While I am humbled by comments of me carrying myself well and exuding confidence especially when I stand up on a stage or in front of a camera, the truth is, there are times when I’m completely shaking on the inside!
I wasn’t born confident. Some people seem to just have it in them and that usually comes paired with a strong personality. I clearly am not one of them. If like me, you grew up shy, only spoke when spoken to, was terrified of the idea of public speaking and lacked confidence, I’m here to tell you that there’s hope! Not all of us are born with it and that’s okay. But first, you’ve got to acknowledge the importance of being confident and have the will to build that confidence!
Know Your Worth – Recognise your strengths in terms of your talents, capabilities, or anything that you’re good at for that matter. Think it through, be honest with yourself and don’t be shy about it. List them down if you have to! It may seem like you’re blowing your own horn, but trust me, it’s completely okay to do it in private.
Celebrate Every Milestone – Pat yourself on the back (I don’t mean literally, but you can if you want to) for every achievement, no matter how big or small. This will help you in discovering and realising your potential.
Surround Yourself With The Right People – Be around those who are positive, encouraging and confident. Let their vibe rub off on you. Every support or word of wisdom can serve as a great source of motivation. You might even find yourself doing things you never thought you would, only cos you’re in the right company or given the right amount of push.
Take Care Of Yourself – I’m a firm believer that when you look good, you feel good. So spend some time to look after your physical health and appearance. Give your body the attention that it needs whether it means working out, putting on your favourite outfit, slapping on your favourite lipstick colour or pampering yourself with a mani-pedi. Look the part and sooner or later, you will be the part.
Give Yourself Pep Talks – There’s only so much that your appearance and the people around you can do. At the end of the day, it all boils down to you. Remind yourself just how capable you are, think it and own it. Give yourself all the encouragement that you need. Say it out loud if you must. I find that really works.
These are just some of the things that have helped me burst out of my bubble of self-doubt and low self-esteem.
Here’s another tip; the first step to confidence is all in your body language. So, stand up straight, look up, shoulders back, walk with your chest out and put a smile on your face. You’re on the road to confidence.
X,
Megan.
