25 Killer Actions to Boost Your Self-Confidence

After learning the art of self-confidence we are able to overcome basically any fear of failure! The dilemma is that too many of us struggle with a lack of self-confidence and may have a poor self-image – and these two factors hold us back from achieving our goals.

Working on our confidence requires time and effort, but it is worth it! One important thing to realize is that becoming more confident may not eliminate all of our fears – which is also not the point – but it will instill a fighting spirit in us! Let’s look at some of these killer actions to help us boost our self-confidence:

1. Check on your self-image

More than you may realize, checking on your self-image regularly is very important and the first step to improving your self-confidence. It is easy to ignore doing this, but when you take an honest look at your self-image you can find out where the problem is.

How you see yourself has a great impact on your self-confidence, probably the greatest. Nothing is more important than having a good mental picture of yourself! Sometimes it may seem like it’s fixed, but believe me, you can transform yourself into what you desire to see – and be!

2. Practice good grooming

A simple shower can boost your confidence greatly.  A simple action like this can really make a total mood shift for you. The way you present yourself in regards to your outward appearance has a direct impact on your inner confidence. Fact is, what’s on the outside usually reflects our inside. So try to take enough time for your grooming – and enjoy it – and experience the beauty of increased self-confidence.

3. Practice positive thinking

A positive attitude is a great habit to embrace if you want to build your confidence. Positive thinking provides you with an opportunity to invite life-changing thoughts and ideas. Cultivating positive thinking can include daily activities like meditation ore reading positive affirmations, exercising or going for a walk, as well as journaling.

The late US preacher, author and inventor of the concept of ‘Positive Thinking’, Norman Vincent Peale, wrote many inspiring books, which can also serve as a great motivation in regards to how to change your mind and think more positively.

4. Eliminate negative thoughts

Negative thoughts are like venom for your confidence, and they will drain you of your energy, joy and hope. So, just like you would squash a bug, squash those negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Positive self-talk is one of the very effective ways for you to create a daily positive affirmation. Say good things to yourself as you start your day, and then watch how it tanks your confidence.

5. Know yourself

Knowing yourself is instrumental in growing your self-esteem, because self-esteem and confidence are connected, in the aspect that they must both be developed from within. Fist of all though, it takes complete honesty, if you want to know yourself. For some of us it might seem easier to go through life without really understanding ourselves, but this will definitely keep us from living a confident and fulfilled life. Understanding our thoughts, our intentions and the way we feel about ourselves goes a long way in ensuring that we know exactly who we are … and are able to then change things for the better.

6. Show kindness

Amazingly, showing kindness to others also makes you feel good about yourself. Although it is such a common thing to hear, it is really important to practice it, that is, if you want to build your confidence. Being kind and helping others makes you realize how fortunate you are and this will make you feel grateful. Try to be kind to those around you, and it will greatly boost your confidence.

7. Be well prepared

‘What you sow is what you reap’, so the saying goes – and it’s true! Preparation ensures that you do not face embarrassment and failure. It also ensures that you do not have to feel incapable and insufficient. For example, if you do not prepare for an exam, you are likely to get a bad grade – or even fail – which then makes you doubt your capabilities … it may also make you feel insecure and maybe even mad at yourself, therefore feeling guilty, and so on. On the other hand, when well-prepared, you will feel less self-doubt – and even the hardest tasks can be easier to deal with. You will feel proud of yourself and of what you have accomplished. Preparation ensures that you live and do things confidently.

8. Understand and live your principles

From a very young age, we may have been encouraged to have strong principles – or maybe we haven’t. Either way, to have strong principles is an important life skill – and one that can be learned. Besides coming up with some important principles we also need to implement them. If you have fallen short of living what you strongly believe in, do not worry – it’s never too late to change, and every day is a new day offering another chance for change. So try to understand what your principles are and make them an integral part of your life.

9. Have an upright posture

I remember learning this in school and wondering how exactly it would boost my confidence … but fact is, our posture reveals our attitude – and vice versa! A good posture will therefore not just reveal to others how you feel but also make you feel better about yourself. A correct posture makes you stand up straight and tall and conveys the message that you are confident and fearless. It makes you feel stronger and more in control, and hence boosts your self-confidence.

10. Increase your competence

Try to keep on learning new skills and improve on the ones that you have. Practice a new skill – and do not give up – until it has become part of you. This will do wonders for your confidence. Break your bigger learning projects into manageable tasks and learn a little each day, because to continually increase your competencies will boost your confidence.

11. Change those habits one step at a time

It doesn’t have to be a huge change of habit, like starting to exercise an hour a day. Start with changing your habits step by step. Exercise 10 minutes a day to start out with, then increase, once you are regularly accomplishing those 10 minutes. Keep it up, either every day or every other day – whatever is more realizable for you. When you have done this for a month or two, you will feel much better about yourself.

