Do you ever struggle with your levels of confidence? Well, you’re certainly not alone here. A lot of people have difficulty finding the self-confidence that they need to get through the day and complete a variety of different tasks. Some statistics that reflect this include the fact that 85% of women do not believe they are attractive while 50% of men believe that they are not intelligent. This is important to keep in mind as both the variables we’re looking at here are completely subjective. There’s no defining rule to determine who is attractive and who is clever.
Research also suggests that the impact of low levels of confidence can be quite significant too. If you don’t have the right level of confidence then you could struggle to open up the doorways that you want in your professional life. For instance, you might not gain the job or position that you hoped for and you could instead be passed over completely. Confidence can also impact whether you are successful dating too. People pick up on low levels of confidence and many want to be around people who have a great deal of positivity around who they are as well as what they can offer.
There are numerous signs that you lack confidence or at least traits that people associate with low levels of confidence. For instance, if you talk more quietly than usual, then people will often assume that you are not particularly confident or committed to what you are saying. This can be a problem if you are completing a business interview or even asking someone on a date. Low levels of eye contact can also suggest issues with confidence as can a handshake that isn’t particularly firm. These are two traits that you can guarantee a potential employer will pick up on in a job interview. So, it’s important to make sure that you are exploring these issues here.
Confidence can impact your future earnings and even how you interact with friends as well as members of your family. So, how can you approach issues with low confidence? Well, there are a few options worth exploring here. So, let’s dive right in.
Speak To A Therapist
First, it’s worth thinking about speaking to a therapist. People are often under the impression that issues with self-confidence have developed recently and this is not usually the case. If you have problems with confidence in yourself then it is likely embedded in past experiences that have shaped your life for years and potentially even decades. That’s why therapy can be the best option. A therapist will work with you to dive into your past and attempt to identify any trauma that is impacting you to this day. For instance, you might have been bullied as a child. The latest research does suggest that the effects of bullying can stretch into adult life and shape who you are as a person years after you leave school.
Bullying may also cause you to develop insecurities and we’re going to discuss who you can approach these insecurities a little further down.
It is often assumed that therapy is only designed to help those who have a history of mental health concerns and this is not the case. Therapy can help virtually everyone because we all have baggage that we are carrying around with us that we may not fully understand.
Therapy can also be cost-friendly too. So, you don’t have to worry about it devouring your bank account either.
Positive Relationships
If you do have issues with low confidence, it’s worth being aware that there could be people in your life who are making the problem worse. Not everyone in your life is going to be committed to helping you and bringing out the best version of yourself. Some individuals just want to tear others down and this is often linked to their own profound insecurities that they are not addressing head-on in their life.
There could be toxic people surrounding you who are friends, family members, or even romantic partners. While it’s often difficult to let people go from your life, sometimes, this can be the best decision for you. Particularly, if they show no sign of changing. People like this can drain your energy and make you feel less than who you are. Spending less energy on individuals who are like this can also ensure that you are dedicating more time to those who do deserve it.
This also means that you need to start understanding how to say ‘no.’ This might sound simple but some people find it incredibly difficult to say no to people. So, they end up saying yes to everything, even if it doesn’t help them or might negatively impact them in the long or short term.
This is something that can be learned and developed over time. But it does take a while to feel comfortable saying no because you often feel like you are letting others down who need your support.
Pinpoints Areas Of Low Confidence
Next, you need to make sure that you are addressing areas in your life where you don’t have much confidence or that cause you to feel insecure. For many, this could be physical issues such as weight. A lot of people look in the mirror and see themselves as fat. Now, it’s important to note that this isn’t always the case. For instance, many people suffer from body dysmorphia where they see themselves as fat when they are a perfectly normal weight. Again, this is often linked to past traumas that must be approached head-on to correct the issue.
If you do think you are fat then there are a few steps that you can take. You can work on realistic diet and fitness goals. By doing so, you can achieve a weight or body shape that you are more comfortable with. That in turn could help you feel more confident with the way you look and that will change how you feel about yourself.
Alternatively, you could also think about exploring a new wardrobe. Sometimes a fresh wardrobe is exactly what you need to guarantee that you do love the way you look and feel confident when you walk out the door. For instance, if you are top-heavy, then it makes sense to use your outfits to accentuate various other parts of your body instead. Particularly, areas where you do have a lot of confidence.
You might also find that there are highly specific areas that cause you to have low levels of confidence in yourself. For instance, it’s possible that you hate your lips. If that’s the case, then you might want to consider trying a new lipstick. The right shade could make your lips pop and guarantee that they look fantastic.
Alternatively, if your skin is causing you issues, then you might just want to consider exploring a new skin routine. The right skin routine can help with issues such as skin that looks dry, worn or faded. It can even reduce the signs of age that you might have noticed are developing sooner than you would like.
You could even think about speaking to a professional stylist. They will be able to address some of the beauty issues that you have been facing such as thin hair or bags underneath your eyes. While these might seem like major issues there are treatments for all different types of beauty problems and fantastic remedies.
Of course, your issues with low confidence might be tied to something that is a little more abstract. For instance, some people do feel like they are not clever enough or simply not interesting enough as a person. If that’s the case, then you need to work to empower yourself as much as you can, building your confidence step by step. You can do this by writing yourself little notes to remind yourself of your self-worth. Alternatively, you might also want to think about giving yourself a challenge. By providing yourself with challenges, you will be pushing yourself into situations where you will need to have high levels of confidence in who you are to succeed.
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