How to improve your self confidence?

[SausageSimon]

My confidence isn't great at the moment and I wondered if anyone had any tips to improve it?

I've signed up for an exercise class and I'm hoping that'll help in terms of my body image (I've lost 10lbs so far by myself), getting out of my comfort zone and being around a group of new people!

I've arranged to meet up with a few friends next week to try fill my evenings, I'm a single parent and tend to be sat on my own at home a lot.

I've had a terrible 2 years in terms of my mental health and I'm trying to repair the damage it's had on my friendships, health, confidence and even finances. Quite daunting but a little bit exciting too!

I'm a very socially awkward person and I hate it, I don't know whether that can ever be changed though

I'm sat waiting to go into the class for the first time and I'm so nervous!! I hate wearing gym clothes and I've got a funny stomach

Well done for getting out there and doing things outside of your comfort zone. I think losing weight and going to fitness classes is a great way to start, it’s the first thing on my list too.
Meeting friends is another important one, although I would question whether these people are friends if my mental health issues can damage our relationship. I would class them as acquaintances and treat them as such.

I do believe in ‘fake it til you make it’. So many times I’ve had to go to weddings and the like and the only person I know is the bride - either I’m going to sit there feeling lonely or put a bright smile on and introduce myself. It’s surprising when you talk to seemingly confident outgoing people they say actually they are shy and nervous but have to just get in with it.
Baby steps - you are doing the right thing going out and being around new people. The more you do the easier it will become.
I moved a few years ago after my husband’s death to a totally new area. I knew no one. English people are not the most welcoming and I tend to be quite anti social but I made myself go to every school thing going, volunteering and going to all the coffee mornings. I said hi to everyone. After a while I met a couple women who I seemed to connect with and I asked them to meet up for lunch. Now I have more friends than since college. One said no one had ever asked her to meet up and she was so happy to make a new friend. You will not connect with everyone and things may fizzle out but some will stick. You just have to put yourself out there and ask! What have you got to lose?

Fantastic you, signing up for the class. Exercise will help A LOT. Seeing what your body can do and noting your improvement over time does wonders for confidence.

Everyone's a bit socially awkward you know... me, I laugh a lot at my own shit jokes and occcasionally snort. As people get to know you they will appreciate your foibles and mannerisms. I bet you're lovely.

Most people are nice and want to leave the interaction feeling good, too. So just dive in. :)