12. Be solution-based

Unless you are proactive in finding solutions to your life’s problems, you will likely be complaining a lot – and miserable for a lifetime! The problems plaguing you should not overwhelm you or take away your peace and joy. Instead, challenging times should guide us to finding solutions and improving ourself. Because, no matter what happens to us, from any negative situation we’re able to take away one thing: we can learn from it! And learning helps us find solutions, which in turn helps us grow more confident.

13. Smile

Life will have its ups and downs, and it may take a while for you to solve a problem or master a situation – but you can still decide on a positive attitude and put on a smile while in the midst of your struggles. Of course, happiness comes from within, but smiling attracts positive energy from those around you – and thus helps you feel better about yourself. A smile may seem like a small thing, but it can be of great benefit to your confidence, because of the positive reaction you will get from the people around you.

14. Be grateful

Gratitude is one of the best attitudes to acquire – and keep – a positive mindset. Being grateful about all that you are, have, and are able to enjoy – creates harmony in your life and can be rewarding in turn of positive feedback. Being grateful, even for the littlest things, greatly improves your self-image and consequently your confidence.

15. Exercise

It is so empowering to take the plunge and starts exercising! Exercise is not only beneficial to your physical and mental health, it is also necessary for enhancing your self-image. Most people who begin to exercise and make it a daily habit, feel much better about themselves. Start small – and feel the immediate boost in your confidence.

16. Kill the” frogs”

Procrastination is not the way to go if you want to boost your confidence. It is a dangerous habit to fall into, and there is no easy way out. The best way to kill the “frogs”- which are the tasks that you are likely to procrastinate on, is to prioritize them. Then make sure to take care of those tasks – or at least part of them – before embarking on anything else. Accomplishing these tasks will boost your confidence by eliminating guilt feelings (for not having done what you know you should have done – or wanted to do) and will allow you to joyfully (!) continue with other activities.

17. Challenge yourself

Do something that is out of your comfort zone. Get active, try something new – and do not be afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes this is the best way to learn – and grow, which in turn boosts your confidence. When you accomplish something that you could never have imagined achieving, it will greatly enhance your self-image and make you feel proud of yourself.

18. Create smaller tasks

Smaller tasks ensure that you can do much more and, at the same time, minimize the risk of failure. Break down those bigger projects into manageable chunks and work on them, doing on thing at a time. Even the smallest accomplishment can boost your confidence greatly. And make sure to give yourself credit for every single thing you accomplish.

19. Act positively

We have talked about positive thinking, but even more important is putting that positive thinking into action. So turn your positive thoughts into action, by living and speaking positivity – because what you do and say every day determines who you are, and it determines who you become. Decide to act positively, and you will notice a great difference – even in the way others relate to you.

20. Dress up

How you dress determines how you feel about yourself. Dressing nicely motivates you and makes you feel better about yourself. So put on your best and go out feeling like a million bucks! It does not need a special occasion for you to dress up – you can do it anytime you want to feel special about yourself!

21. Speak slowly

Speaking too fast is sometimes a sign of low self-esteem. Rattling on can convey the message that you are not confident in what you are saying, and that you are probably rushing through due to your own nervousness or insecurity. On the other hand, people with confidence oftentimes speak more slowly and clearly – simply because they are not in a hurry to prove a point; instead they know and believe that what they are saying is worthwhile.

22. Increase your knowledge

You could to go back to school or take some additional classes, fact is, by increasing your knowledge you empower yourself. The internet is also a great place to learn, and there are unbelievable quantities of resources offered. No matter how, deciding to increase your knowledge will always boost your confidence.

23. Work on small tasks

Big tasks can be intimidating and overwhelming, in your business as well as private life. Start with small manageable tasks. Do not underestimate the power of small achievements – they can make you feel so good and encourage you to tackle to your bigger tasks.

24. Have an action plan

Making an action plan ensures that your goals will not remain fantasies, but helps you to come up with a realistic way of achieving those goals. Set a regular time aside to make a plan for the coming week or day, and set yourself clear and feasible goals. This will boost your confidence, because in making and following a plan you are more likely to achieve your goals.

25. Ensure that your desk is clear of clutter

It may sound like a small thing – but its impact is big. Clear your desk before sitting down to work at it, because this allows for a clearer line of thought. And whenever your mind is not jumbled up in thoughts you feel better about yourself.

The bottom line

The best way to boost your confidence is to exercise good habits – whatever they are. In doing so, you will be greatly rewarded. The 25 points listed above  are only a guideline to help make these habits part of your life … and, as you do, just watch them boost your self-confidence!