5 Ways to Boost Self Confidence

Self confidence is the core of who you are. If you are extremely insecure, it will show by your negative outlook. If you are confident, people will be drawn to the positive aura you give off. Self confidence comes in various forms. Some people are physically confident and others are confident due to their intelligence on certain subjects. Having self confidence in something is important, whether you're a good cook, or you can run a mile faster than most. Finding confidence in something, will only result in high self esteem in other things, it's a contagious trend as long as you allow it. If you let yourself become a victim to low self esteem then the only person you're hurting is yourself, and depending on the severity of it you can eventually push others away. There are ways to help boost self confidence; it's something that you need to work at especially if effects your daily outlook on life. It's worth it to give it a shot, putting effort in to helping yourself is one of the best things you can do, and one of the most rewarding.

1. Determine Why You Lack Confidence: Sometimes people can figure out why they have low self esteem and others can't. Write down what your insecurity is. For example: some people are extremely jealous of others, whether it's being at work and getting upset because your co-worker just got promoted or walking down the street and getting mad at someone for looking better then you. If you don't figure out what your insecurities are then you won't be able to fix them.

2. Dress to Impress: Your appearance is extremely important. If you are seriously lacking self confidence and have taken it out on the way you present yourself, than stop! Do little things that will help with your appearance. If you're a female; Do your hair different, or put on a necklace or other form of jewelry. Pamper yourself, make yourself feel like your worth looking good. If you're a male; stay cleanly shaven, wear nice clothes. Be proud of the person you represent. I guarantee that if you are someone that leaves the house looking half as good as you could look, then you will feel that negative vibe inside and others will see it too. Walk tall, don't slouch. Act as if you have something great to offer, even if you don't feel you do. Seeing others look at you in a positive way will help you look at yourself that way.

3. Be Optimistic: Regardless of your reason for having low self esteem, waking up and telling yourself to be positive is one of the best things you can do for your day. If you wake up and think negative then you'll get what you're asking for. It's a vicious cycle that will make you miserable if you allow it. Tell yourself that you'll do something productive that day. Don't begin the day off with feeling sorry for yourself, or making reasons as to why you don't want to be productive. Give yourself the chance to be positive. Being optimistic is the key factor when finding self confidence.

4. Productivity: Find something you enjoy doing. Not something that you would typically do though. Do you have a hobby that you put aside? Is there something you want to try but gave yourself reasons as to why you couldn't? Whatever it is, start. For example: you always liked hiking. It looked like fun to you, but for some reason you never got out there to do it. Find a spot that you would enjoy, and begin. Just do it. Doing something as simple as that will boost a confidence that will eventually lead to the confidence you're looking for. Start out with something small. Another example: If you enjoy cooking and haven't gone into the kitchen to make something new, then find a recipe and make it. Again, this will help with the feeling of being successful at something, no matter how small it may seem to be. Sometimes being bored with a daily routine can lead a person to over analyze. Keep busy; it will help keep your mind off of negative issues.

5. No Excuses: Don't make excuses for why you're insecure. It's poor behavior that won't get you anywhere. For example: you grew up with a dysfunctional family and now blame them for you not trusting people. Or your sibling was always better at the same sport as you, so you beat yourself up because you can't run as fast. The littlest factor can push someone towards a lifetime of emotional destruction. Understand what pushed you towards the negativity you put on yourself. You can't compare your life to someone else's. Understand it, and fix it. Holding on to the past will only hurt you. There are many things that happen, and sometimes we take it out on ourselves.
Overanalyzing who you are and what you offer is a mistake.

You can't make yourself a victim to the past or to the present, the future has endless possibilities. It's in your control. Feeling down about who you are isn't the way you want to go about life. Each and every one of us has something unique within. Your only problem is that you haven't allowed yourself to find that quality that makes you great. You're so focused on all the bad things that you haven't given yourself the opportunity to show who you really are. You just need to find it. The way we view ourselves makes all the difference in the world.