There aren’t too many people out there who are striding out in public, full of self-confidence. Everyone has doubts from time to time, even the people who outwardly look like they’re firmly in control of themselves and where they’re going in life. A lack of self-confidence isn’t always the worst thing - it’s good to doubt yourself from time to time - but there are times when it becomes debilitating, and holds us back from living the kind of life we want to live. At these moments, you need to take action. Below, we look at five actionable steps to boost your confidence.

Beware of Negative Self-Talk

You have two voices inside your head. One is positive, encouraging you to take chances, put yourself out there, and follow your dreams. The other Voice is negative, always suggesting that you’re not as good as other people, or that your goals will never become a reality. To overcome self-confidence issues, you need to turn down the volume of this negative voice. They’re not real thoughts! A good method is to talk to yourself as you would a friend. Would you say all those mean things to someone you valued? Of course you wouldn’t!

Control Your Image

How we look has a big influence on how confident we feel. It doesn’t matter HOW we look, just that we feel secure within ourselves. This is easier said than done, however. A good tip is to focus on the things that you can change, because you’re not going to change your genetics. If you don’t like your clothes, work a stylist to find the types of outfit that suit your look. If you have bad teeth, then work with a company like www.fenton-familydentistry.com, and get a smile you’re happy to show the world. If you don’t like your body shape, then hit the gym. In today’s modern world, there’s a solution for most any and all physical concerns.

Find a Purpose

We all need targets in our life. While it’s sometimes necessary to go with the flow, it’s important to keep in mind just how much confidence we can have if we set a goal, and then complete it to a high standard. If you haven’t challenged yourself in a while, try and find something that you can work towards. This could be an educational course, getting a new job, or taking a trip that has been on your mind for a while.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

No-one has everything. Some people have certain benefits and weaknesses, and other people have different ones. Human beings are so complex, that to compare yourself to anyone else is futile; you’ll never get any answers, and all you’ll do is make yourself feel worse about yourself. Focus on yourself, nobody else!

Small Victories

You’ve likely got much more going for yourself than you realize. Think of everything you’ve got in your life, and give thanks. Life is made up of tiny victories, and you’ve probably got plenty under your belt!