Recent surveys from Prince’s Trust, a reputable organization that focuses on youth development and mental health, found that over 60% of young people struggle with their confidence. In a different survey in 2022, 37% of adults reported being at a time low, and 46% struggled with self-confidence in the same survey.
Low confidence is not just a minor issue. It can have a profound impact on your life and mental health, making things feel much worse than they need to be. It’s crucial to address this issue before it escalates.
Not everyone is naturally gregarious and outgoing, and even the loudest people in the room can be that person to cover up insecurities. Not dealing with low self-confidence and allowing it to overtake your life can significantly decrease your quality of life and what you want to achieve in the world.
Feeling ready to make a change? Here’s something that can help you boost your confidence. Remember, change is possible, and you have the power to transform your self-perception.
Change Negative Self-talk
Instead of honing in on the things you don’t like about yourself or your body, find the positive instead. Negative self-talk can take some time to overcome, but slowly, by changing your mindset and looking for the good, not the bad, you can chip away at the poor image you have of yourself and recognize everything that is great about you.
Find Your Positivity
It doesn’t matter what it is that makes you feel good; just that you find it. Whether it’s your pets, your favorite musician, your TV show, or fandom, i.e., are you a Marvel stan, or does the Wizarding World of Harry Potter entice you? Find that one thing you own and enjoy and surround yourself with it and those who think the same. People who enjoy what you enjoy and think the same can be massive confidence boosters and give you a lift when you need it.
Address Triggers
If you know what is pulling your self-confidence down, you can work on changing it. These are often referred to as ‘triggers ‘. Triggers are specific situations, people, or thoughts that cause you to feel less confident. If you’re not sure what your triggers are, it’s important to be honest with yourself about how you feel and what is making you feel less confident. Is it a dental issue making you feel self-conscious when you smile, or do you hate your hair color or hairstyle? If so, you can look into your options to address these issues. If you are unhappy with your body weight or fitness levels, this can guide you to find resources that can help you improve these areas and boost your confidence. So whether you end up changing your diet to improve your physical appearance and health or you make other changes to enhance your confidence, such as a breast enlargement or tummy tuck, for example, knowing your triggers can help you take steps to remove them.
Fake It
In this context, faking means emulating others you perceive or come across as confident and mirroring what they do. Do they dress a certain way, hold themselves a certain way, or do they have habits and actions that underscore their apparent confidence that you can use? Look at how they address others and what they do and say, and use this knowledge to help you build your confidence. Then, start using it in small amounts to see how it feels for you. Once you can integrate their actions into who you are, you can build on your confidence levels and grow from there.
