What makes you confident - honestly

[LifeIsWhat]

What are the things/activities/whatever give you a boost of confident? If we say chocolate makes us happy, what is the equivalent for your confidence? 😊

Hrt: the impact on my confidence was the single biggest benefit.

Making myself walk confidently: standing tall, unhurried. Acting confident - low key, but very much making the choice to present confident.

I edit all work emails to remove the apologetic, humble niceties. Just aim for direct.

I agree, not worrying too much. Looking good, standing straight and smiling.

Feeling loved and respected.

The absolute best boost to my self esteem is to decide that something is going to happen and then making it happen.

Because I said so.

When I'm at the difficult stage, when I have something new to do and start to panic that I won't be able to get it done, the best antidote is hearing the voice of my colleagues saying 'if this was me struggling, what would you say to me'? You would say 'you have got this, you have done things you didn't immediately know how to do.' It will be fine.

You eat the elephant one bite at a time.

DColleague knows the signs when I am having a wobble, as I do for her. Having someone who absolutely understands is priceless, I can easily conjure up her voice.

Remembering previous challenges which I have overcome really helps. It always feels 'this is too difficult' when I am in the middle and yet, I always find a way forward. Sometimes, the way forward is 'this isn't possible, we need to find an alternative way forward'

Hope you find what works for you.

Doing stuff I wasn’t sure I could. Running or walking further than before. Or mountain biking, or zip lining. Basically anything that feels scary then amazing after.

Achieving things I thought were impossible

Marathons
Cycling
Publishing work
Going on tv
Bringing up 2 children alone
Even doing stupid diy jobs on my own

This builds my confidence, makes me feel competent.

DP.
He tells me all the time how amazing I am and I end up believing it.

Being slim, high heels, martial arts and being good looking.

@Theywalkamongstus me too. When I'm slim I feel like nothing can stop me. I'm happy, bubbly and confident. When I put on some weight, I just don't feel 'me'.

I find this hard! But I’m working on it.

Reading previous good written feedback of my performance at work.

My favourite perfume.

Being able to do a brief bit of breathing/mindfulness before I go into a task.

Being my optimal fitness level and people, total strangers, taking time to tell me I'm doing a great job of raising my baby.

@Dimondsareforever

Wine …

Being really well prepared. My job depends on my having mastered all the facts and detail. If I’ve done that, I start the day really confident.

Not really caring what others think or say about you... aside from people very close to me who I do care what they think. I really could not give a toss if anyone else approves or me or not, likes me it not. I think I have got this from my dad as most of my adult life I have been like this.

Being fit and healthy and happy with my body. I run 5 days a week and it gives me so much energy and vitality and this helps my confidence hugely.

Knowing I could walk away and be happy. I've been fine single, so I could be fine without my relationship. I've got enough money and experience that my job could vanish and I'd be fine. If any of my friends decided to pull a fast one... I'd be fine.

Things can upset me, but knowing I'm a Weeble gives me the confidence I need to do what I want.

@Shopgirl1

Being fit and healthy and happy with my body. I run 5 days a week and it gives me so much energy and vitality and this helps my confidence hugely.

Wow, need to learn this from you!

Being fitter, healthier and slimmer than most women my age. At my last routine check up the nurse was asking for advice. Knowing I can open my front door after breakfast and walk 20 miles before tea is great.

My husband and parents. They make me feel like I can achieve anything and everything I have achieved is because they’ve supported me. Work also makes me feel confident, I’m experienced and good at my job so feel more confident professionally than personally.

Hair, makeup and alcohol...and I'm ready to go

If my hair is straightened, going out makeup is on and I've had a few drinks, I feel really confident.

In a work context being clearly needed and appreciated by my boss/ client, and knowing what I am talking about.

In a non work context it depends but being slim definitely helps.

After years of comparing myself to other people, thinking that being slimmer or achieving notable things would make me more worthy, finally realising that regardless of any of this stuff I’m pretty OK as a person was what made the difference.
Genuinely I’ve stopped giving a shit about this stuff that doesn’t matter and I’m happier and attract the things and people which make me happy.
I suspect some of this is to do with age to be fair. I had to go through all the other stuff to get to here.

I was shy and not confident when I was younger. As I hit late teens I realised confidence was just an attitude. So I changed mine.

Parents who asked you what you thought and validated how you felt.

Wearing red lippy.

Deciding not to give a f* what anyone else thinks.

I'm living my life, they theirs. I could invite opinions from thousands of people on my appearance, personality, whatever- there'd be just as many people giving positive feedback as negative. So much of how people respond to us is based on their own subjective experiences or views.

As long as i try not to cause hurt or offence to anyone, I dont suppose it really matters what most people think.