Support to a Friend

Your friends rely on you for support, and being there for them will not only help them out, but will make you feel useful, leading to more self-confidence. Feeling helpful and needed can improve your feelings of belonging, which can increase your sense of self-worth and, therefore, your overall confidence.

Learning how to be confident takes some practice, but putting in the effort can work wonders for your overall well-being. Not to mention, you deserve to be happy in a relationship — and that won’t happen unless you’re happy with yourself first!