Are you Richard Branson? Probably not, because Richard Branson’s self-confidence is soaring. Not all of us can transform the world, but that doesn’t mean you’re not living your life to the fullest.
Confident people are found in every walk of life in practically every role. But they all have their habits in common – many of which happen naturally.
So, if you’re feeling a little down lately, here are some daily habits you can adopt to boost your self-confidence.
1) They meditate
Insecurity manifests itself in any number of ways. We struggle to focus, and our bodies don’t seem to perform how they expect.
And that’s why 15% of Americans have tried meditation at some point. It’s how confident people banish their monkey brains to the nap room.
But don’t worry about vibrations, frequencies, and nirvana. You don’t have to be into hippie-dippie spiritual concepts to embrace meditation. All you need is a few minutes in a quiet space to help clear your mind.
2) They think inside the box
Confident people might be characterized as the movers and shakers of the world, but not every confident person thinks outside the box or even desires to.
There’s a comfort in executing your life based on the things you know.
For example, one of my good friends has been an electrician for over 40 years. He’s sure in himself but doesn’t leave his electrician’s box. Why? He doesn’t need to because he’s happy where he is.
Confidence doesn’t mean revolution. It means being secure in yourself, where you are, and where you’re going.
3) They love to learn new things
We’ve all heard of the 10,000 rule, stating this is the number of hours you need to learn a new skill. But not so in most cases. This is why the 20-hour rule has gained popularity in the last few years.
Confident people know they don’t know everything, which doesn’t bother them. But they’re always committed to learning something new.
And that doesn’t have to mean a foray into toxic hustle culture. Whether you want to be a better marketer or learn to play the tin whistle, it’s all good.
But alongside learning, here’s what else confident people embrace.
4) They’re always happy to teach
Knowledge is power, but it doesn’t have to be a secret.
Self-confident people don’t take pride in knowing things others don’t. In fact, they feel fulfilled when they can help someone else learn.
You’re not Auric Goldfinger jealously guarding your gold vault. So, get out there and give someone a helping hand.
5) They take control of their journeys
I know where I’m going. I regularly reflect on where I’m going in my career. It’s a habit I’ve embraced for many years.
It’s a simple notion when you think about it. Do you want to be on the boat navigating the rapids, or would you rather the rapids wash you away to wherever they want?
Confident people always have an idea of what’s around the corner.
6) They exercise daily
Your body is a temple, so you should treat it as such. Regular daily exercise is as essential for your muscles as reading a book is for your brain.
Get into the habit of moving daily. Plus, you’ll have the advantage of looking better and feeling better.
When you’re happy with your body, it shows (whether you want it to or not). Now, let’s discuss some smaller habits that self-confident people practice daily.
7) They say “No!”
You’re not influenced by peer pressure or anything else when you’re confident. Each decision is made based on whether you want to do it.
Self-confident people don’t feel bad about declining a task or a dinner date. They’ll never decide based on someone else’s views and opinions.
Saying no more often demonstrates that you control your direction of travel, and it’ll also show others that you’re no welcome mat.
8) They stay humble
Confidence can easily bleed into arrogance. But the latter aren’t confident. They’re overcompensating for their lack of confidence.
Genuinely confident people are those you wouldn’t expect at first glance. They don’t consider themselves unique or above anyone else. There’s a good chance they have a modest view of their significance in life.
So, why is staying humble the marker of a confident person?
It’s a sign that they don’t require another person’s approval. They’re already secure in themselves and know their value.
But that doesn’t imply a lack of ambition. Here’s something else the humble, confident person also practices.
9) They take risks
Confidence can spur you on to do great things. Things that you’d previously never dreamed of.
Take Elon Musk as an example. Whatever you think of the man personally, there’s no doubt that confidence spurred him to develop electric cars or launch reusable rockets. Not to mention the global Hyperloop system.
Confident people aren’t afraid to fail, so that they will take risks daily. But the chances are they won’t make a big deal out of their moves.
10) They only compete with themselves
Competition is a reality of life. There’s always somebody looking at you and wanting what you have. Too many waste years competing with friends, family, and co-workers instead of concentrating on themselves.
However, even if competition is a part of life, it doesn’t mean you must partake in it. And confident people don’t.
They won’t compete with others. They only compete with themselves. And the objective is always the same: to be a better person today than they were yesterday.
Read on to find out how confident people can embrace the spirit of this type of competition.
11) They don’t waste time on judging people
Judgmental people love to trash talk behind someone else’s back. Americans spend 52 minutes daily, on average, gossiping about others.
Whether it’s positive, negative, or indifferent, confident people use this time productively instead. They’re so focused on their lives that the bandwidth isn’t there for whining about others.
Confident people don’t need to tear others down to make themselves feel better. Let’s be honest. This is the only reason that ardent gossipers exist.
So, how much time do you waste on this bad habit?
12) They’re always comfortable in their own skins
The stars don’t have to align for a confident person to feel like they have reached their peak. Whether it’s a bad hair day or they scoffed a little too much over Thanksgiving, they don’t let the little things derail them.
Whether it’s the first day of summer or the first day of the new year, they’re so self-assured that nothing can get them down.
Remember, perfection isn’t a factor in how a confident person carries themselves.
13) They’re not interested in being right
If I told you that the moon was made of cheese, would you believe me? Probably not. A normal person may insist on arguing with me, but a confident person will correct me and move on.
If you’re confident, you don’t have to be right. Your sense of self-worth isn’t coated in a perfectionist veneer.
Not only will confident people not fight to be right, but they’ll also happily admit when they’re wrong. After all, petty arguments don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
Here’s something else that defines a confident person.
14) They’re not afraid to be wrong
Low self-esteem characters and narcissists believe that they are a cut above the Great Unwashed. They believe they’re always right and will fight to the death to prove it.
One of the big signs of high self-confidence is the belief that you’re not perfect. You don’t see being wrong as a personal slight. You see it as an opportunity to learn and spread your wings.
Rather than arguing with someone, you’ll thank them for their knowledge and go about your day.
And here’s the final sign that you may be brimming with self-confidence.
15) They don’t procrastinate
The world is full of great procrastinators. For example, George R. R. Martin has been working on the same book for over twelve years, with no signs of completing it.
Getting into this procrastination game is simple. All you have to do is to do nothing. But what causes procrastination?
It’s caused by stress and unfounded negative beliefs about ourselves. Procrastination is a loss of life, and confident people understand this. In many ways, it’s a form of hesitation and fear generated by our own minds.
So, do you want to look back over your years and consider how much time you wasted?
Begin building your self-confidence today
Self-confidence begins with you. You’re neither born with self-confidence nor is it a genetic trait. Anyone can learn to become more comfortable in their skills if they only try.
Whether it means changing the way you live your life or seeking professional help, options are available to make you the best version of yourself. But this process can only begin with you.
How are you working on your confidence levels?
