Self-Confidence Boosting Tips from Real Women

Okay, so it can be easy to forget sometimes that we’re all in this together. Literally. We all breathe the same air, have to eat, poop and sleep and have daily dilemmas that can shake our steady confidence to the core.

So, what’s a girl to do?

Well, you could try and do it alone. Or, you could check out these awesome tips from women who, like you, have experienced insecurity but have used easy tricks to boost their confidence again. Yup, that’s my girl – keep reading!

Real advice from real women: “How I boost my self-confidence”

• Sam, 24: “I call my girlfriend, who is always able to turn a stressful situation into a funny one. She’s taught me to not take things so seriously and look on the bright side. She says to me all the time that even if things do go pear shaped – at least I’ll get a good story out it!”

• Kate, 25: “Bah – I am terrible for looking at other women and thinking ‘Oh god, I wish I had her legs/teeth/armpits/ears’! But when these thoughts cross my mind, I sort of just force myself to be realistic. My body isn’t me. I am me. I am more than just my body. Get me? And even if I don’t look like a supermodel, I’m still pretty cool. There’s no other me.”

• Cathy, 42: “When I was younger, I spent 90% of my spare time dancing. Dance classes, recitals, eisteddfods, the whole caboodle. I was pretty good at it too! So whenever I’m feeling self-conscious or awkward, I find a quiet room and dance for a few minutes. It reminds me that I’m not terrible at everything and that there are things that I was (and still am) very good at.”

• Tabitha, 19: “When I look good, I feel good. I know this sounds kind of vain, but there’s something about walking around with the knowledge that my appearance can’t be faulted that makes me stand taller! If I know I’m walking into a situation that would normally make me feel nervous or scared, I make sure I’m wearing something that I feel great in.”

• Sally, 30: “I have a mantra that I repeat when I’m feeling jittery. It’s: ‘this too shall pass’. It is a reminder that even though I feel crap now, this moment will pass. That nothing last forever, not even my self-consciousness. It helps me release some of my anxiety and put it all in perspective.”

• Eve, 22: “Whenever I feel insecure, I know it’s time for a smack down with my inner bitch. You know what I’m talking about – we all have one. It’s the voice in your head that tells you that you’re stupid, vapid, fat and ugly when you’re trying desperately to muster up some confidence. I try to catch my inner bitch in the act. When I know that my emotions and thoughts are coming from her, not me, I’m able to push past it and feel better.”

• Kelly, 22: “I used to suffer from extreme anxiety, especially when meeting new people. To help me get past this, my parents enrolled me in a drama class. We did dumb stuff like forced laughing exercises and skits that made us all feel comfortable and relaxed. Today, when I meet someone new, I pretend I’m in drama class and it’s all just play-acting. Then, it doesn’t matter if I say something silly. It’s just for fun!”

• Gillian, 19: “My Mom is big into natural healing and meditation, so a few years ago she taught me how to breathe properly to feel less stressed. So now when I go to the doctors or have to speak in public (or something else that makes me nervous), I spend a few minutes doing breathing exercises. It actually works, and it helped me to get my first job.”

• Tara, 25: “It took me a long time to learn to do this ‘on the go’, but one trick I’ve learnt is to do the whole ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ deal. Example: I feel scared as hell because I have to try to sell someone something over the phone. I don’t feel confident and I’m really working myself up about it. What I do then, is ask myself ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ And usually, it’s something really miniscule like ‘I won’t get a sale’. You know? It’s nothing to write home about. But we work things up in our head so much and make ourselves feel unconfident when we really shouldn’t. If you’re alive and well, all is good. Keep pushing it, sister.”

What’s your favorite confidence boosting tip? Share the love and let us know!

Cover photo: weheartit.com