Ten steps to becoming more confident

Arthur Marara

This is Part II of “Ten steps to becoming more confident”

We opened the conversation last week on how to become more confident. If you missed visit the Business Weekly website for the article.

This week we are continuing with the conversation.

5. Be curious

Curiosity is a powerful catalyst for personal growth as it drives you to explore new things, expand your horizons and embrace diverse perspectives and ideas. By maintaining an open and inquisitive mindset, you can gain valuable insights and knowledge that can help you build your confidence.

The act of experiencing new things and exploring fresh perspectives can be transformative, helping you to break out of your comfort zone and discover hidden talents and abilities. Additionally, curiosity can provide a positive distraction, keeping your mind engaged and focused on productive pursuits.

As you embark on new journeys and try different things, you may encounter challenges and obstacles along the way. However, by approaching these hurdles with a curious and open mindset, you can develop resilience and problem-solving skills, ultimately boosting your self-confidence and sense of accomplishment.

Cultivating curiosity is essential for personal growth and well-being. By staying open to new experiences and perspectives, you can expand your horizons, boost your confidence and create a more fulfilling life.

6. Gain control by facing your fears

Feeling in control can bring a sense of confidence and comfort, while fear can leave us feeling powerless and vulnerable. However, it is precisely in these moments of fear that we have the opportunity to take control and empower ourselves.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, facing our fears head-on can be incredibly liberating. By confronting what scares us or makes us feel threatened, we demonstrate courage and resilience, which can enhance our self-confidence and self-esteem.

Moreover, taking action in the face of fear can help us overcome our anxieties and eliminate the perceived threat. As we push through our discomfort and challenge our limitations, we expand our comfort zone and discover new capabilities and strengths.

In the end, facing our fears and taking charge of our lives can be a powerful confidence booster. Every time we succeed in overcoming an obstacle, we add another victory to our scorecard, increasing our sense of self-efficacy and resilience.

So, let’s embrace our fears and take bold steps towards our goals, knowing that each victory brings us one steps closer to living our best life.

7. Identify where you lack confidence and what can give you confidence

To build confidence, it’s crucial to identify and define the specific areas where you lack self-assurance.

This can involve analysing your knowledge and experience in critical areas related to your business or personal life, assessing your body image, or evaluating your social skills, such as public speaking and making eye contact with strangers.

Once you have identified these areas, it becomes easier to focus your energy on improving them.

Recognising your strengths and weaknesses can help you develop a plan of action, including seeking out additional training or support, practicing new skills, or adopting a growth mindset.

In addition, reflecting on past successes and moments when you felt empowered can be an effective way to boost your confidence. By recalling these experiences and the actions that led to positive outcomes, you can re-tap into those emotions and behaviours, applying them to the areas where you still feel self-doubt.

Remember, building confidence is not an overnight process but requires consistent effort and dedication. Be patient, celebrate small successes along the way and keep pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Eventually, with persistence and perseverance, you will develop the confidence to achieve your goals and live a fulfilling life.

8. Don’t compare yourself

Social media can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s great for staying connected with friends, family and the world at large. On the other hand, it can also be a breeding ground for feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

As you mentioned, when we scroll through our feeds and see other people’s highlight reels, it’s easy to start comparing ourselves to them.

However, it’s important to remember that those people are not us and their journeys are not our own. It’s natural to feel like we’re not measuring up, but that doesn’t mean we should beat ourselves up about it.

Instead of focusing on others, try shifting your perspective inward and reflecting on your own progress.

Use yourself as the measuring stick and compare how far you’ve come from where you started. Celebrate your wins, big or small, and acknowledge the improvements you’ve made along the way.

By doing this, you’ll gain a greater sense of self-awareness and be better equipped to work towards your goals in a positive and meaningful way.

It’s also worth noting that social media only presents a curated version of someone’s life. People tend to showcase their best selves online, but that doesn’t mean they don’t face struggles and challenges just like everyone else.

You never know what someone else is going through behind the scenes, so it’s not fair to judge your own worth based solely on what you see on social media.

In summary, comparing yourself to others on social media isn’t productive or healthy. Instead of getting caught up in someone else’s story, focus on your own journey and use your progress as motivation to keep moving forward. Remember, your worth isn’t defined by anyone else’s success or accomplishments – it’s entirely unique to you.

9. Get new skills and experience

If you’re feeling like you’re lacking in certain areas, taking action to acquire new skills can be a great way to boost your confidence.

One effective strategy is to enrol in classes or workshops that will allow you to develop your abilities in those areas. By doing so, you’ll gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience that will help you grow both personally and professionally.

Once you’ve acquired these skills, it’s important to put them into practice and seek out new experiences.

Taking on new challenges and responsibilities will help you build your competence and give you the confidence you need to take on even bigger challenges. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone — it’s often where the most growth happens.

To further build your confidence, there are a variety of additional resources available to you.

Consider listening to podcasts or reading books that cover topics related to self-improvement, career development, or personal growth.

Attending conferences or networking events can also be a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from industry experts.

Finally, consider seeking out mentors who can offer guidance, advice, and support as you work towards your goals.

Building confidence takes time and effort, but by taking proactive steps to develop your skills, seek out new experiences and access valuable resources, you can cultivate a strong sense of self-assurance and achieve success in all areas of your life.

10. Confidence starts with you

Self-confidence is indeed a crucial element in achieving success, happiness, and satisfaction. It’s important to recognise that confidence is not something that can be given to you by someone else — it must come from within. The good news is that developing self-confidence is an active process that starts and ends with you.

To boost your confidence, it’s essential to remind yourself that you have the power to make choices and decisions that will help you feel more confident.

This might mean setting small, achievable goals for yourself and working towards them consistently. Or, it could involve taking steps to improve your skills or knowledge in a particular area so that you feel more competent and capable.

It’s also important to pay attention to the way you talk to yourself. Negative self-talk can quickly erode your confidence and leave you feeling defeated, while positive affirmations can help build you up and reinforce your belief in yourself.

Start by identifying any negative thought patterns you may have and actively work to replace them with more positive language and self-talk.

As you begin to believe in yourself and your abilities, your confidence levels will naturally rise.

Remember that confidence is not just about feeling good — it’s about being able to take risks, learn from failure, and keep pushing forward even when things get tough. By investing in your own personal growth and development, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the self-assured, confident person you were always meant to be.

Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal and professional development. Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on WhatsApp: +263780055152 or call +263772467255.