Alright, rockstars, let’s talk about the one thing that can turn your world upside down—in the best way possible. We’re diving into the magical, mystical, and sometimes maddening realm of confidence. Whether you’re trying to crush it in sales, land that dream job, or simply make it through a Monday without feeling like a hot mess, confidence is your golden ticket.
Here’s the scoop: Confidence is a total game changer. It’s that secret ingredient that can make the difference between landing a big client and losing the sale, between speaking up in a meeting and blending into the background, between living boldly and living small. Confidence gives you the chutzpah to take risks, the courage to face rejection, and the oomph to bounce back stronger than ever.
Imagine walking into a room and owning it. Imagine making a pitch and seeing your audience hang onto your every word. Imagine asking for what you want—and actually getting it. That’s the power of confidence, my friends.
Ready to become the most confident version of yourself? Let’s get this party started.
Understanding Confidence: A Self-Assessment
Before we begin, let’s take a quick self-assessment. On a scale of 1 to 5, rate your current level of confidence. Got your number? Great! My goal is to increase your CQ before you finish reading this post.
The Essence of Confidence
Confidence, or self-confidence, refers to a belief in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgments in specific situations. It can fluctuate based on the task at hand. For instance, you might feel confident in your athletic abilities but less so in public speaking.
Self-confidence is different from self-worth and self-esteem. Let’s briefly define these:
Self-Worth: This is a global and stable sense of one’s inherent value as a person, regardless of external factors or accomplishments. It’s rooted in self-acceptance and self-compassion.
Self-Esteem: This is an overall subjective evaluation of one’s worth, encompassing self-respect and self-acceptance. Unlike self-worth, it can be influenced by external factors such as accomplishments or criticisms.
Understanding these differences is crucial. You can be confident yet lack self-worth or self-esteem. When you align all three, your confidence will skyrocket.
Three Confidence-Boosting Strategies
Now, let’s delve into three of the five steps to boost your confidence: Positivity, Practice, and Props. The other two steps, Presence and Preparation, are detailed in my free ebook.
- Positivity: Positivity is simple yet powerful. Being positive and practicing gratitude about your abilities will strengthen your confidence. A positive mindset fuels your goals and aspirations.
- Practice: Practice is about rehearsing a behavior repeatedly to master a skill. Athletes, artists, and professionals all practice. It takes discipline to become competent, and competence breeds confidence. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. The more you fail, the more you learn and grow, boosting your confidence.
- Props: Props, in slang, means respect, recognition, or admiration for someone or something. Giving yourself props and asking others for feedback builds your confidence. Don’t be shy about asking for feedback. Celebrate your smallest wins and recognize your strengths.
Exercise: Prop Journaling
One of my daily practices is Prop Journaling. Every day, write down three things you did well the day before. This could be anything from giving a great presentation to having a good hair day. Celebrating your wins helps you recognize your accomplishments and build confidence.
Putting It All Together
To conclude, practicing positivity, embracing failure, and giving yourself props are keys to boosting your confidence. Set an intention to rewire your brain to seek out failure as a learning opportunity and honor your achievements.
Remember, you are amazing at what you do, especially when you love doing it. If you’re ready to dive deeper into these strategies and more, download my free Five-Step Confidence Boosting Formula ebook.