Have you ever missed an opportunity because of a lack of confidence? Do you have the ability to pursue something but hesitate just because you don’t believe in yourself?
Confidence is a mental state that reflects trust and appreciation of one’s own abilities. When you believe in yourself, dare to dream, and dare to take action, any change becomes possible. Happiness will naturally follow when we believe that we have the power to create amazing things. Join ELLE in discovering 10 magical mantras you should remind yourself of every day to feel more confident and happier!
1.Don’t believe everything you hear.
Some people may think you’re beautiful, some may praise your kindness, while others might not find you attractive or charming… The way we interact with each person is different, and thus, the image of us in their eyes varies entirely. Be open to receiving compliments and encouragement, but don’t let criticisms affect your mood. The key to building a peaceful and happy life lies in the trust you have in yourself. Only when you understand your own value, strengths, and potential can you avoid being hurt by negative comments. So, don’t forget to encourage yourself daily—write down the things you are proud of and what makes your loved ones appreciate you to reinforce positive beliefs in yourself!
Unplash/Manny Moreno
2. Surround yourself with confident people.
One of the best ways to gain and maintain confidence is by surrounding yourself with people who believe in themselves and radiate positive energy. Jim Rohn (1930 – 2009), a renowned American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Being around confident people allows you to learn how to motivate yourself and strengthen your belief in yourself. Negative thoughts will be diminished, and positive thoughts will be reinforced every day as you interact with those who help you recognize your potential and value. Your level of happiness in life largely depends on how you choose the people you connect with, so make sure to spend plenty of time with those who bring positive energy into your life.
Unplash/Omar Lopez
3. Pay attention to your appearance.
The clothes you wear greatly impact the first impression you make on those around you. However, what you put on also affects your mood and confidence. In psychology, the term “enclothed cognition” describes the influence of clothing on the wearer’s psychological state. Simply put, when we dress well, we tend to feel more confident. Feel free to express your personal style and wear what makes you feel most comfortable, allowing you to confidently showcase your identity and maintain a positive mindset each day.
4. Never stop learning and updating your knowledge.
Investing in knowledge to improve yourself is the most rewarding investment. The Jewish people have a famous saying: “There are three things in life that no one can take away from you: One is the food in your stomach; Two is the dreams in your heart; Three is the knowledge in your mind.” Knowledge is an eternal asset that you can accumulate for yourself. A solid foundation of knowledge in the field you are passionate about and pursuing will help you find potential opportunities in your career. Beyond that, general knowledge about the world and other areas of society enables you to communicate confidently and easily initiate conversations. In the age of technology, where everything is rapidly changing and new information is constantly updated, having a mindset of continuous learning is essential to avoid falling behind the majority. The deeper your understanding of society’s flow and the issues happening around you, the more your ability to think critically improves, helping you confidently handle life’s challenges and effortlessly engage in trending discussions.
Image: Unsplash/Raymond Petrik
5. Be yourself.
Every person in this world is a unique version of themselves. Even identical twins, who may share the same physical appearance, do not completely align in terms of personality and thoughts. Therefore, if you force yourself to change just to please someone or conform to the majority’s opinions, you will gradually feel mentally drained, frustrated, and disillusioned with life. There will always be someone who is right for you, and there will always be a community that embraces your uniqueness. So, you don’t need to confine yourself to the molds that society or anyone else imposes on you. Being true to yourself is the greatest happiness because only then will you discover what truly belongs to you, what job is right for you, and who the people are with whom you should spend your time. You are the only version of yourself in this world—a special shade that contributes to the diversity and vibrancy of the tapestry of life.
6. Live with principles, pursue noble values.
Life principles help you shape the life you desire, pursue your own values, and establish certain boundaries. This allows you to connect with people who share similar mindsets, interests, and goals, while also attracting situations and experiences that align with your energy and values. Life principles help you recognize what brings you happiness and what needs to be eliminated in order to create the lifestyle you aspire to, leading to a more organized and disciplined life. The simplest way to develop suitable life principles for yourself is by observing and learning from those you admire, the role models you aspire to become in the future. These could be family members, friends, or even famous figures, from whom you can learn their lifestyle habits and build a set of rules that suit you.
Image: Unsplash/Elise Wilcox
7. Don’t forget to reward yourself after every small success.
When undertaking any task, don’t forget to encourage yourself after achieving any accomplishment, no matter how small. If you’re learning a foreign language, treat yourself to a small gift after mastering 100 vocabulary words. When you complete a task on your to-do list for the day, allow yourself a break and enjoy a warm cup of tea… By rewarding yourself immediately after finishing a task, your brain will trigger positive emotions, helping you realize that your efforts lead to deserving rewards and feelings. This not only makes you feel happier and more confident, but also helps you avoid procrastination, stay focused on completing tasks efficiently, and build healthy motivation in both work and life.
8. Always seek beauty and joy in the little things.
Many people may think that random things like four-leaf clovers or repeated numbers on a clock don’t bring any real luck, but if they help you strengthen your belief in yourself and bring happiness, isn’t that a little miracle life offers? Sometimes, finding simple joys in things that others overlook can help us appreciate every moment we get to exist in this world, despite the daily struggles and chaos that surround us.
Unplash/Sarah Rodriguez
9. Stop procrastinating.
“I’ll do it tomorrow,” “Just 5 more minutes of scrolling through social media,” “The deadline is still far away…” Are these things you often say to yourself, only to find the workload piling up, the 5 minutes of scrolling stretching past midnight, and the deadline approaching fast? Yet, you still haven’t completed your tasks and end up feeling panicked and overwhelmed? Prolonged procrastination can negatively affect your mental health, leading to depression and stress when things remain unfinished. Building a disciplined lifestyle, setting specific plans, and breaking tasks into smaller steps can help reduce procrastination. Rewarding yourself after completing tasks is also a way to motivate yourself to stay focused. A concrete plan allows you to confidently handle unexpected situations, limits procrastination, and helps you create a more relaxed and balanced pace of life.
10. Express gratitude.
The fast pace of modern times and the pressures of daily life often cause people to focus only on what they don’t have, forgetting to appreciate what is already present in their lives. When you take a moment to observe and reflect on the things you already possess, you realize that your life is fuller than you might have thought. Are you living in the love of your family, with a home to return to, friends to share with, and a healthy body to work with? Sometimes, your life may be someone else’s dream. So instead of comparing yourself to those around you and sighing over what you don’t have, focusing on what you do have will help you feel more content and happier with the present.