Self-confidence is the belief in your own abilities and worth. It’s what allows people to take on challenges, bounce back from setbacks, and pursue their goals without constantly second-guessing themselves.

Yet, many of us struggle with self-doubt - that nagging inner voice that says “I’m not good enough” or “I’m going to fail.” The good news is that self-confidence can be built and strengthened, much like a muscle. With practice and the right exercises, you can gradually beat self-doubt and start seeing yourself in a more positive, capable light.

It’s normal to have moments of doubt, but if low confidence is holding you back - perhaps you avoid new opportunities, or you’re overly critical of yourself - it’s worth taking steps to improve it. True self-confidence isn’t about bragging or thinking you’re perfect (no one is!).

It’s about quiet inner trust and acceptance

knowing that you can handle whatever comes, and that you have value just as you are. Below are several practical exercises and strategies you can use to boost your self-confidence.

These are techniques that many people have found helpful, from psychologists’ recommendations to tips from successful individuals who’ve overcome their own doubts. Try incorporating a few into your daily or weekly routine, and watch your confidence grow over time.

Practice Positive Self-Talk and Affirmations

One of the most powerful influences on confidence is our inner dialogue. Pay attention to how you talk to yourself.

If you catch yourself thinking “I always mess up” or “I’m terrible at this,” challenge those thoughts. Replace them with kinder, more realistic statements, like “I’m learning, and I’ll get better with practice” or “I have some great qualities.” You can also use daily affirmations - positive statements you repeat to yourself.

For example, each morning, look in the mirror and tell yourself something encouraging: “I am capable and strong” or “I deserve success and happiness.” It may feel awkward at first, but over time, these words sink in and counteract negative self-talk.

Set and Achieve Small Goals

Nothing builds confidence like achievement, no matter how small. Set yourself up for success by creating small, achievable goals.

If you’re shy and lack confidence socially, a goal might be “I will speak up once in the meeting today,” or “I’ll initiate a short conversation with a coworker.” If you doubt your abilities at the gym, maybe “I’ll work out for 15 minutes three times this week.” When you accomplish these micro-goals, take time to acknowledge it.

Give yourself credit

“I said I’d do it, and I did it.” This proves to your subconscious that you can follow through and succeed. Gradually, you can set slightly bigger goals as your confidence grows, but always keep them realistic and within reach so that you’re stacking up wins rather than disappointments.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone (Gradually)

Self-doubt often keeps us in a safe bubble of what’s familiar, but confidence grows when we challenge ourselves. Identify a few activities that scare you a bit, but that you know would be beneficial or that you’re curious about.

Then push yourself to try them, one small step at a time. For instance, if public speaking terrifies you but you want to get better at it, maybe start by asking a question in front of a small class or group (rather than giving a speech outright).

If you’re afraid of traveling alone, take a day trip to a nearby city first. Each time you do something slightly outside your comfort zone, you prove to yourself that you’re more capable than you thought.

Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you survive it - and often find it wasn’t as bad as you imagined. Over time, things that once felt intimidating will start to feel routine, and your comfort zone expands.

Keep a Success Journal (or “Brag Book”): We tend to focus on our failures or what we didn’t do, and forget our achievements - especially modest, everyday ones. Combat this by keeping a journal of successes.

Each day, write down a few things you did well or are proud of. It could be as simple as “I helped my friend solve a problem,” “Completed my project on time,” or “Managed to jog 1 mile today.” Include big wins too whenever they happen!

This “brag book” is not about arrogance; it’s a record to remind yourself of your strengths and progress. On days when self-doubt creeps in and tells you “you never do anything right,” open that journal and read your own evidence to the contrary.

Recognizing your own growth and accomplishments is a powerful confidence booster.

Work on Your Body Language and Posture

The mind-body connection is real - how we carry ourselves physically can influence how we feel mentally.

Practice confident body language

stand or sit up straight, shoulders back, and lift your chin (instead of looking down at the ground). Make eye contact when talking to people.

Smile when appropriate. These simple actions not only make you

• appear more confident to others, but they also send signals to your brain that can make you feel more confident. For example, studies have suggested that adopting a “power pose” (like standing with hands on hips or arms in a V shape) for a minute or two can increase feelings of confidence. So before a nerve-wracking situation, try a quick power pose in private or simply focus on standing tall and breathing deeply - it might give you that extra boost of self-assurance.

Develop Skills and Knowledge

Sometimes self-doubt comes from feeling incompetent in certain areas. Building up your competence through learning and practice naturally grows confidence.

If you lack confidence at work, identify one skill that would make you feel more adept - perhaps learning a software program better, or improving your public speaking.

Then take steps to improve

take an online course, ask a mentor for guidance, or practice on your own time. As you get better, you’ll trust yourself more.

Similarly, if social confidence is an issue, you might learn more about communication techniques or join a club to practice socializing. Remember how far you’ve come from when you first learned to ride a bike or drive a car - at first it was wobbly and scary, but with practice it became second nature.

The same applies to many skills that can bolster confidence.

Surround Yourself with Positive, Supportive People

The people around us can greatly influence how we see ourselves. Try to spend time with those who are encouraging, who acknowledge your strengths, and who make you feel good about yourself (while also being honest when you need a push).

Avoid or minimize contact with people who constantly criticize, belittle, or undermine you - their negativity can feed your self-doubt. If you don’t have supportive people in your immediate life, consider joining groups (in person or online) related to your interests or personal development.

Sometimes finding a community of like-minded individuals can provide a big confidence lift, as you share progress and cheer each other on. And remember to be that supportive person for others too - as you uplift others, you often start to internalize some of that positivity for yourself.

Celebrate Your Uniqueness and Stop Comparing

A major confidence killer is the habit of comparing yourself to others. It’s easy to scroll through social media or look around and feel like everyone else has it all together and is doing better than you.

This is usually an illusion - people tend to show their highlights and hide their struggles. Constant comparisons can make you feel “less than.” Whenever you notice you’re doing this, gently remind yourself that everyone’s journey is different and that you have unique strengths and qualities that others do not.

Make a list of what you like about yourself - your traits, skills, experiences that make you you. It could be as straightforward as “I have a great sense of humor” or “I’m a loyal friend.” By focusing on your own path and progress, and celebrating your personal victories (no matter how small), you reinforce the idea that you are enough as you are.

Your value isn’t determined by someone else’s life or achievements. ## Conclusion Building self-confidence takes time and consistent effort, but every small step you take will weaken the grip of self-doubt. Think of these exercises as tools in your confidence toolbox.

You might not use all of them at once, but even adopting a couple - like writing daily positives in a journal and practicing better posture - can start shifting how you feel about yourself. Remember, confidence isn’t about never feeling fear or doubt; it’s about feeling those things and forging ahead anyway because you believe in your ability to learn and handle challenges.

There will be days when

• you falter, and that’s okay. Use those moments as opportunities to practice self-compassion rather than selfcriticism. Treat yourself as you would a good friend - with encouragement and understanding.

As you keep practicing these strategies, you’ll likely notice a change

maybe you speak up more, or you don’t second-guess yourself as much when making decisions, or you try new things without overthinking. Celebrate those changes!

Overcoming self-doubt is a journey, and you’re on your way. With patience and practice, you’ll realize that you’ve been capable all along - it just took a little confidence to see it.