5 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence

When you believe in yourself, you’ll be more willing to try new things. Whether you apply for a promotion or sign up for a cooking class, feeling confident is key to putting yourself out there.

When you feel confident in yourself, you’re able to devote your resources to the task at hand. Rather than waste time and energy worrying that you aren’t good enough, you can devote your energy to your efforts.2 So ultimately, you’ll perform better when you feel confident.

For example, if you feel confident about a presentation you’re going to make, you’ll focus on delivering your message to your audience. If however, you lack confidence in your ability to communicate, you may worry that no one is listening to you or you might be preoccupied with messing up. Consequently, you might struggle to concentrate and you may stumble over your words—which may reinforce your belief that you are bad at giving presentations.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to boost your self-confidence, and that will make you start giving true love to yourself. Whether you lack confidence in one area or struggle to feel confident about anything, these strategies can help.

1. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Researchers found that people who compared themselves to others, experienced envy. And the more envy they experienced, the worse they felt about themselves. It can be a vicious cycle.

Pay attention to times when you compare your wealth, possessions, skills, achievements, and attributes. Thinking that other people are better or have more will erode your confidence in yourself.

When you notice yourself making comparisons, remind yourself that they aren’t helpful. Everyone is running their own race, and life is not a competition.