|Whenever we meet someone who is really confident and charismatic, we are often left in awe. “How are they so confident?!” we wonder, as we closely watch to try and figure out what makes them this way.

Self-confidence is a great trait to have, and one that most of us deeply admire. When we think of self-confidence, we often envision the things it would allow us to achieve in life: the relationships we could develop, the opportunities we could have, and the exciting adventures we could experience. 

But the reality is that while we often attribute the quality of confidence to people in our environment, we are often a bit more hesitant to see ourselves in this way. But I’m here to share some good news with you: being a more confident person is absolutely within your reach, despite any obstacles you feel may be holding you back. 

If you’ve been feeling inadequate lately, here’s what you need to know about practical steps you can take to be a more confident person.
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The Science of Self-Confidence

Why are some people confident while others are not? It’s an interesting question. The science of self-confidence can be pretty fascinating, and it’s an important topic to consider when aiming to be a more confident person. We’re all likely familiar with the idea that the beliefs we hold are very powerful, and they ultimately determine the kind of results we will achieve in life. But just because a person may have struggled with self-confidence for a long time does not mean that they are bound to be a failure for the rest of their life. Not at all. 

As this article explains, research into neural plasticity reveals that we can rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behaviour at any age. When you become more mindful in terms of your beliefs and habitual reactions to unpleasant emotions, you actually alter the neurochemistry and structure of your brain.

This means that even if you’ve struggled with self-doubt and a negative self-image for a while, you can change things around. Even if past experiences and upbringing have contributed to low self-confidence, you can rewire your thinking patterns and start afresh. First, it starts with a choice to take the risk of becoming more self-confident, despite what things may have been like in the past. Next, it is followed by gradual, consistent effort to push past any obstacles that come along the way. 

Let’s identify five key ways to increase your self-confidence:

Create a Plan of Action 

Becoming a more confident person is a journey, and like any other journey it requires preparation. It will involve taking stock of where you are currently, and finding little ways to improve each day. Think about where you want to be and the type of mindset you want to adopt. Think about the people whose confidence you admire, and picture yourself developing such confidence and charisma.

Before you embark on your self-confidence journey, it’s very important that you commit to both starting and sticking with it. Something that can help you build self-confidence is setting and achieving goals, and developing a personal development plan can help you with this process. Working towards and reaching goals (even small ones) can bring a sense of confidence and satisfaction – something no one can take away from you! 

Live in the Present 

Living in the past is one of the most common ways that people knock down their self-confidence. Try and make it a practice to enjoy the present and look to the future with confidence. We can all learn from our past experiences but there is no need to remain there. When you drive a car, although you need to look at the rear view mirror occasionally, your eyes can not be fixated there - you need to look at the road ahead. The same applies to life. You can’t change the past but you should find strength and hope in the fact that you can always change today.

Related: ​Mental Health Podcasts Focusing on Mindfulness

​Pay Attention to the Language You Use About Yourself

Many of us fall into the trap of using language that sabotages our efforts to present ourselves with authority and confidence. For one week, give yourself the task of paying greater attention to the way you speak about yourself during conversations. Do you notice any room for improvement? Avoid making generalizations about yourself and telling yourself “I’m just not good at…” or “I don’t know if I can do that...” Don’t knock yourself down before you even try! Whether you realize it or not, your subconscious is powerful so be sure to build your self-confidence with words of hope and optimism. 

Watch Who You Surround Yourself With 

Are there Negative Nancy's in your life who are causing you to doubt yourself and your dreams? The people we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our self-confidence, so it’s good to be conscious of who you spend time with. When we’re around people who are constantly pessimistic and cynical, the effects may be subtle at first, but such attitudes always end up influencing our own beliefs. Limit your interactions with people who constantly tear you down through baseless remarks that are generated from their own insecurities. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to value yourself and cultivate self-confidence.

Realize What You Have to Offer to the World

Many professionals and creatives often struggle with feelings of inadequacy because they compare themselves to others. They start doubting if they are good enough to share their work with the world and may put off launching a business or product because of such barriers. It’s important to recognize your value and the unique position you are in to help others. And it’s not just about credentials, think of the experiences you’ve had and the valuable lessons you’ve learned that others can benefit from. When you come to appreciate how much you bring to the table as an individual, it becomes a powerful force for shutting down self-limiting beliefs. 

Yes, being a more confident person is totally within your reach. By using the above tips you can rewire your brain in a way that will truly benefit you. Always remember that tomorrow can be much better than today, and you have the power to make it so. 

