Seven Key Essentials to Boost Your Self-Confidence and Elevate Your Self-Esteem

It's always a bummer when you're so excited and inspired for a new adventure in life or a new endeavor, only to find out that you haven't got the guts and you haven't got an ounce of trust in yourself to move forward. You believe you don't possess the quality, ability or charisma needed to see your aspirations come to fruition. This completely false metric and nonetheless powerful belief then shapes what happens to you next. I myself have suffered from a debilitating self-doubt that sabotaged my every effort to do anything new or exciting in my life in the past.

Self-confidence and self-esteem are critical elements in living a fulfilling life. They influence our decisions, relationships, and how we perceive ourselves. Many people struggle with low self-esteem and lack of confidence, which can hinder them from reaching their potential. The good news is that self-confidence can be built and enhanced over time. Below are seven essential tips to help you improve your self-confidence and elevate your self-esteem so that you can once and for all break the curse of deadly self-censorship and enter your era of self-empowerment.

1) Be One of One

Embracing your uniqueness is the first step towards building self-confidence. Understand that there is no one else in the world like you. Your experiences, thoughts, and feelings contribute to your identity, making you inherently special. Highlight your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses; they are all part of what makes you unique. And your journey to self-confidence will depend on your ability to embrace all aspects of yourself with no conditions. This will not be easy, because you already have years of practice trying and struggling to blend in and fit into the standards of your society and the world at large. I mean... It's not like the world is accommodating or forgiving of people who carve their own path in life. From the times of Socrates to our modern trailblazers, if you want to be 1 of 1, you must risk being an outcast and be ok with it. Don't worry, this will not be all in vain. Your audacity to be yourself is key in developing and attaining self-confidence.

When you realize that you do not have to conform to others' standards or expectations, you can start to express yourself freely. Celebrate your individuality, and focus on what sets you apart. This mindset shift can help dissolve feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Furthermore, this new found freedom will be your ticket to achieving whatever it is you want in life. Because once the limiting standards of others are out of the way, you are now empowered to set your own standards and uphold your own standards.

2) You Are Inherently Worthy

Recognizing your inherent worth is vital for self-esteem. Understand that your value does not depend on external factors like achievements, appearance, or the approval of others. Everyone deserves love and respect, including you. The divine spark resides within each and everyone of us. Every single person past and present is created in the image of God. But this great truth is often overlooked as we immerse ourselves in the illusion of this transient experience and lose our connection to the highest form of power we have. Can you imagine struggling to believe in yourself or doubt that you deserve anything good when in fact you are already worthy of anything you can imagine. Remind yourself daily that you are worthy just for being who you are.

This practice can involve daily affirmations or guided self-reflection. Consider writing down statements that resonate with you and reinforce your self-worth. By understanding that you are worthy, you lay the groundwork for genuine self-confidence, free from the pressures of societal validation. Please don't overlook this very simple but life changing practices that are literally going to reprogram your mind from believing that you are unworthy to knowing that you are inherently and naturally worthy. I am a big fan of scripting and righting down affirmations, and to say 'they have changed my life' would be an understatement. So please, script, script, script! Affirm, affirm, affirm!

3) You Are the Standard

Instead of comparing yourself to others, set your benchmarks for success and happiness. Your journey is uniquely yours; therefore, it should not be dictated by how others live or succeed. Establish personal goals based on your values and desires. Know that the standards of others is not necessarily the be all end all benchmark for your life. We all have vastly different interests and level of maturity that trying to compare our lives with others becomes a contradiction in itself. And this can be highly damaging to our own self-esteem as we go on abandoning what should've been our own unique and custom made standards for the standards of others completely defeating our own special path and purpose in life. Because honestly sometimes, we could greatly benefit ourselves by refusing to worship other people's life styles and have the courage to lead a more authentic life free of the hunt for unnecessary trophies and possessions.

