Think of a person in your life that seems to embody confidence. Have someone in mind yet? Well, I assure you, they didn’t get that way overnight.
Building self-confidence can be challenging, and some people struggle to find the courage to take on new challenges or assert themselves in their personal or professional lives. Fortunately, confidence is something that can be developed with practice, and adopting specific habits can help you become a more self-assured and confident person.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 habits that confident people secretly practice every day to help you boost your own self-confidence. Let’s dive in, shall we?
1) Prioritize self-care
Let’s face it, taking care of yourself is crucial for building self-confidence.
Confident people understand the importance of self-care and prioritize activities such as exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and engaging in activities that bring them joy.
When you take care of your physical and mental health, you feel better about yourself and your capabilities, which can boost your self-confidence.
Having goals is actually a form of self-care. This brings me to my next point…
2) Set and pursue goals
Let’s get it straight: having clear goals and actively working towards achieving them can help you build self-confidence.
The confident person sets goals for themselves and takes actionable steps to make them happen.
Eventually, you’ll see progress toward your goals, and you will feel more confident in your abilities to succeed, which will motivate you to continue pushing yourself. A self-confidence cycle, if you will.
And the more you achieve, the more challenges you can take on. Speaking of which…
3) Embrace challenges
In my experience, confident people don’t often shy away from challenges. Instead, they view them as opportunities for growth and development.
Embracing challenges and leaving that comfort zone can help you build resilience, learn new skills, and gain new experiences.
Even if you don’t succeed at first, facing challenges can help you feel more confident in your ability to tackle difficult situations.
And mitigate risk by focusing on your strengths…
4) Focus on your strengths
Here’s the thing: confident people know their strengths and focus on them.
Rather than wasting time trying to improve their weaknesses, they use their strengths to their advantage.
Focusing on your strengths can help you feel more confident in your abilities, and you can use that confidence to overcome obstacles and pursue your goals.
5) Practice gratitude
I’m gonna be straight with you: expressing gratitude can help you develop a positive outlook on life and make you feel more confident.
Confident people practice gratitude and appreciate the good things in their lives. They don’t take things for granted, instead regularly expressing gratitude for the people and things they have in their lives.
Naturally, when you hone in on the good aspects of your life, you feel better about yourself and your capabilities, which can boost your self-confidence
6) Embrace failure
Even the most confident of people have failed in life in some capacity. One of the greatest athletes in the history of sports, Michael Jordan once said: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Think about it. Failure is a natural part of life, and confident people don’t fear it. Instead, they view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Oh and while we’re on the topic of relevant sports quotes, here’s another one by ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
When you embrace failure, you take the pressure off yourself to be perfect and allow yourself to make mistakes. This is winning behavior.
And ultimately this will lead to success and confidence. If Gretzky and Jordan (who once didn’t make his high school varsity team) can do it, so can you. Believe me. And more importantly, believe in yourself.
7) Take calculated risks
I know… taking risks can be scary, but it can also help you build self-confidence.
When you’re confident, you take calculated risks and weigh the pros and cons of a situation before making a decision.
Once you start taking risks, you subconsciously tell yourself that you are capable of making decisions and taking action, which can help you feel more confident in your abilities.
Soon enough, you’ll be voicing your opinions when necessary…
8) Speak up
Confident people are not meek or afraid to express their opinions and speak up when their voices are needed.
Speaking up can help you assert yourself and show others that you have valuable insights to offer.
When you express your thoughts and ideas, you feel more confident in yourself and your capabilities.
9) Practice positive self-talk
Your inner voice can have a powerful impact on your self-confidence.
Confident people practice positive self-talk and replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.
Once you believe in yourself and your abilities, you feel more confident in your capabilities to achieve your goals.
10) Seek feedback
Think about it: feedback can help you grow and improve, which can boost your self-confidence.
Self-confident people are always seeking feedback from others and are open to constructive criticism because it’s a ripe opportunity to improve.
When you receive feedback, you can use it to improve your performance and show yourself that you are capable of making positive changes.
11) Take responsibility
Let’s be honest here, taking responsibility for your actions is an important part of building self-confidence.
Self-assured and confident people own up to their mistakes and take actionable steps to make things right.
Taking responsibility for your actions subconsciously tells you that you are capable of making decisions and taking action, which can help you feel more confident.
12) Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness can help you feel more grounded and centered, which can boost your self-confidence.
The confident person practices mindfulness and focuses on the present moment. They don’t worry about the past or future but rather focus on what’s happening right now.
You don’t worry needlessly about things out of your control; you live confidently in the moment.
13) Surround yourself with positive people
And be wary of toxic people.
The people you surround yourself with can have a significant impact on your self-confidence.
Confident people surround themselves with positive, encouraging, and uplifting people.
They avoid negative and bitter people who bring them down and drain their energy.
When you’re around the right crowd, they’ll be by your side celebrating your successes…
14) Celebrate your successes
It’s important to celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem.
Having confidence means acknowledging your accomplishments and not downplaying your achievements. You’re happy to give yourself a firm pat on the back on occasion.
15) Practice visualization
Visualization can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
To achieve things in life, practice visualization and create mental images of yourself achieving your goals. You’d be surprised how this little hack can help you accomplish so much.
When you visualize your success, you can better understand what it will take to achieve your goals, which can help you feel more confident in your abilities to succeed.
Conclusion
Building self-confidence takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. By adopting these 15 habits that confident people secretly practice every day, you can boost your own self-confidence and become the best version of yourself.
Remember, confidence comes from within, and it’s up to you to cultivate it. With the right mindset and habits, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
