7 ways to build confidence and empower yourself
- Anne-Mai Enge
- Jul 12, 2024
- 10 min read

Confidence is the key to success in many aspects of life - from personal to professional.
It allows us to face challenges, communicate effectively with others and fight for our dreams.
If you feel that you need to boost your confidence, I have prepared seven proven ways for you that will help you feel stronger and more determined. ✨
1. Know yourself
Finding true self-confidence begins with understanding who you really are. A deep understanding of your desires, fears and what makes you glow with happiness is the first step to building a strong self. 🌱
Start by asking yourself questions
Reflect on what drives your actions and what makes you feel empowered to take on the world. Is this the ambition? Or perhaps the need to help others? By looking at what motivates you and what overwhelms you, you will begin to better understand your reactions and feelings. 🤔
Personal diary
Starting a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings is a great way to capture what patterns dominate your life. It's also a chance to see what you really feel in different situations, which can be not only a fascinating discovery, but also a very educational one. 📓
Meditation and mindfulness
Meditation and Mindfulness Dedicating time to meditation and mindfulness can significantly help you understand your thought patterns and emotional responses. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to observe your thoughts without judgement, gain clarity and insight into what really drives you.
Ask for feedback
Sometimes it's hard to look at yourself objectively, so don't be afraid to ask for opinions from people you trust. Their insight can be invaluable and show you how you are perceived by others, which in turn can help you better understand your strengths and areas for development. 👥
It is a journey that takes time, but each step brings you closer to a stronger and more confident you. Start with these simple steps and you'll see your well-being begin to blossom as your confidence grows. 🌼
Now let's move on to the next key step in building confidence…
2. Set realistic goals
Nothing builds confidence like achieving goals. By setting realistic and achievable goals, you gradually build your path to success, which in turn leads to greater confidence in your abilities.
Nothing boosts your confidence like achieving your goals. When you set realistic, thoughtful goals, you gradually build a path to success. Each achieved goal not only gives satisfaction, but also increases confidence in your abilities.
Define what you want to achieve 🤔
Start by thinking about what you want to achieve. This could be a professional goal, such as learning a new skill or a promotion, or a personal goal, such as improving your physical condition. It is important that the goals are specific and measurable, which will make it easier to assess progress and ultimately achieve success.
Break the goal into smaller steps
Big goals can seem unattainable, so it's a good idea to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Every small success on the way to a bigger goal is motivating and strengthens your sense of control over your life.
Set deadlines
Set realistic deadlines for each goal and its smaller steps. This will maintain continuity and regularity in the activities, and will also make it possible to monitor progress over time.
Be flexible
While it is important to have a specific plan, it is equally important to be flexible. If you notice that certain assumptions aren't working or new circumstances arise, don't be afraid to adjust your goals. Flexibility allows you to handle change effectively and stay motivated regardless of obstacles.
Celebrate every success
Don't forget to celebrate every, even the smallest, success along the way. Appreciating your achievements is key to building confidence and gives you extra motivation to take further action.
Setting realistic goals and systematically striving to achieve them makes each achievement a solid foundation for your confidence. Remember that every step, even the small one, is important on the way to great achievements.
3. Practice positive affirmations
Reminding yourself of your values and strengths every day can significantly improve your well-being. Positive affirmations help reprogram your mind towards more optimistic thinking and self-awareness.
One of the key elements to building self-confidence is to regularly practice positive affirmations. These short, optimistic statements can revolutionize the way you think about yourself and your abilities.
How affirmations work
Positive affirmations are statements that are intentionally formulated to reinforce positive beliefs about yourself and your life. By repeating affirmations regularly, your brain begins to accept these positive messages as fact, which can gradually change your mindset to become more optimistic and productive.
Creates effective affirmations
For affirmations to be effective, they should be:
Positive : Focus on what you want, not what you don't want.
In the present tense : Phrase affirmations as if the goal you want to achieve has already been achieved. For example, instead of saying "I want to be happy", say "I am happy".
Personal : Affirmations should relate directly to you and your experiences.
Examples of confirmations
Here are some examples of confirmations that you can adapt to your needs:
"I am competent and able to achieve any goal I set for myself."
"I feel more and more confident in my skin every day."
"I am strong, resilient and full of determination."
"My thoughts are full of peace and clarity."
How to practice affirmations
Daily : Take time each day to repeat your affirmations, preferably in the morning, to set a positive tone for the day.
Visualization : As you say the affirmation, imagine that you are achieving what the affirmation describes. Visualization enhances the effect of affirmation by integrating positive thoughts with feelings.
Consistency : Be consistent. Affirmations work best when practiced regularly over a long period of time.
Practicing positive affirmations may seem simple, but the impact it can have on your well-being and self-esteem can be huge. It is a powerful tool to help you change negative thought patterns and open yourself up to a fuller and more fulfilling life. 🌟
4. Take care of your health
Regular physical activity, a healthy diet and adequate sleep have a direct impact on our well-being. When you take care of your body, your mind works better too.
The effect of a healthy lifestyle on our self-esteem cannot be overstated. Regular physical activity, proper diet and enough sleep are essential not only for our body, but also for our mind. When we feel good physically, our confidence and mental resilience also improve.
Physical activity
Regular physical exercise not only improves our shape and appearance, but also has a positive effect on our mind. Exercise helps fight stress, anxiety and depression, and stimulates the release of endorphins, known as happy hormones. You don't need to sign up for a marathon right away - just a daily 30-minute walk, yoga or a short workout is enough to feel the difference.
healthy diet
What we eat has a direct impact on our body and mind. A healthy, balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can improve our mood, energy levels and overall cognitive function. Avoiding processed foods and excess sugar will help keep your blood sugar levels stable, providing better well-being throughout the day.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is the time when our brain and body regenerate. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, reduced ability to concentrate and general deterioration of health. Adults usually need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night . Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, limiting exposure to blue light before bed, and creating a calm, comfortable sleep environment can significantly improve sleep quality.