When you become the standard by which you measure yourself, you cultivate a sense of purpose and direction. This allows you to focus on your achievements and progress, no matter how small. Celebrating personal milestones can reignite motivation and build confidence. It will hint to you that even if there were things you want to achieve that now seem far fetched, all the incremental progress is adding up to your success according to the standards you have made for yourself. It doesn't have to be flashy or showy, it doesn't even have to be considered an achievement by others; It's simply yours and you are happy. :)

4) Have a Bird’s Eye View

To foster self-confidence, it’s crucial to gain perspective. Often, we can become entangled in our emotions and immediate circumstances. Taking a step back can help you understand your situation more objectively. This "bird’s eye view" can provide clarity on what truly matters. The birds eye view also extends to a much broader landscape of your life. It will help you understand that perfection is not a requirement to feel worthy or confident as you go on noticing a trend in your fellow human beings. You will have the opportunity to scan them from 'above', from a point of view of humanizing them and observing that all their flaws and imperfections didn't stop them from believing in themselves. You too are allowed to be imperfect and still worthy.

Consider journaling your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. Writing can help you see patterns and themes in your life that you may have overlooked. With this broader perspective, you may realize that individuals, failures, and setbacks don’t define you; they are experiences that contribute to your growth. Practice adapting a broader perspective whenever you feel low self-esteem and imperfect. Always remind yourself that things take a completely different shape and meaning from a different angle; and use this to your advantage.

5) Focus on Yourself

The world is full of distractions, and in a time when we are constantly bombarded with external influences, it can be easy to lose track of our own needs and desires. And this leads to spending an enormous amount of time doing things we're not even sure we want. Don't lie, how many times have you gone out and bought something you absolutely don't need? or made plans with people even though you didn't wan to? Ha? I bet you have done these things and more yourself. But these things only keep us distracted and away from what we truly need in life. This is why it's important to make a conscious effort to focus on yourself; prioritize your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

This could include developing a self-care routine that nourishes your body and mind, investing time in hobbies you love, or engaging in activities that help you grow. Self-discovery not only boosts self-esteem but also contributes to a deeper understanding of your true self.

6) Find Your Creative Obsession

Creative expression is a powerful avenue for building self-confidence. Whether it's painting, writing, dancing, or any other form of creativity, these activities allow you to express your emotions and thoughts in a unique way. Engaging in creative pursuits can provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. This sense of accomplishment later becomes the fuel for new undertakings in life. The debilitating fear of failure and not being good enough is laid to rest by your own demonstration of your creative outlet.

Explore new hobbies or revisit old ones. When you dedicate time to what you love, you not only find joy but also build confidence in your abilities. Embrace the process rather than focusing on the outcome; creativity is meant to be a joyful endeavor. I find that at the end of every creative work I feel ten times better than I did at first. Creativity as mentioned above is one of the best avenues for building self-confidence. So, what are you waiting for? Grab that brush, that pen, that laptop, that chopping board and get creating!!!

7) Mind of Steel

Mental resilience plays a crucial role in building self-confidence. Developing a "mind of steel" means cultivating the ability to withstand challenges, setbacks, and criticisms without losing confidence in yourself. Your ability to go through challenges and naysayers and still maintain a reverence for yourself is an indispensable skill of life. Learn to go through life without making every pitfall a death sentence and every mistake a reason to hate yourself. In fact it's high time for you now to turn every adversity into another opportunity to soothe and love yourself even more. When you are mentally strong, it's easy to love, forgive, and move forward without the need to bash yourself for every little mistake.

Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts when they arise. Every time you encounter an obstacle, remind yourself that setbacks are a part of life and an opportunity for growth. Instead of fearing failure, learn to embrace it as a stepping stone towards improvement. You will become more confident as you develop mental resilience that not only helps you during your

challenging times but also provides you with ample mental energy to transform those challenges into opportunities.

Conclusion

Building self-confidence and raising self-esteem is a journey that requires patience, self-reflection, and persistence. By embracing your uniqueness and inherent worth, setting your own standards, gaining perspective, focusing on personal growth, pursuing creativity, and cultivating mental resilience, you can foster a strong sense of self-confidence that lasts a lifetime.

Remember that everyone has their struggles, and it’s essential to be kind to yourself throughout this process. Start implementing these essentials into your daily life, and watch as your self-confidence grows, allowing you to embrace opportunities and challenges with newfound courage.

Embracing your journey will ultimately lead you to a place of self-assuredness and happiness. The key is to take one step at a time. Whether you start with affirming your worth or finding a creative outlet, every minor change you make can contribute to your overall self-improvement.

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