About the Guest Author
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Roli is a Nigerian-British girl who currently lives in Canada. Her website is a collection of her musings, mainly surrounding lifestyle tips and personal development. Read her latest article here.

Related Article: ​25 Positive Mindset Quotes

|Your health is important, but that doesn’t mean one is more important than the other. Often, when you hear people talking about health, they are usually talking about physical health as this is the more common topic to discuss.

​However, physical and mental health are both equally important, and there are multiple things that you can do in life that will aid both sides of this coin. That’s what we’re going to be looking at in this article, so if you want to know more about what these things are, keep reading down below.

​Please note: This article does not contain healthcare or therapeutic advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. This is a collaborative article.

Speak To A Professional

Something that we always recommend if you are struggling at any point is talking to a professional. There are experts in all areas, so there is going to be someone that you can talk to who will be able to help you in some way. Whether it’s your physical or your mental health that is causing you issues, it’s never a good idea to keep quiet about it. Keep in mind that if you were to break your leg, you’d be straight down to the hospital, so if something isn’t quite right in your head, you need to get it checked out.

As well as this, physical problems can impact your mental health and vice versa. For example, you might have an issue with your eyes that you haven’t had sorted yet, and it’s making your life miserable. If this is the case, then it could impact your mental health as you are likely to be miserable until the problem is solved. This is a common example, and occurrences are probably far more common than you realize. If you notice anything becoming a problem, you can look it up on Google if you want though it’s not advised on a page like the one here, or the better option, speak to a professional.

Keep Up With Exercise

Exercise has a number of incredible benefits that you need in your life. Not only does it help you stay healthy, but it is also fantastic for your mental state. You might not be the type of person who likes to do intense workouts or run for miles, but that’s okay because there are so many different types of exercise, you’re bound to find one that works for you. If you’re not sure where to start, but you want to complete more exercise, you can always start with a 30-minute walk every other day and then build up from here. Or you could speak to a personal trainer, and they will be able to give you advice and help you to fall in love with exercise.

The endorphins released when your blood is pumping help you to feel better mentally, and the movement itself is good for your physical health. There are so many benefits that you would be silly to miss out on something so fantastic!

The Right Food Is Important

If you’ve ever heard of the expression ‘you are what you eat’, you probably took it literally and laughed it off. But, the real meaning behind this is that what you eat is how you are going to feel. If you’re constantly eating food that is full of processed fats and sugars, then you’re going to feel sluggish and fatigued. We know that you don’t want this because your body is going to be screaming at you for vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and you’re going to feel bad as well. Listen to your body because it will tell you what it wants. 

Sure, you can treat yourself every now and again, but for the majority of the time, fruits, vegetables and proteins are all vital. Sometimes it’s those simple swaps that help the most such as switching out fries for carrot sticks. It still tastes yummy, so you’re not missing out on anything, and your body is getting more of what it actually needs.

Sleep Is Vital

Finally, sleep is vital. Your body needs the time while you are sleeping to catch up on whatever it didn’t get the chance to do while you’re awake. You see, your body prioritizes the most important things while you’re awake because it has so much more to do during the hours that you’re up and moving. As for your mental health, have you ever noticed that the more tired you are, the more irritable or angry you are? You’re not doing yourself any favors by getting the right amount of sleep, and you could end up driving yourself insane.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now understand some of the steps that you can take to help with all areas of your health. Good luck!

​Related:  How to Manage Stress and Anxiety During a Pandemic

|COVID-19 has taken its toll on pretty much everything, from the obvious things like the population’s health and the economy, to the not-so-obvious like people’s stress and anxiety levels. By using stress management techniques, you’ll be able to keep a positive mind during quarantine, even if you’re in a place with spikes and subsequent stiff restrictions. ​

|Although physical distancing measures appear to be easing for the time being, and with them the “stay indoors” slogan that’s predominated the last few months, chances are you’ll be spending more time inside than a normal summer. That doesn’t mean you should let your guard down, though. ​

|Living in the 21st century is no piece of cake. In today’s fast-paced world, we have to constantly pressurize ourselves to keep up with the rat race that we are all involved in. ​

|A little known fact about me is that I have always been fascinated and inspired by the spiritual or metaphysical realm. And regardless of an individuals spiritual or religious beliefs, I am certain that most individuals would agree on the idea of internal transformation and healing, regardless of it's form.