Confidence is an important tool to help you to be successful in life. The great leaders of the world have plenty of it - whether it is real confidence or good fakery is neither here nor there, as just appearing so is what is important. However, we also recognize that this is easier said than done - if you lack confidence, even pretending to have some feels like it is verging on the impossible. It IS possible though - it involves not giving up and giving in, but tackling the situations that make you feel uncomfortable head-on.
Here, we look at a few tips to help you to give your confidence a boost so that you can enter into 2021 feeling like you can handle just about anything that is thrown your way.
Take care of your body
It is very difficult to feel good about yourself if you are not feeling good IN yourself. Skipping meals or eating the entirely wrong things will make you feel sluggish and lethargic, so make sure that you are eating a healthy, balanced diet. Pack your meals food of fruit and vegetables, protein, carbs, and healthy fats to make sure that your body is getting everything that it needs.
It isn’t just diet though. Physical exercise is a must. Many people only think about exercise in a weight loss capacity, but even if you are at a healthy weight, it is still vital to get plenty of physical activity into your day. Make it fun and you are much more likely to stick to it - swimming, yoga, Zumba with your best friend.
Don’t forget to keep up with basic health checks as well - a visit to your dentist every six months, eyesight and hearing check every year, and any checks such as PAP smears and so on that you may be entitled to.
By doing these, you can be sure that your body is in the best shape and condition that it can possibly be and that always makes you feel pretty good!
Stop comparing yourself to others
Comparison is the thief of joy is a saying we throw around quite a lot, and actually, it is pretty true. What is a success for one person is not necessarily so for the next. A study carried out in 2018 showed a direct link between comparison and one’s perception of themselves. The research showed that people who compared themselves to others, perhaps on social media, experienced more envy. Those who had those feelings of envy had a much worse perception of who they were, causing a vicious cycle that is difficult to get out of.
Treat yourself with kindness
If - when - you make a mistake, don’t immediately flog yourself and declare yourself a failure; have some kindness and compassion for yourself. Being horrible to yourself will not serve to motivate you anymore; if anything, it is likely to have the opposite effect and leave you feeling more disheartened. Cut yourself some slack and remember that no one is perfect.