For some, confidence comes easy. But for others, confidence can be a day to day struggle, as self-doubt, depression and anxiety slowly seep in. We’ve assembled some interesting points to help you understand what self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem look like, along with tips to help you feel better about yourself.
What does a confident individual look like?
People who are confident often have good physical health, emotional health and social health. Throughout our lives, we are bound to experience situations that challenge our self-belief. This is why learning tips on how to increase confidence is important for everyone!
Confident people:
- Believe in themselves
- Think positively
- Do what they think is right, despite what others say
- Are ready to face whatever challenge is presented to them
- Admit their mistakes and learn from them
- Accept praise and are grateful
There are three pillars for self-concept, self-efficacy, self confidence and self-esteem:
Self-efficacy: This refers to the belief that you have the capacity to execute behaviours or actions related to different situations. For example, a student with low self-efficacy may not try as hard for a test because they feel like they won’t do well, whereas a student with high self-efficacy will try their absolute best because they will be confident that it will pay off.
Self-confidence: This refers to the belief and faith that you are able to achieve something. For example, as a guitarist practices a song, they becomes confident in their ability to play that song well. While self-efficacy reflects one’s confidence in specific tasks, self-confidence reflects a broader view of yourself.
Self-esteem: This refers to a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. It involves a variety of beliefs about yourself, including your appearance, beliefs, emotions and behaviours. Some tell-tale signs of high self-esteem are feeling equal to others, valuing yourself, handling criticism well and engaging in respectful relationships.
Tips for building self confidence
There are various tips to help you practice self-confidence behaviours.
Reflect on what you’ve accomplished: Make a list of all the things you’re proud of. Whenever you’re feeling down, pull out your list and remind yourself of all the wonderful things you’re capable of.
Expand on your talents: Everybody has special gifts and talents. What are yours? Figuring out what you’re great at and expanding on those things will help you build trust in your own abilities.
Work on positive self-talk: Do you ever find yourself allowing negative thoughts to take over? Taking control of this negative voice is the first step in rebuilding confidence. Try to change the way you think about yourself. For example, instead of focusing on thoughts like “I’m not smart enough”, think, “I’m always open to learning new things”. Treat yourself like you would treat a friend… cheer yourself on!
Find an activity you enjoy: Finding an activity you’re enthusiastic about will not only make you happier, but will assist you in building confidence. It could be photography, gaming, sewing or hiking! Investing in a fun hobby will keep your energy levels up and motivate you.
Sometimes, we need a hand in building self-confidence.
If you’re finding that these methods just aren’t working for you, there’s no harm in speaking to someone who can help you. Opening up to family and friends about how you’re feeling is a great first step. If you want another opinion, or you feel as though your confidence is being greatly impacted upon by deeper issues, you can always talk to a counsellor or psychologist. Western Sydney University offer counsellors who can be reached via Zoom or phone! Otherwise, you can find counselling services online that can be tailored to you. For example, counsellors who reflect the same gender, ethnicity, culture or sexual orientation to you.
Remember, there is no shame in seeking help when you’re going through a rough patch. Confidence and self-esteem are things that we can work at every single day, and with someone there guiding you, you are already halfway
Edited by Isabella Granero
