Liv Walde
Ever feel like you’re just missing that spark? That little something that confident people seem to have?
You’re not alone.
Confidence can seem like a mystery, an elusive trait that some lucky people are born with, while the rest of us struggle to find it within ourselves.
But being confident, acting confident, isn’t actually as difficult as you might think.
Usually, confidence stems from a certain set of habits that people do every day – often without realizing it.
You might be lacking a few on this list yourself, so check out these 11 core 11 things confident people do every day – often without even knowing it.
1) Venturing out of the comfort zone
Confident people don’t back down from a challenge – they embrace it.
Yes, home is nice and safe and cozy. You can snuggle into bed with your cats/stuffed animals/cheetos and have a grand old time, but you won’t grow there.
That’s the thing about challenges and pushing yourself beyond your comfortable way of living – these challenges are not problems, they’re opportunities.
And it’s in the unknown, that space beyond the comfort zone, where growth actually happens.
2) Optimistic yet realistic thinking
You’ll rarely find confident people focusing on the negative.
Instead, they cultivate a positive mindset.
So wave goodbye to wallowing in self-pity (although you’re still allowed to feel down/sad/tired. Don’t repress, either.)
Remember, positivity is a choice.
Even if it doesn’t feel like it and you feel a bit like Eeyore, dragging yourself around with a dark raincloud over your head, you do have power over your thoughts.
And whilst pushing for a constantly positive mindset is quite toxic, aiming for an optimistic yet realistic mindset is usually the approach confident people take.
So why not give it a go for yourself?
3) Not allowing failure to control them
Confident people understand that failure is a part of life, not the end of it.
Cliche, I know, but take Thomas Edison for instance.
It took him 1,000 failed attempts before he successfully invented the light bulb.
When asked about his numerous failures, he famously replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Now I’m as impatient as the next person.
I throw in the towel when it comes to assembling furniture or untangling Christmas lights in a second and get undeniably frustrated.
But I try to remind myself of Edison’s patience, and his 1000 bulbs.
This perseverance and patience demonstrates the mindset of a confident person – they see failure not as a setback, but as a stepping stone to success and the opening of a new door.
4) They practice being grateful
Be it gratitude journals or mindfulness, confident people take a moment everyday to acknowledge the things they are grateful for.
The world can seem so very black and white when it seems like things aren’t going so well for you.
You forget that you live in a nice apartment, have loving friends, and are blessed with a fun furry creature that inhabits your house.
Yet this simple act, this quiet acknowledgment of the good in your lives fuels confidence and will help pull you out of periods of despair.
Confident people know that in dire times, they can refocus negative thoughts and remember that despite the ups and downs, life is beautiful and there is always something to be thankful for.
5) Water seeks its own level
You’ve heard the quote, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Well, confident people live by this rule.
Surround yourself with negative and toxic people, and you too shall become a little sharper round the edges, a little more pessimistic.
Surround yourself with positive people and go-getters and empaths, and they too shall rub off on you.
Positivity is infectious.
It need not be a vicious demand for perfection and a slap on the wrist if you don’t get there.
But it can be a giggle on a gloomy day, and someone to sit in silence and be there for you when you need it.
You (the water), can rise to the level of those who you surround yourself with and become better.
Or sink to a lower standard in the presence of those who have less of a positive influence.
6) They set boundaries
The importance of setting boundaries cannot be stressed enough.
Confident individuals know their worth and they’re not afraid to communicate it to others.
They say “no” when they need to, and they don’t feel guilty about it either.
That’s not to say that they’ll never lend a helping hand to a friend in need.
They just don’t sacrifice their own wellbeing to constantly please others in a desperate bid to win favors and seem likable.
7) They prioritize self-care and physical wellbeing
Whether it’s a morning jog, a balanced diet, or getting a good night’s sleep, confident people make their physical health a priority.
Even when things get super busy and life tugs them in a million directions.
Now, naturally confident people understand that a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind, and that both are necessary for the ultimate outcome we are all seeking; that heightened confidence.
8) They continue to learn (even after school!)
Confident people are lifelong learners.
They’re not afraid to admit they don’t know everything – in fact, they welcome the opportunity to learn something new.
This willingness to learn not only builds their knowledge base but also boosts their confidence, as in knowing more, they’re more capable of having deeper discussions and seizing greater opportunities.
9) They cheer for other people’s achievements
Instead of feeling threatened by others’ achievements, confident people celebrate them. They understand that someone else’s success doesn’t diminish their own. In fact, they often use it as inspiration to reach their own goals.
10) They practice self-compassion
Confident people aren’t hard on themselves when things go wrong. Instead, they practice self-compassion, treating themselves with kindness and understanding in the face of mistakes or failures.
11) They live true to themselves
Above all, confident people are true to themselves.
They’re not interested in pretending to be someone they’re not just to impress others. If anything, faking confidence is obvious – or at least starts cracking eventually, at which point everyone in the vicinity scatters.
This natural and genuine authenticity shines through in everything they do, and it’s one of the key factors that drives their confidence and makes them shine.
And remember, confidence isn’t something you’re born with – it’s something you build over time.
Perhaps, you’re building it right now without even knowing it!
