Joyce Ann Isidro
Everyone has potential. What sets other people apart is their confidence in unlocking theirs.
And believe it or not, you, too, have the potential to achieve your wildest dreams.
The only thing you need to develop is confidence—trust me, everything else will follow quickly after you lay a good foundation for a stable self-esteem.
So how do you do that?
Good news – science has some solid tricks.
Below, we’ll talk about the 12 simple tricks that can give you that extra boost of confidence that you need to excel in all areas of life.
Let’s dive in!
1) Know your worth
“Know your worth” is a phrase I’m very (shamefully) familiar with.
Every time I’m about to enter a bad situationship, it’s something all of my friends always tell me.
And even if it’s repetitive, it’s something I know I should listen to, because there’s truth in it.
And this is not just an empty saying—in fact, the self-worth theory says that our main priority in life is to find self-acceptance through achievement (Covington & Beery, 1976).
So when someone tells you to know your worth, listen—it might just be the confidence boost you need to focus more on your strengths instead of fixating on your weaknesses.
2) Focus more on your strengths, and less on your weaknesses
When you think of self-improvement, what do you think needs changing? Your strengths, or your weaknesses?
Chances are you chose the latter, because most of us do. It’s natural for us people to think that we need to work on our weaknesses to become better people.
But did you know that working on your strengths can make you even better?
By focusing more on what you excel at, you become more confident than when you focus on your weaknesses—and it makes sense. When your strengths become even stronger, you become unstoppable!
But even if you feel like an imposter as you improve your strengths, don’t let that stop you. Don’t stop faking until you make it.
3) Fake it ‘til you make it
I used to think “fake it ‘til you make it” is stupid. I thought it was pretentious—that only people who are actually good at what they do deserve to feel confident.
But that’s so far from the truth.
It might sound a little corny, but there’s some wisdom there!
When you act confident, even if you don’t entirely feel it, you’re basically rewiring your brain into thinking you’re good enough.
Alex Malley, bestselling author of The Naked CEO, affirms this technique.
She shared with Forbes, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment.”
So silence that voice telling you you look stupid.
Don’t let your fear of looking like a fool prevent you from standing tall or speaking with authority.
Eventually, you’ll find that you’re not faking it anymore – you’re living it, and you actually will start believing in yourself.
4) Learn how to power pose
Believe it or not, your body language can impact how you feel.
Strike a power pose – stand tall, with shoulders back and head held high – for just a few minutes.
I know it feels quite ridiculous, but there’s no harm in trying, right?
I swear, this very simple act can instantly boost your confidence.
Try it when you need a quick confidence boost—like before a job interview or before you speak in front of a crowd. You’ll be absolutely shocked by how effective it will be!
5) Train your mind to believe in yourself
Believing in yourself is easier said than done.
People can tell you, “You can do it!” but if you truly believe you can’t, you won’t.
That’s where having a growth mindset comes in—if you believe you can improve, you will. And when you do, your confidence also improves.
So if you want to be a better writer, public speaker, or artist, live every day with a growth mindset.
Believe that you can slowly improve day by day. Remember past successes, no matter how small, and use them as stepping stones to bolster your belief in your capabilities.
And before you know it, you’ll be so much better at your craft and so much more confident than when you started.
6) Always do your best
There’s no question that consistent effort breeds confidence.
Studies show that when you constantly give your best, you get closer and closer to success every time.
Even if things don’t always go perfectly, the act of striving and learning from your experiences builds a solid foundation for confidence.
So don’t easily lose hope when you fail at first. Don’t let your failures diminish your confidence, because they aren’t hindrances—they’re stepping stones that bring you closer to success.
That’s why it’s so important that you’re kind to yourself when you fail.
7) Be nicer to yourself
When your friend fails, what do you tell them?
Do you tell them to suck it up, stand back up, and go on forward?
Or do you treat them with compassion, making sure they know you’re supportive of not just their successes, but their failures, too?
You probably do the latter to your friends, but the former to yourself.
But it’s time to change that mindset.
Treat yourself with kindness, just as you would a friend. In fact, being kind to yourself has mental and physical benefits that you would need to become more confident.
That’s why it’s important to celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and forgive yourself for mistakes.
By being more gentle with yourself, your inner critic turns into a supportive inner voice that builds your confidence instead of destroying it.
8) Think of the best version of yourself
I want you to think of a time when you felt the most powerful.
Was it when you got the job you’ve been working so hard to get?
When you passed an exam that you studied really hard for?
Or when your efforts finally got recognized by your higher-ups at work?
Regardless, thinking of a time when you feel you were the best version of yourself can help boost your confidence.
When you picture the confident, successful, and empowered version of you, you’re priming your mind to work towards that image—think of it like you’re harnessing your power from the past and directing it to the present.
So when you need a confidence boost, make sure you keep your most powerful self in mind!
Final thoughts
Confidence is not rocket science. Once you start believing in yourself, it becomes a little easier to overcome self-doubt day by day.
So keep these tricks in mind and practice them every day—soon enough, you’ll see yourself approaching every challenge with a sense of certainty that you’ve never had before.
Good luck!
