10 Ways to Build Self Confidence

We all wish at some point that we could improve our self confidence. Whether it be a boost in certain situations or a self confidence makeover, we all need that extra something. That self belief in our skills and abilities do what we need to be successful. Try the following 10 exercises to improve your confidence and become an Alpha Male.

Good Posture

It’s just how you carry yourself. The way a person walks will tell you a lot about them. Those who walk with their shoulders slumped, hands in their pockets and head down show a lack of confidence. People do not respect those that do not respect themselves.

Exercise: When you stand, ensure that your weight is evenly distributed between your feet which should be shoulder width apart. When you walk, stand up straight and keep your head up. Make eye contact and smile to those around you to convey a more confident vibe.

Recognise Success

Being able to recognise your successes helps show where you have come from and set goals and targets for where you want to go.

Exercise: Keep a daily journal and include what you have to be grateful for from your skills and daily achievements to those in your life you wouldn’t want to be without. Over time you will see how much you have already have and will be able to use that as the starting point to further improve yourself.

Dress Sharp

The way you dress is an outward extension of yourself. Dress sharply and the world will see a man that values and respects himself.

Exercise: Look at your wardrobe to see what you do and you don’t wear. For a start donate anything you don’t need (it’s the right thing to do). You will find that you wear the same clothes time and time again. Start thinking more strategically and start making choice selections. Spend more money on better quality clothes but only items you will wear! You will end up spending the same amount of money but will have more style and be in tune with current trends.

Positive Reinforcement

The way you perceive a situation has a great impact on not how you feel but whether you will succeed or not. The most successful people in life always keep a positive mental attitude.

Exercise: When you have doubts about trying something, run through your thought process. There will be many negative statements and ‘what ifs’. Ignore any negative statements and try to get our of a risk aversion mentality. Only think of the reasons why you will be successful.

Gratitude

The way a man repays kindness speaks volumes about his character. The confident man realises that saying thank you is not a sign of weakness.

Exercise: Make sure that you tell the people around you that you are grateful for their help. Let them know that you appreciate everything they have done for you and you will always be there to reciprocate.

Positive Influences

The company you keep has a great impact on your state of mind. Surrounding yourself with positive people will in time help you to become a more confident individual.

Exercise: Think about whom around you are truly positive people. Spend more time with them and learn from how they deal with situations. Always ask yourself if a person you meet is a good positive influence. If not ask yourself if you want this person to be apart of your life or perhaps look at changing their outlook. You should grow with your friends.

Ask Questions

Ever sat in a meeting and thought something was a really dumb idea, yet no one is speaking up? The way you handle a situation shows how confident you truly are. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge the status quo. Never be a yes man.

Exercise: Always think about what you’re being asked to do and ensure you understand the requirements completely. Always ask questions and don’t be afraid to say no if it goes against your beliefs. Offer an alternative.

Procrastination is the enemy

Inaction is a person’s greatest enemy. It is always better to try because you can never truly fail so long as you learn from the situations presented to you throughout life.

Exercise: Make a list of what you need to do for the day and work on the biggest and most important tasks first. Once you have completed the hard task for the day, everything else will seem easy!

Mistakes are a learning opportunity

Successful people rarely make the same mistakes twice.

Exercise: Accept that you are not perfect and that mistakes happen. When thinking back, ensure that you understand where you made your mistakes. Take some time to think about how you might have handled the situation differently. Then most importantly, you have to move on.

Stay the course

Improving your self confidence is an on-going cyclical process. Stay focused, keep at it and you will go from strength to strength.

Exercise: Try each of the exercises listed above for a month and then take note of what you have learnt and how you feel. Then repeat the process for another month. Self confidence is a muscle that needs to be continually used and more importantly it has muscle memory. You’ll build upon your success and begin to be confident without thought.

Written by Ravi Jain