When you take care of your body, you'll notice that you not only look better, but you also feel more focused, energetic, and generally happier with life. This directly increases self-confidence. By taking care of your health, you give yourself the strength to face challenges and reach the goals you have set for yourself.
5. Learn to accept compliments
For many people, accepting a compliment can be difficult. Learn to accept praise from others and recognize what is good in yourself. This strengthens self-esteem and helps to build a healthier self-image.
Accepting compliments may seem easy, but for many of us it is a real challenge. Often, instead of accepting praise with gratitude, we downplay or dismiss it, which can unconsciously undermine our self-esteem. Here's how you can learn to accept compliments, which is key to building a healthier self-image and boosting your confidence.
Understand the importance of compliments
Compliments are a reflection of how others see and appreciate us. They are an important element of interpersonal communication that can improve relationships and make us feel valued. To accept compliments is to accept that we can be valued and appreciated by others.
Practice accepting praise
The first step to accepting compliments better is to simply answer "Thank you" without adding "but...". Avoiding downplaying the compliment allows the positive message to be fully embraced. Remember that when someone gives a compliment, it is often out of respect or admiration – rejecting it can be seen as disrespectful.
See your reactions
Be aware of how you react when you receive a compliment. Do you feel embarrassed? Trying to change the subject? Reflecting on your reactions can help you understand why it is difficult to accept praise and work to change those reactions.
Practice self-affirmation
Regular practice of self-affirmation, i.e. confidence in your achievements and merits, can make it easier to accept compliments from others. When you learn to see the good in yourself and express it to yourself, it will be easier for you to accept positive words from others.
Consider your intentions
Instead of questioning the intentions of the person giving the compliment, consider that they simply really appreciate what's good about you. Allow yourself to believe that the compliments are sincere and that you deserve them.
Learn to accept compliments as part of healthy self-esteem.
Every compliment is a step towards a more positive view of yourself, which is the basis for strong and lasting self-confidence.
6. Develop your skills
Continuous improvement in the areas that are important to you can make a significant difference to your self-esteem. Courses, workshops or self-study are excellent ways to improve qualifications and build a sense of competence.
Continuously developing your skills is not only a way to remain competitive in a dynamically changing world, but also a key element in building and maintaining self-confidence.
When you feel that you are developing your skills, self-confidence in your own abilities naturally increases.
Choose your development areas
Think about which skills you want to improve or which new competences you want to acquire. It could be improving your professional skills, learning a new language or developing a hobby you enjoy. It is important that these are areas that really interest you and that bring you joy.
Find relevant sources of knowledge
We live in times where access to knowledge is easier than ever. Take advantage of online courses on platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, which offer training delivered by experts from around the world. Don't forget traditional forms of learning, such as books, workshops or industry conferences. Keep up to date with the Balance website, valuable self-employment courses will appear soon.
Set specific goals
For learning to be effective, it must be targeted. Set specific, measurable goals that you want to achieve within a specific time period. This could be, for example, taking a certificate in a given field, completing a course or carrying out a project using newly acquired skills.
Exercise regularly
Skill development requires regularity. Even a dozen minutes a day spent learning or practicing can make a big difference in your long-term development. Remember that progress is often the result of small, consistent steps.
Enjoy your progress
Don't forget to celebrate your successes and progress. Every skill acquired, every course completed is a reason to be proud. Appreciating your achievements not only motivates you to develop further, but also builds your confidence.
Thanks to continuous improvement, you not only become more competent, but also get a sense of satisfaction and satisfaction with your own actions. It makes you feel more valuable and confident in your abilities, which translates into all areas of your life.
7. Surround yourself with support
Relationships with people who support you and believe in your abilities can have a big impact on your well-being. It pays to surround yourself with people who lift your spirits and inspire you to action.
Building a solid support system is one of the most important steps towards healthy self-esteem. The people around us can act as a mirror, reflecting our inner beliefs and feelings. Here's how to find and cultivate relationships that will support and motivate you.
Find your community
Actively seek out people who share your values, interests or ambitions. It could be a professional group, a hobby club or an online support group. Common interests create natural connections, and being with people who share your passions can be extremely motivating.
Appreciate family and friends
Don't forget your loved ones who have been with you over the years. It is often family and long-time friends who offer the most selfless support. Make sure you communicate your needs and goals to them so they can support you in the most effective way.
Ask for constructive feedback
It is important that those in your support circle not only praise you, but also provide honest, constructive feedback. The ability to accept and use constructive criticism is essential for personal development and building self-confidence.
Have open conversations
Communication is the foundation of healthy relationships. Have open and honest conversations about your feelings, successes and failures. Sharing your experiences with others not only brings you closer, but also enables you to build deeper, more supportive relationships.
Mutual support
Try not only to accept support, but also to be a support to others. Helping each other achieve goals can significantly strengthen relationships and increase self-esteem and relationship satisfaction.
Surrounding yourself with supportive, positive people can affect every aspect of your life, helping you grow, achieve your goals and feel more confident in a variety of situations. Remember that you are the sum of the people you surround yourself with, so choose wisely and cultivate relationships that strengthen you.
remember that
building self-confidence is a process that requires time, patience and constant work on yourself.
Every step, even the smallest, brings you closer to being a person who looks into the future with confidence. 🌱💪
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