Once we believe in ourselves,
we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight,
or any experience that reveals the human spirit.
E.E. Cummings
Every one of us has faced challenges with our self-confidence that’s left us feeling a bit intimidated. But these challenges do not have to destroy our ability to pursue opportunities. In fact, by embracing our primary strengths, we can develop the self-belief we have always been captivated by in others.
Here are four strategies for embracing your strengths and leave some of your confidence issues behind:
1. Emphasize and Record the good stuff!
Regardless of your challenge with self-confidence, you can always find things you like about yourself. Make the time to take note of those things. To help you remember, consider journaling your achievements of starting a new journal highlighting one or all of the following:
- celebrations
- milestones
- breakthroughs
- wins for the day/ week/ month
- stuff you got done, jdis (just-do-its)
- compliments
Highlighting your excellence is a wonderful way to boost your confidence.
- Likes can be physical things.
- or character traits you possess.
- Whatever they are, embrace them and remind yourself that you are a beautiful, talented, and beloved person!
- Schedule a time each day to honor yourself.
- Treat yourself to something nice just because you are satisfied and even proud of the person you are.
- Consider small treats daily, with a bigger bang at the end of the month.
- Take note when others compliment you.
- You are probably predisposed to pushing the compliment aside; most of us have been trained that this is the correct way to handle them.
- Learn to take them at face value.
- It means that others are seeing positive qualities that you might be taking for granted!
- Write that down!!!
2. Flip difficulties into celebrations.
- Use your strongest skills to help turn challenges around.
- You can lean on your other skill sets to provide reinforcement during difficult times.
- For example, say you need to make a presentation. You’re an absolute wreck because you feel inadequate. Try leaning on your sense of humor to break the ice?
- There are many different ways to use personality and character strengths to your advantage.
- Be creative
- STOP looking at obstacles as insurmountable
- Take a breath and find a way through
3. Sharpen the saw.
- There will always be room for you to grow!
- Good solid growth also involves improving on existing strengths.
- As you work towards sharpening the strengths you already have, you’ll find that your self-confidence increases naturally.
- For example, maybe you are a quick thinker. You can usually identify ways around most challenges quickly and easily. But, have you mastered the art? Can you find ways to get better?
4. Align your new goals with your strengths.
- There is another way around your self-confidence issues.
- Take a break from setting goals that require self-confidence. Try setting a few that use your natural strengths. As you experience success regularly, it will bring out a new confidence in you.
- It is not cheating!!
- Setting goals that are “easier” to accomplish is not cheating your way to self-confidence.
- You are laying down stepping stones towards achieving your final goals. A path of continual improvement as you continue to prove to yourself that you can overcome.
- You deserve the joy of feeling that you are achieving your goals. It really does a lot for your dignity and self-esteem.
- It helps bolster the belief that tougher goals, though intimidating, are indeed achievable.
As you begin your work towards developing self-confidence, remember that you are your only hindrance.
Remember to challenge yourself. Intentionally step a little outside your comfort zone (more often) to prove your grit to yourself. In time, as each challenge melts away, you will start to feel your confidence building. And soon, there won’t be a door you feel intimidated to open!
