Self-confidence means being sure of our own worth, ability and power, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. Someone who is self-confident has a strong sense of self-confidence and self-assurance. Express calm, serenity and self-awareness. Self-confidence is often related to having certain knowledge and skill sets whether acquired or innate.
While having aptitude in a particular area can help improve self-esteem, it is not a necessary prerequisite for self-confidence. Someone without any competition can have good self-esteem. In this Psychology-Online article we tell you how to have confidence in yourself.
How to increase self-confidence: conditioning
The first is conditioning to impose a sense of self-confidence. It is an extrinsic, that is, external, approach in which actions are taken to induce self-confidence. This is the most popular method within the self-help community and also the quickest to get results. For example, a is based on repeating a positive statement, pretending that you are already a certain height, speaking and acting confidently, and so on.
Here are some examples of how to use conditioning to boost self-confidence:
- Outfit: Dress elegantly, with good appearance and have a clean appearance
- : Walk and speak with confidence, be calm and collected, keep your head up, have good posture and smile
- mental techniques: positive thinking, visualization of positive outcomes/scenarios, focus on strengths rather than weaknesses
These actions are useful because they can provide a confidence boost almost immediately after doing them. However, the effects are rarely long-lasting, that is, you need to repeatedly remind yourself to do them, otherwise the results will dissipate over time.
Tips to gain self-confidence
The second is to work on the issues that make you feel low in self-confidence. This is the most practical approach to increasing self-confidence.
Acquisition of symbols of value
Self-confidence is often linked to the possession of certain knowledge, skills and abilities. Many people lack confidence because they feel that they lack a certain competence. For example, if you don’t feel confident in your role in a job, it may be because you lack the information and knowledge necessary to perform well. People with a high level of competence in a given area often develop great self-confidence in that area as a result.
The competition It can always be developed through reading and practice. For example, if you play sports and are preparing for a competition, you must train every day. Whether it is a presentation or public speaking, continually practice in front of different audiences to develop your skills. Eventually you will find yourself so competent in that area that you will feel naturally confident in it.
In addition to competition, there are other symbols of value, of which the most common are:
- Attributes such as level of attractiveness, popularity, grace…
- Material possessions such as the amount of wealth you own, car, properties, luxury brands, etc.
- Status symbols such as academic qualifications, achievements, job title
Depending on the value symbol that is relevant to you, you can acquire it to increase your self-confidence. For example, throughout life different people pursue different things to increase your sense of self-esteem. Some people strive to be more attractive and popular. Some people try to acquire material possessions such as earning more money and buying material goods. Others seek to obtain status symbols and titles.
The problem with the acquisition of symbols of value to increase confidence is that the increase in self-confidence only lasts as long as the symbols are valid. If they lose their relevance as a symbol of value, self-confidence will change accordingly.
Therefore, to increase your self-confidence permanently and in the long term, there is another option.
Work directly on the belief of what you want to represent
Although the above two tips definitely help to some extent and can be a quick way to improve your mental state, they are usually short-term and not permanent. Conditioning is like a quick fix to induce a temporary feeling, while the acquisition of value symbols only helps to the extent that you have the symbols and they remain relevant. Both They address the symptoms of the problem rather than its root. The feeling of low confidence due to supposedly not having enough competence, not having enough success, etc., are just symptoms of the problem. The real root of the problem is your belief that you need to be those things before you can experience self-esteem.
Someone with absolutely zero ability, no success in the past, and who has an absolutely poor image to others can have confidence in himself. What we have to keep in mind is that the only prerequisite for self-confidence is a sense of self-confidence.
The belief that we need to have this skill or that behavior before we can feel confident has been conditioned into us through society and the media, rather than being pure truths.
The problem we must address is the attachment to the value of each one with these symbols. All your beliefs about what value represents can only be true if you allow them to be true. The key is to break the link between all externalities (the past, current level of skills and abilities, results, opinions of others, etc.) and one’s own assessment of value. If you don’t see the competition as a representation of your value, then you won’t do it. You must remember that these are simply external objects, not you. If you don’t let something represent your value, then it won’t. It is essential to work day in and day out.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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