How can self-confidence help you take risks and pursue new opportunities?

To also keep in mind that as you progress through your career, people will start to look to you whether it’s a mentor role or as a leader. Having that strong shoulder and high self confidence will give a lot of the people looking to you reassurance that you will take them in the right direction.

Self-confidence can feel it’s totally down to us, the impact we can on our own self-confidence is undeniable. Especially if we’re constantly listening to our negative narrative on our skills and disregarding all the good stuff we bring. Its important to have both our own positive voice and those from others around us - getting a mentor, joining a group, finding cheer leaders! These people can have a great positive impact on how we perceive ourselves and then how others see us. It’s so much harder to convince others of our skills when we really struggle to believe it ourselves. So be really intentional about reviewing and banking the good things we do and remember to call on these in times when we are feeling a little less confident.

Self Confidence is like an antidote to imposter syndrome and can be broken down into 3 key elements; experience, skills and perspective. Where one might be lacking experience, it is helpful to find opportunities in which similar experience can be obtained (voluntary work, working on projects, finding a mentor). Regarding skills, think about recent positions in which you have made an impact from using them. What have you achieved from showcasing the skill? Finally, perspective is an area in which we can all develop through self reflection and creativity. What have you not thought of? everyone has started with zero experience at some point, but that doesn't stop them applying for a new job, promotion or embarking on a career change.

Belief. Believe in yourself. Bring you to the table. When you are at that table bring your voice, bring your ideas and speak. Reflect on your progress and achievements. And you know that thing you are holding in when you are at the table….say it.

What I learned through time is that it takes us to where we set our minds. Its the ability to advocate to yourself with a clear intention to your goals.

When you are self-confident, you radiate the energy through your words, actions, and intent. which most of the time resonates with the person on the other hand, or because you have that positive energy it looks for ways to disseminate into something new with new hopes. Positive self-confidence is like a ray of light in the dark which not only brightens you up but gives a ray of hope to everyone who is seeking light.

The assessment of one's self-confidence level can be determined by the ability to undertake risks without regard to the outcome. When you possess self-confidence, you have a strong sense of self without the need for external validation, and rejection doesn't affect you personally. Furthermore, the ability to rebound from setbacks is indicative of one's level of confidence.

For me, boosting self-confidence requires intentional steps: Acknowledge Strengths: Celebrate daily wins, big or small. Positive Affirmations: Counter negative self-talk with uplifting statements. Skill Up: Mastery boosts confidence. Stay Active: Exercise for endorphin release and self-image. Visualize Success: Prep your mind for real situations. Seek Positivity: Surround yourself with uplifting influences. Learn from Failures: They're stepping stones, not setbacks. Confidence grows with consistent effort. 🌟

I personally find that doing a physical activity you enjoy is one of the biggest steps you can take towards boosting your self-confidence. Sports teach you resilience, effort, consistency, and how to take a chance on something new or unreachable. The community you find through sports can open your mind and be a real support in the process. I know finding a sports community has helped me regaining self-esteem and I always look forward to every class with excitement.

One of the things I find helpful to evaluating the risk (and reward) of an opportunity is thinking through the realistic worst case scenarios. While this may seem counterintuitive, fear is often the driver that keeps us from taking risks, even small ones. When you really process the ACTUAL worst case scenario, you’ll find that 9 times out of 10, it isn’t nearly as bad as what the fear wants us to believe! With this “tempered” view, you’re able to understand the risks and compare them to the reward, in a reasonable, pragmatic way.

I'm a big fan of journaling to find and maintain your confidence. It's a constant you can control within ebbs and flows impacted by external factors. Here's what I suggest: - Start the day with affirmations and beliefs, acknowledging strengths, and/or writing about things you like about yourself. It'll get challenging after day four when you've covered the surface-level stuff. :) - In the evenings, practice gratitude by writing about at least three things that went well or you're grateful for. Going to bed with a positive mindset is proven to reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost confidence because it also helps you wake up on the right side of the bed (just in time for positive affirmations), Look how full circle that is!