Want To Feel More Confident? These 9 Psychological Tricks Can Help
People with a lack of confidence struggle in a world where social interaction, communication and presentability are key. For those who struggle with this key aspect of life here are some hacks to boost your confidence.
Confidence starts with believing in yourself and that no matter what the situation, things will be a breeze. Yet this is easier said than done. All of us struggle with this notorious aspect of our life, confidence. When you feel constantly nervous, unsure and uncomfortable, things will always be in limbo. We always tend to listen to the whispers of self-doubt, that tells us to take calculated risks.
More often than not we always stick to our comfort zones, play it safe and do things the way we¡¯ve always done them to avoid getting hurt, embarrassed, or rejected.
But there must be a stop to these negative feelings and the only way to cultivate that confidence is to simplify the way you think, adjust behaviour and bring in small but effective changes in the way you lead your life.
Try these confidence tricks the next time you have a nerve-wracking presentation coming up and you'll be amazed at how some of the tiniest changes can make a world of difference.
1. Trick your brain
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Everything starts with what goes on in your mind, If you wish to be more confident, one of the most time tested solutions is to wake up saying this: 'I can do this'. Trick your mind into telling yourself that you are confident and you will get through ay situation and things will fall in place. It's all about faking it till you have made your way out, the world does, so why should you be any different.
Also Read: This Woman Doing A 'Selfie' Photoshoot On A Subway Is The Level Of Confidence We All Need!
2. Taking care of how you look... and feel
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Yes, grooming and dressing up may have gone out the window during the COVID-19 pandemic with WFHs becoming a norm. But there are always ways to make alterations in life. Working from home does not mean you need to look like a slob all day, this may in fact be detrimental to your confidence. To keep the rhythm going, it's important to take that extra effort to dress up and show up, even if it is for a long and boring Zoom meeting call. Wear clothes that are smart yet comfortable and nothing out of the ordinary. Making yourself more pleasing to your own eyes can make you feel more confident and it will give you the needed boost to navigate your next course of action successfully.
3. Dodge all self-limiting thoughts
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This is your worst enemy when it comes to working on your confidence, you have to make a conscious effort to shut out all the negative thoughts that may come raining down in your head on way or the other. Self-doubt more often than not comes from things that have been drilled into over time. It may have been your parent, teacher or even a boss. This means it's just your figment of imagination. If you start bringing in self-affirmative thoughts, confidence comes along like a breeze. Yet again, it's all about tricking your mind into thinking in a different direction.
4. Be mindful of your body language
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Body language plays a massive role in confidence, in fact, there are power poses like feet on the desk and hands behind the head, affected the level of confidence and the feeling of being ¡®in charge¡¯ in both men and women. Try it in private the next time you get anxious about something. Sitting up straight without a hunch, walking with a confident stride and making eye contact while talking it someone, all these can go a long way in determining your level of confidence. If you¡¯re too nervous, hold something in your hand, don't fiddle with things or play with your fingers.
If you are terrified of an upcoming interview, the best thing you could do the night before or the morning is to pick something you are good at or are familiar with, it could be anything from singing a song, reciting poem or dancing. The sense of achievement and fulfillment after performing something you are familiar with can help pique your confidence levels and help you walk into that interview with a lot of more ease.
6. Speak loud and clear
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When we say speak loudly, we don¡¯t mean yell at the top of your lungs. Rather, speak at a pitch that¡¯s audible to everyone and with a tonality that's not too intimidating. The way you conduct yourself, especially when you¡¯re talking gives others an idea of how confident you are and also helps the conversation get going in a much smoother way.
7. Sweat it out
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This is a crucial aspect to boost your self-confidence levels and one that's not very easy to be consistent with, yet it calls for one to be focused. Did you know that exercising leads to improved blood flow and loosening of knots in your body thereby relieving you of stress and tension. So wake up with a good one hour of exercise, it can be anything, all you need to do i move and feel a hundred times better about yourself.
8. Choice of music
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Pump up the jam and listen to something that will lift you up, we subconsciously associate bass music with power, which is why listening to it can make you feel more energetic. According to studies. this effect is not limited to rap music; any music with prominent, heavy bass tones can aid you in achieving this effect of boosting your confidence. Before your next interview pop on some headphones and listen to your heaviest playlist.
9. Remember your achievements
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At the end of it all always recall your moments of glory, appreciation and achievement from your past can play a major role in making you feel more confident. Let yourself feel embedded at that moment and the effects on your confidence will be powerful. And of course, always wear a smile every now and then. It makes you look good and you¡¯ll be more approachable for other people to come and talk to you.
