Being confident comes naturally for some while for others, it’s much harder to attain. Regardless of how we actually look, it’s common for people to not feel their best all the time. For example, 88% of women say their hair has a direct effect on their confidence. Though their hair probably looks amazing, they still feel less confident when it isn’t how they want it.
When we aren’t feeling confident, we don’t always treat or speak to ourselves like we would to our best friend. If you’re someone who struggles with confidence, here are two important suggestions to help you look and feel your best.
Challenge Yourself
The first thing you need to do when trying to be a more confident person is to figure out why you aren’t feeling confident in the first place. Is it because that dress or suit simply just doesn’t fit your build? Or do you just think that you look bad in everything? Figuring out the truth can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible.
If you’re someone who thinks you just look bad in everything, you have to challenge yourself to wear some of those undesirable outfits anyways. These thoughts that tell you that you don’t look good have to be confronted head-on. Chances are, you’ll wear the outfit and you’ll get a compliment on it anyways. You have to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, at least at first. Eventually, more and more aspects of your wardrobe will start to become naturalized and feeling confident will come more naturally.
This is true for more than just clothing. Whether it be your hair, your smile, your clothing, or your body, challenge the thoughts that hold you back. You have to push yourself to be confident even if you don’t really feel it yet. Sometimes, you truly have to fake it until you make it.
That isn’t a bad thing, though. A big part of becoming more confident is changing your thought process about yourself or what you lack confidence in. You have to continue to tell yourself that you look or feel good until you actually believe it. Eventually, you will.
Make Some Changes
Can you change some of the things you aren’t confident about? If something is holding you back and there’s a way you can fix it, go for it! For example, 80% of Americans aged 18 to 49 want whiter teeth. What’s stopping you from buying some teeth whitening strips, brushing your teeth more frequently, or even visiting the dentist more often?
Perhaps your teeth are a big concern for you because you’re self-conscious about how crooked they are. Up to 47% of Invisalign teen users say they had a boost of self-esteem as a result. If you have the means, consider investing in orthodontics or some sort of cosmetic dental care like dental implant, which you can see in dental implant manufacturing services. Though changing your mindset about how you look is a big part of being more confident, changing the things you don’t like, when possible, is also important.
When there’s something that can be done to fix whatever it is that you’re not confident, go and do those things. If you’re not confident because you are overweight, look into changing your diet or exercising more. There are plenty of other people who are in the same boat as you! Community support groups can be a great way to connect with other people who want to change their lives. If you hate your haircut, change it up! Go to the stylist and ask for something new. It’ll only be a matter of time before it grows out again, anyways. There are plenty of ways to work around insecurities and still feel confident about yourself.
The most important thing to keep in mind when trying to be more confident is that you have to feel good about what you’re doing. It sounds really obvious, but you can’t always force confidence. If something isn’t working, try something else. If it’s you who isn’t working, focus on your thoughts. In some cases, a therapist is a great resource to talk to about your self-esteem. At the end of the day, you have to do whatever it takes to feel good about yourself.
