Being self-confident can lead to greater success and happiness in life while having low self-confidence can have a damaging effect on your mental health, relationships, and career. A lack of obvious success in your career for instance can affect your self-confidence negatively and low self-confidence means you are less likely to achieve success, so it continues -- a vicious cycle of being unproductive.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can regain confidence in yourself in general and thus, leading you to greater heights in your business or career specifically. Or let's just say these are ways to break that vicious cycle once and for all.
1.Look the Part to Feel the Part
Just as a bath can make someone ill feel much better, a few little things done to how you look can work wonders.
Always dress nicely. You'll feel positive and presentable and ready to take on the world. You don't need a thousand dollar suit, it could be casual clothes so long as they are neat, look good on you and are presentable.
But that's not all. According to this study, taller men are more confident and achieve greater success. Assuming you are short, it doesn't mean you are disadvantaged. There are uncountable short men and women who equally became very successful.
The solution here is simply to enhance your self confidence by walking tall.
If you're a lady and you somehow missed out on the height genes, you could wear heels regularly. I once had a petite friend who practiced this. She said wearing flats made her feel small and incompetent and stole a little of her confidence when she had to stand to speak at conferences or presentations.
And if you are a man then you should consider using the addheight insoles to add a few inches to your height.
When you are done just add a smile, You'll be amazed at how it will boost your confidence.
2.Think Positive
My favourite book in the whole world has a quote that says; "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!" I guess that is self-explanatory.
Think positive thoughts!
Be your own cheerleader. Encourage and give yourself credit... a lot. So you're not meeting up with your weekly targets? But you are doing better than you did last year. Give yourself credit for making improvements.
3. Always be Prepared.
It's hard to be confident in yourself if you don't think you'll do well at something. Confidence is the key to career success. One sure fire way to beat low-confidence is preparation. Empower yourself with knowledge, that's the greatest kind of empowerment.
There is a great deal of confidence in becoming more knowledgeable, you just know it and you know that you know it! So give sometime to research and study. The Internet is a great tool, of course, but so are the people around you; Observation!
Mentorship is also a great empowering tool. He who walks with the wise is wise. Mentorship, could be personal or through books. Preparation cancels shame and timidity any day.
4. Identify Your Principles.
A wise Man once defined Principles as; Personal Structures against which all of life is tried. If you do not have personal principles as well as principles for your business, that is probably why you lack confidence is both, you will feel directionless. If you have principles, then check if you live by them. They have a way of buttressing purpose and purpose amplifies confidence.
5. Write It Down, Make It Plain.
Go down memory lane to see all you have accomplished as a child, a teen and adult. Make a list everything you have ever done that you feel proud of. Everything, from big accomplishments to the little everyday things like learning how to drive, or fish, going to college, having your first child and so on.
Go through old photos and scrap books, yearbooks, trip mementos, or you can even make a collage of your life and accomplishments to date.The possibilities are endless!
Return to the list periodically to add to it. You'll see that you have so many things to be proud of and it would increase your confidence level by a mile!
6. Read Something Inspirational
Read something that inspires you. It could be the bible or motivational articles and books that uplift you and make you feel positive. Stay away from negative television programs and reality shows that set unrealistic life goals; web sites, advertising or anything that reinforce a poor self-image. Watch/read success stories of other people and you would be motivated.
7. Teach Someone
I know you don't feel very confident now but, you have skills and abilities to share with others. So, offer your knowledge and experience as a gift.
Be a mentor. Be there for someone who needs support, leadership, and guidance. Their respect will add to your self-respect and their belief in you would add to your confidence.
8. It's Okay To Be Imperfect.
Perfection is a false notion sold to us by society and the media. They suggest to us that perfection is within our reach but the truth is nobody is perfect. Make that your new chant. You're never going to have the perfect life, the perfect body, the perfect wife and kids, the perfect house, and so on. Neither will I.
Pay attention to your struggle rather than the desire for perfection. If you won't try something because you're afraid you can't do it perfectly, then you don't stand a chance in the first place. We are human and by definition; imperfect. Our imperfection means there is room for growth.
If you have messed up bad, forgive yourself and move on, it's key to avoiding that cycle of self-pity and low self-confidence. Confidence (not Pride) makes it easier for you to achieve your own goals.
Hold your shoulder's high! You are the best you there is!