Lacking self-confidence can impact a person’s mental health in a very negative way. For some, the unprecedented situation of the recent lockdown may have further decreased their self-esteem levels. As we enter this transitional phase, it is important for your well being that you emerge feeling as confident in yourself as possible. For tips on how to improve your self-confidence, keep reading.
Manage negative thinking
Self-confidence relates to the amount of value you place on yourself. Research has found that self-confidence has a strong relation to happiness and that low self-esteem is more likely to lead to depression. Therefore, improving your self-esteem and confidence could make you an overall happier person. Often, if you have a lack of self-confidence, you may be struggling with negative thoughts about yourself.
To start to tackle negative thoughts, first make a list of common negative thoughts that you have. Now for each negative thought, write down a positive one next to it. Make this a habit that you practice in everyday life. When you feel a negative thought creeping in, try to instantly deflect it and think of a positive.
Self-care
Looking after yourself is very important in ensuring your self-confidence is at its highest. Practising self-care is a way of valuing yourself and your body, and can lead to more positive thoughts about yourself. Sometimes, something as simple as having a relaxing bath and pampering yourself can boost your mood. But you should also incorporate self-care into your daily life, by eating well and exercising.
Escaping your comfort zone
To really improve your self-confidence, it is essential that you push yourself and step out of your comfort zone. Some situations can appear very daunting and you may not believe you have the confidence to face them. But by making the effort, you will often discover that the task wasn’t as scary as you initially thought. Trying new things and pushing yourself is proven to boost your confidence levels, enabling you to view yourself in a more positive light.
To find out more about how health psychology can help you to make positive lifestyle changes, please contact me today. I can help you assess how negative emotions affect your self-confidence. Also, remember you can always access supportive resources through my blog to help with whatever psychological issues you are struggling with.
