The Fantastic Life

Become a More Confident Person

Over the course of our life, we should become more confident each year.  But many of us don’t.  I’m not sure why exactly, but I do know people who just can’t seem to increase their confidence, no matter how much time passes.  Whether it is their mindset  (read this book for more on this topic), or because they have been kicked around by life, they are unable to grow in this area.

Let’s take a few simple steps to becoming more confident this week.  Here are a few of my favorites to try, or read on for more in the below article.

  1.       Get Mindful—When we are present, we are confident because we use thoughts as tools.
  2.       Grow.  Dan Sullivan says you should always have some fear, uncertainty and doubt in your life.  It means you are growing.
  3.       Dress one step above the situation, or event.  Dressing a little better gives you an edge.
  4.       Track your daily wins.  Even the small ones.

Make confidence your goal, whether you grow  in a specific area or all aspects of life.

Rule #1 from my book The Fantastic Life: Know Your Stories
You have two stories: who you are, and who you show the world. Often, we put on a facade of confidence that we don’t feel. The trick is learning to grow our confidence in who we really are, so that it shows to everyone else.

8 Ways to Be a more Confident Person

Because there’s power in self-confidence. Here’s how to get it.

By: YEC

April 24, 2015 

Look at yourself. Who do you see? Superhero, muscles bulging, cape flying—ready to conquer the world? No? If you don’t believe you can conquer the world, then there’s no way you ever will. You might not be superhuman, but you can combat the villain of low self-esteem. How? We asked the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), “What is one way someone can build their self-confidence, personally and professionally?” for answers.

Here are their suggestions for a boost:

1. Strengthen your mind.

Self-confidence is a state of mind that can be achieved through intentional action. Allotting time to nurture your mind, body and spirit (preferably one hour a day) can be done in a variety of ways. I prefer to read, exercise and meditate in the morning. If you’re not taking time for yourself, then you’re allowing someone or something to shape your view of the world.
—Dustin Cucciarre, BryghtAds Inc.

2. Discard the negative thoughts you don’t need.

A whole new branch of psychology is dedicated to mindfulness, but it boils down to this: Negative thoughts and insecurities pop up like pimples. And, like pimples, picking at them—even if you mean to discredit and burst that negative bubble—ultimately makes it worse. So, mindfulness practice teaches you to treat thoughts as tools. Use and strengthen the ones you need; discard the ones you don’t.
—Manpreet Singh, TalkLocal

3. Live a lifestyle of personal growth.

Putting yourself into courses or professional relationships that force you to grow ensures that you’re always expanding, which in turn generates confidence and humility. From therapeutic programs to leadership programs to physical programs, committing to this kind of regular growth and showing up and being fully present are the keys to confidence.
—Corey Blake, Round Table Companies

4. Learn about impostor syndrome.

Many professionals will at some point experience a psychological phenomenon known as imposter syndrome, complete with feelings of inadequacy and a fear that everything accomplished to date has been through sheer luck. To overcome this, learn to internalize accomplishments. Peer groups are a great place to talk it out and build confidence.
—Joel Holland, Video Blocks

5. Dress for success.

No matter what level of business you’re in, it’s important to dress for the client you want, rather than the client you have. There’s this idea of working from home in PJs. The most successful people get up early and dress like they’re off for a day at the office, and it’s reflected in their attitude. When you look good, you feel good and you’re more confident, too.
—Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now

6. Take an improv class.
Improv classes make you think on your toes in front of an audience. Being on stage helps grow your confidence; being in front of crowds teaches you how to think and react quickly—all things that translate well to a boardroom or public speaking opportunity.
—Brooke Bergman, Allied Business Network Inc.

7. Produce a high-quality personal brand.

I believe that a key component to building self-confidence is in publicly building one’s own brand. This can be done through the creation of high-quality content like blog posts, e-books, podcasts or video content. Even if it doesn’t receive much traction initially, the fact that you have a body of work that you are proud to refer others to can make a big difference in your self-confidence.
—Joshua Dorkin, BiggerPockets, Inc.

8. Recognize your value outside of your work.

Your self-confidence needs to be rooted in who you are completely outside of your success in business.So find ways to get connected with yourself and grow. Perhaps volunteer, do pro-bono work, meditate, work out, read, hang out with friends. Whatever it takes for you to see your value regardless of how well [you’re doing professionally].
—Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids

So, look again. Is your cape flying?

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