Introduction – Self Confidence
Self-confidence is a feeling of belief in your abilities to perform a particular task. Every person has some strengths and some weaknesses. People having self-confidence not only have faith in their strengths but also have the conviction that they can deal with their weaknesses and overcome and them. Self-confidence is key to success at the workplace as it helps to boost productivity and efficiency.
Factors that Effect Self-Confidence
People have different levels of confidence. Some have a higher level of confidence; while others have lower levels of confidence. We can build our self-confidence using some tools. Let us understand the factors that affect self-confidence in people so we can build our self-confidence.
Social Factors
There are many factors that affect our self-confidence. These are the society that we live in, the people who shape us, our upbringing and belief system, etc.
UPBRINGING
If a child is raised in a loving, caring environment and supporting environment, he/she will have a greater degree of self-confidence. A child who is raised in a hostile environment has to remain positive to face the challenges of life. Then he/she will also be able to develop confidence.
SOCIETAL INFLUENCES
The behavior of the people around us and their expectations from us also influence the development of our self-confidence. Societal pressures to excel in studies and be successful in life often hinder the development of self-confidence.
MEDIA
In the contemporary world the media—advertisements, television, social media, etc.—also play a major role in our development. These influence our minds and thinking processes. Under external pressures, we have misplaced notions of self-esteem. We should try to ourselves based on our own natural abilities, not allowing ourselves to get affected by external pressures.
BELIEF-SYSTEM
Exposure to irrational beliefs affects the development of self-confidence negatively. On the other hand, rational beliefs promote self-confidence. For example, the belief that “I must do well and get the approval of everybody who matters to me or I will be a worthless person”, is an irrational belief, which can completely destroy a person’s self-confidence. Rational beliefs like belief in an omnipotent being who is always there to help you, even in times of your direst need, give you confidence.
Cultural Factors
Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and norms of a specific group of people. Culture, therefore, influences our manners, how we live and behave, etc. Let us understand these.
Cultural Norms
If our culture is conservative and binds us down with too many restrictions (do’s and don’ts), we will most likely have lower degrees of self-confidence. We should discipline ourselves and develop self-confidence from our inner strengths and belief system.
Gender Stereotypes
At times certain cultures discriminate against girls and consider them inferior to male children. Girls from such cultures will surely have lower levels of self-esteem and self-confidence than girls coming from a non-discriminatory culture.
Physical Factors
It is often said that the appearance of a person and their physical fitness levels affect their self-confidence. This is true to a certain extent. However, stereotypes like a certain color or a certain body type as the baseline should not be followed. We should have confidence in ourselves.
Body Image
Poor body image comes from negative thoughts and feelings about your appearance. A healthy body image is made up of positive thoughts and feelings about your appearance. A healthy body makes people confident.
Physical Fitness
Physically fit people are generally more confident than people who have a poor physique or have certain diseases or disabilities.
Self Confidence Building Tips
You can improve your self-esteem and develop your self-confidence by following the tips given here:
- Focus on your unique qualities: Every individual is a unique being. Everyone has some unique qualities. Identify your unique qualities and focus on developing them. You will feel a lot more confident about yourself.
- Focus on your education: Learning gives you the power to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
- Participate in sports: Sports can be a great way to stay healthy and fit. This adds to your confidence.
- Talk to positive people: Positive people exude positive vibes. They inspire people to face challenges in life and find solutions to the problems of life. Interaction with such people encourages you to think in a positive manner.
- Take up a new hobby: Have you ever wanted to play the guitar? Yes, but you never had the time to pursue this hobby. Stop making excuses and start pursuing the things you always wanted to do. Finding your hidden talents will serve to boost your self-confidence.
- Set and reach new goals: Having something to look forward to can give you a sense of achievement and help you work through the various challenges of life.
- Stay clean and well-dressed: Staying clean and dressing well gives us a sense of confidence as people around us take our presence positively. Keeping clean also keeps us healthy and boosts our energy levels, which again serves to boost our self-confidence.
- Be an inspiration to others: If you have faced difficult situations positively and with confidence, you may find it rewarding to share your experiences with others.
Also Read: