| Self-worth and confidence are important components that have a big impact on our lives. Our emotional state and our capacity to overcome obstacles in life can be significantly impacted by the way we view ourselves and interact with the world. |
| Our self-confidence and self-esteem rise when we feel good about ourselves, believe we can overcome challenges, and feel deserving of respect and acknowledgment. These factors improve our quality of life. |
| Practical tips to improve our self-confidence and self-esteem |
| Practice positive talk: Be mindful of how you talk to yourself. Brain circuits governing self-perception are built by internal dialogue, which is incredibly effective. Be deliberate with your words and mindful of the way you talk to yourself. Assume you are conversing with a friend. |
| Acknowledge your achievements and strengths: List five areas of your life (hobbies, abilities, skills, etc.) where you have succeeded. Give yourself time to be grateful for all you do well. |
| Set some realistic, achievable goals. As you successfully complete tasks, your confidence will grow. Start small and work your way up from there. For example, take a shower, respond to three emails, go for a little stroll, etc. |
| Feel it in your body: Psychologist Amy Cuddy and others have studied the positive effect of confident body postures on our minds and hormones. Plant your feet firmly, erect your shoulders, and maintain a proud posture. |
| Seek counseling and support: Building our self-confidence and self-esteem can be tricky. Never hesitate to ask for help if you think you might use it in this area! |
| Keep track of successes by regularly answering these questions: what is something you did well recently? How did you arrive there? In what way does this relate to you? |
| Celebrate successes: you’ve received a new promotion? Discover a method to rejoice! (For instance, having dinner with friends, celebrating with coworkers at the end of the workday, or treating yourself to a spa day..). |
Anna Godfrey 