How confident do you feel on a day-to-day basis? What if we said that thanks to the current global pandemic, many people are suffering mental health crises that impact their self-confidence and day-to-day lives? While the coronavirus has massive health implications that we want to stay safe from, the measure enacted by governments worldwide and changes to people's lives has had a massive impact on the mental health of people worldwide.
It is only natural that you will feel a dip in your confidence over time due to the changes in the world around you and in the face of major upheavals in your life.
The CDC recognizes that there are many different ways that changes can affect your mental health, confidence, and behavior patterns, including;
- Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
- Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
- Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Worsening of mental health conditions
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances
All of this can have a detrimental effect on your confidence, thus reducing your overall quality of life.
Add to this that many people naturally suffer from a lack of confidence that stems too well before this major world-changing event, and you can see why this is likely to become a big problem shortly.
So What Can You Do To Help You Improve Your Confidence?
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Comparison is the thief of joy, as they say, and honestly, this 100% true. People project the image they want you to see, and as such, you may never know what someone else is going through. You may never know what it takes to do what they do each day and show up as they feel they need to.
There is nothing wrong with admiring other people, but comparing your life to theirs, how you look compared to how they look, and so on will not bring you peace or happiness and could actually stop you from living your life to the fullest as you are constantly trying to be something you aren't.
Remember that you are allowed to be who you are, and there is no need to compare yourself or your life to other people.
Change Your Language
How do you talk to yourself? Do you constantly put yourself down internally and externally? If so, now is the perfect time for you to change how you talk about yourself and the language you use about who you are.
Instead of telling yourself what you don't like about yourself or your wife, try to tell yourself what you like and what you are happy about. Try not to force it, be genuine and actually believe what you say. If you really dislike and want to change, put a plan into action to change them instead of projecting negative thoughts onto yourself.
Treat Yourself
When people suffer from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, the initial reaction is to punish yourself and deprive yourself of things you may think you do not deserve. Denying yourself things that can make you happy will only feed this behavior even more and trap you in a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.
So next time you see something you like, buy it. Avoid telling yourself that a nice dress from THE ICONIC won't look good on you and order it. Allow yourself to be able to wear what makes you look and feel good. Well-fitting clothes that you feel good in can be a massive confidence booster and the difference between you having a great day and a not-so-bad day.
So next time you feel like you do not deserve to wear something nice because "what is the point," buy it anyway and see exactly how good you feel. This rule can be applied to those times where you need an extra boost for, let's say, a job interview or an important meeting. Put on something that makes you feel amazing and wear it with confidence.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Those with a more negative mindset will never truly allow you to build your confidence. They will also be stuck in that same place you are, and negative thinking, behaviors, and mindset can be detrimental to your confidence.
Identify someone who you feel is positive and confident and surround yourself with those people who build you up for no reason other than because they can. Feed your mind and soul with those happy thoughts, positive words, and encouragement that positive people exude.
Take Care of Yourself
Your lifestyle and habits directly impact the life you live and how you feel physically and mentally. Look at what you eat and make changes to your diet that allow you to feed your body as it needs it and reduce those sluggish feelings a poor diet can bring. Include more fruits and vegetables into your diet and reduced refined sugar and empty calories with no benefit to your diet.
Add gentle exercise to help your body stay fit and healthy and release those feel-good endorphins. Feeling good can be a great confidence booster, and indulging in regular exercise can be a route to helping you regain your confidence levels.
Cut Yourself Some Slack
Let's face it, since the ride of social media, the pressure to be perfect in every area of your life can be overwhelming. Pushing this agenda onto your life and your body can increase your stress levels. It will have a negative impact on your confidence.
Try to allow yourself not to reach someone else's idea of perfection and allow yourself some recognition for everything you have already achieved. Take some time away and work through any stress in your life. Practise self-care, add meditation to your day, and practice gratitude for easy ways to reduce stress and improve your self-belief. There is no harsher critic than our own internal voice, and knowing how to shut that off can be hugely beneficial in areas of your life.
Say No
When was the last time you told someone you couldn't do something/ That you already had enough in your late life and you didn't want to increase your workload? While you may not like disappointing others, at some point, you have to put yourself first and say no to other people to focus on yourself. The more assertive you become, the more you can foster your confidence until you feel totally comfortable in your ability to make these hard choices.
Fake It
Still, struggling? Fake it till you make it! There is some truth that displaying the version of you to the world you want to be can be a positive motivator for whatever you want. If you want to be more confident, then why not fake it until you actually believe it. After all, it is your self-belief that is holding you back, and the more you play the role of a confident person with no self-esteem issues, the sooner this will actually be true.
In some cases, extreme levels of low self-esteem can be attributed to other health concerns, and discussing your issues with a doctor can help you address what is wrong and get on the path to treating your low self-esteem or mental health worries.
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