Four Ways To Build Confidence

We all want to be confident in ourselves, to show up to places self-assured and with our heads held high. But many of us unfortunately don’t. I believe confidence, not pride, is essential for successfully navigating this life. I also think confidence must be nurtured and built to stick. Today, I’m sharing four practical things you can do to build your confidence. These things have helped me, and I hope they also help you.

Know What God Says About You

As a follower of Jesus Christ, the first way I’d suggest you build confidence in yourself is to find your identity in Christ. Knowing that God, who created the whole world and universe, also intricately designed you in your mother’s womb should give you some confidence.

Understanding that he meticulously created your body, personality, characteristics, DNA, and even tone of voice should put a little pep in your step. When you start to lack confidence, open your Bible and read what God says about you. Remind yourself that you are wonderfully made and loved by God.

Psalm 139:13-16 - “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Keep Promises To Yourself

Keeping promises to yourself builds confidence because you learn to trust yourself. If each time you set a goal, you quit on it, or you make a promise to yourself that you will break it, you take a hit on your confidence on a subconscious level.

Whenever I’d set a goal and didn’t follow through with it. Usually, at some point, I’d find myself back at square one, wanting to accomplish that same goal again, and so the cycle continued—set a goal, start strong, lose motivation, and give up.

I eventually became tired of giving up on my goals, so I created a plan of action to help me stay on track. I suggest you do the same if you find yourself in a cycle of quitting on your goals or breaking promises to yourself. Start keeping promises to yourself the same way you keep them to people you love.

Work On Yourself (Mentally, Physically, Emotionally)

Another thing you can do to build confidence in yourself is to work on your physical, mental, and emotional self. I believe that when you look good, you feel good, so put effort into your appearance. Wear a little makeup if you like it, do your hair in a way that makes you feel good, and wear clothes that flatter your body type. All these things help me.

Working on your mental and emotional health is essential to feel confident. We don’t want to be people who are easily “triggered or upset.” Work on yourself so you won’t take things so personally or get easily irritated by everything, allowing it to steal your peace. Pray and ask God to help you in areas where you need to improve mentally and emotionally.

Talk to a counselor or therapist for coping tools and strategies to help you become more emotionally intelligent and mentally stable. Self-awareness goes a long way in building confidence.

Romans 12:3 - “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Challenge Yourself and Try New Things

Challenging yourself to try new things and leave your comfort zone is another great way to build confidence. Think of a few things you have always wanted to do but were afraid to do. Make a plan to begin doing those things and start checking them off your list.

Once you do it, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities to do things outside of your normal activities. This could be training for and running a 5k if you always wanted to, starting a YouTube channel or newsletter, or anything that makes you feel a little nervous because the more things you challenge yourself to do, the more experiences you will have that build confidence.

I hope you found this helpful. Let me know what you do to build confidence in yourself.