Most of us want to feel more confident- it’s not even just about walking into a room and owning it, it’s more about feeling comfortable in your own skin and doing the things you want without second-guessing yourself all the time. The problem is, confidence can be a bit of a moving target. It’s easy to say “just be more confident” but much harder to actually do, especially if life has knocked you back a few times. But the thing is, you don’t need to completely reinvent yourself to feel better as most of the time it’s the small changes that help. A few subtle changes here and there can make a bigger difference than you’d expect.
Let Yourself Loosen Up
A lot of people spend years trying to come across the right way, especially in work or social situations. But trying too hard can make you freeze up or second-guess everything. Most of the time, people aren’t paying as much attention to you as you think. They’re caught up in their own stuff. Once you realise that, it becomes a lot easier to relax and just be. Not everything has to be handled with maximum seriousness. Letting go a bit helps more than you'd think.
Work On Feeling Good In Your Own Company
Looking for approval is a very human thing. Everyone does it at some point, whether it’s chasing praise from a boss, hoping someone likes your photo, or trying to keep up with friends. But it never really lasts. The only opinion that sticks is your own, and that takes time to build. If you're always waiting for someone else to say you're doing well, you’ll probably end up feeling deflated. That doesn’t mean other people’s views don’t matter, but it helps to make sure your own voice is the loudest. Celebrate the little wins that you have in life and recognise your hard work. Journalling and reflection work can be useful as well, if you can get to know yourself better and understand where any issues you have come from it lets you be that bit more understanding with yourself. Therapy can be super useful for this as well.
Move Your Body, Even Just A Bit
This gets said a lot, but for good reason. Doing some sort of exercise, even just walking more, can completely change how you feel. You start to feel like you’re doing something for yourself, and that in itself is a confidence boost. You don’t have to go full on gym mode or run marathons. Just get moving regularly, and your head starts to clear a bit. You start noticing little improvements in strength, energy, even sleep. All of it adds up.
Change Up Something Small In Your Style
You don’t need a full makeover, but sometimes a small change like a new haircut or a new outfit can give you a bit of a lift. A great pair of jeans that flatter your figure or a dress that makes you feel a million dollars. It’s less about impressing others and more about giving yourself a sense of freshness. If you’ve been in a bit of a rut, even a slight change can help you see yourself a bit differently, and that often carries over into how you act and how you feel.
Talk To More People, Even If It’s Awkward
Social confidence doesn’t just show up one day- it usually builds through experience, and some of that experience is uncomfortable. The more you talk to different people, even if it's just small interactions, the more natural it starts to feel. Saying hello to someone in a queue or chatting to a stranger at the school gate can be enough to remind you that most people are kind and nobody’s out to embarrass you. And the more you practise being social, the less scary it gets.
