Confidence boosters

Hi, there! Self-confidence is one piece of the happiness pie and is essential in a healthy personality. Low self-confidence is a major contributor to depression because it influences how you view yourself and your ability to accomplish goals and interact with others. Here are a few small changes to your daily routine that can help boost confidence.

SMILING

Okay, it may sound obvious, but smiling during stressful situations can help lower heart rate levels and lead to more positive emotions. The physical act of smiling actually triggers your brain to feel more secure and relaxed. So even if you feel like you’re faking it, you will feel benefits.

DO A GOOD DEED

You’ve heard it before. Random acts of kindess make the world a better place. Performing good deeds can make you feel better about yourself while you brighten somebody else’s day. Send a thank you card, bake some brownies for your co-workers, or compliment someone you usually don’t talk to. Even small good deeds can have a big impact on your mood.

ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS

A major sign of low self-confidence is shrugging off praise or downplaying compliments. If someone compliments you, accept it with grace. Think about the compliment and allow yourself to feel genuinely good about it. Start building a mental list of what others like about you and retrieve that list the next time you are feeling down about yourself.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

This may seem shallow at a glance, but clothing can actually have an impact on self-confidence. Think about what your outfit says about you and how you feel in it. Even if you sit at a computer all day and don’t interact with many people, consider wearing a nicely pressed shirt instead of a hoodie.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

Personal achievement and valuable skills perpetuate self-confidence, so learning something new will help nurture positive feelings about yourself. Take a class, learn a new language, or learn to cook something difficult.

IGNORE YOUR INNER CRITIC

You will always be your worst critic. Often we lose self-confidence because the little voice in the back of our minds is telling us that we aren’t good enough or that failure is imminent. Learn to ignore this voice and give yourself some credit. Prove that inner voice wrong and exceed your personal expectations.

EXERCISE

Getting exercise improves your mood, releases stress, and eventually will help you feel better about how you look. And it isn’t necessary to be wildly ambitious. Just 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is enough to have a positive impact on your mood and your health. Setting fitness goals for yourself and meeting those challenges will also help boost self-confidence as you see your discipline diminish your lazier tendencies.

ASSUME PEOPLE LIKE YOU

A major symptom of low self-confidence is worrying too much about what others think and assuming that people focus on your flaws. This negative thinking can only lead to bad emotions and set you up for failure. Flip that attitude around and assume that people like you. Start by recognizing the situations when this happens and make a conscious choice to think positively about yourself.

MAKE EYE CONTACT

Confident people generally have good eye contact when they are speaking and listening. Like standing up straight, this confident mannerism will help hide your insecurities and leave you feeling more confident.

TREAT YOURSELF

People who are caregivers are consistently focusing their attention on others tend to have lower self-confidence since they spend very little time working on personal achievements or their own physical and mental well-being. If you had a big meeting at work, reward yourself with some time to unwind with some wine and a bubble bath that night. Or if you get that raise you’ve been working for, treat yourself to those shoes you’ve been eyeing.