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We all want to feel confident and self-assured, but sometimes it’s difficult to cultivate this mindset.
Too often, we are our own worst critics, and we’re all too eager to point out our flaws, failures, and shortcomings. When it comes to how we feel about ourselves, we can be downright cruel and self-rejecting.
This has got to stop! It’s time for us to stop being so hard on ourselves—and it’s time for us to be kinder and more positive with each other.
There are many tools at our disposal to shift psyche. The basis of this blog post is to highlight how affirmations can foment confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of empowerment.
“Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett
What are Affirmations for Confidence?
Affirmations for confidence are positive statements that you repeat to yourself, either aloud or silently, on a regular basis.
They can help you overcome limiting beliefs, improve the way you think about yourself and the world around you, and, ultimately, change the way you feel.
When used in this way, they can help build self-esteem and confidence by creating new neural pathways in your brain.
These statements are typically phrased in the present tense as if they have already been accomplished — even though they haven’t happened yet.
For example: “I love myself” or “My life is filled with abundance.” These types of statements help to internalize our beliefs about ourselves and life so that we can begin living them out instead of feeling they are beyond our capabilities. When we say these things repeatedly, we believe them and act accordingly.
Each time you repeat an affirmation, it reinforces its meaning in your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is like a computer - it stores everything that is ever said or done around you.
By repeating positive phrases about yourself, these become ‘software’ that helps shape your self-image for the better.
When you use positive esteem affirmations, they help change your perspective. a precursor toward making more self-actualized decisions. You act like the person who already has all the qualities that you want to have.
Reasons for Lack of Confidence and Affirmations to Combat Them
You may ask yourself, “Why don’t I feel confident?”
When you look in the mirror, do you see a person who is confident, or do you see someone who is insecure and lacking self-esteem?
You can change your self-image by changing your thoughts and beliefs about yourself.
Here are seven reasons people lack confidence, followed by affirmations to fight each source of self-sabotaging thinking:
- Negative self-talk. People who are not confident often talk negatively about themselves. They tell themselves that they are lacking in just about every capacity (looks, intelligence, personality, etc.).
This type of thinking only reinforces their belief that they are inferior and that they will never succeed at anything in life.
1. Related affirmation: I love myself completely, exactly as I am right now.
- Those who lack confidence also tend to believe that they have no control over their lives or their situations. This type of thinking makes them believe that they are victims of circumstances beyond their control — such as past failures or problems with others — which prevents them from taking responsibility for their own lives and actions.
2. Affirmation - I am in control of my life, empowered to shape my destiny.
- Many people who lack confidence also have low expectations for themselves, which suppresses their motivation to achieve goals or pursue dreams because they believe they cannot do anything worthwhile.
3. Affirmation - I am an unstoppable force, capable of greatness.
- A lack of confidence may result from “imposter syndrome.” This is a feeling that you aren’t as smart, capable or talented as everyone seems to think you are. It’s when you feel like a fraud — that your achievements are going to be exposed and people will find out that you’re not really as good as you seem.
4, Affirmation - I am the best version of myself and people recognize my talents.
- Confidence also wanes because of “comparisonitis,” a tendency to compare yourself to others, usually those who seem more successful, intelligent or attractive than you are. It can make it hard to feel good about yourself because no matter how hard you try, there’s always someone doing better than you.
5. Affirmation - I have incredible, unique gifts to offer the world.
-. Fear of rejection compromises a sense of confidence, too. The fear of rejection can manifest itself in many ways — fear of asking for favors from others, fear of letting people know what you’re thinking and feeling, fear of asking for promotions at work, or fear of speaking up at meetings.
This fear can cause us to withdraw from the world and not engage with others, which means we’re missing out on opportunities for connection and growth. It also means that our lives are more limited—we don’t get to see what could happen if we will take a risk.
6. Affirmation - I am loved and accepted by others, and I have the power to overcome my fears.
- Past experiences often affect current behavior. Some people have had difficult experiences that permanently affect how they feel about themselves or others. For example, an event such as a divorce or being bullied in school can cause a person to believe they are unlovable or incapable of success in relationships with others (or both).
When we are traumatized, our minds and bodies react in ways to keep us safe. We might feel disconnected from other people or seem on autopilot. It’s important to remember that this is a normal part of the process and that these feelings can fade with time.
7. Affirmation - I can look at the past with compassion and empowerment, knowing that challenging experiences have strengthened me more than ever!
Other Confidence Affirmations to Promote Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Empowerment
Positive affirmations are a staple of self-help culture, but they are often used ineffectively. The problem with them is that they tend to be broad enough to be used by everyone. For example, "I am healthy and full of energy" might sound nice, but it's too broad to substitute for a personal mantra that can help you through one specific struggle.
With a little thought and creativity, you can turn positive affirmations into something powerful by choosing ones that counter your most personal negative beliefs.
So while all the affirmations suggested online to boost confidence and self-esteem are rather broad (including mine) because we don't know your personal circumstances, tailor the recommendations to make them more concrete for you.
Positive affirmations can be very effective in changing negative thought patterns, but in order to reprogram the mind and encourage more constructive action, you have to make your self-worth affirmations personal — about you and for you.
That said, my personal affirmations for confidence, self-esteem, and empowerment are the best ones online. 🙂
Here are the other self-worth affirmations to use as as template to soon radiate confidence:
8. I am independent-minded, free to choose my path.
9. I am courageous, strong and fearless, and can handle whatever comes my way
10. I love myself completely, exactly as I am right now.
11. Every day I am growing into a more loving and compassionate person.
12. I am worthy of everything that is good in life because I am worthy of love and abundance from the Universe.
13. I believe in my own power and strength and I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.
14. I am confident in my ability to connect with others and make meaningful relationships.
15. My voice is important, and people want to hear what I have to say.
16. I am a powerful, capable and successful individual and my future is bright and full of opportunity.
17. There is no obstacle too great for me to overcome.
18. I am proud of who I am and what I offer the world.
19. I have so much confidence in myself which allows me to easily push fear and doubt aside and take risks.
20. I have the strength to stand up for myself whenever necessary.
21. I believe in myself and with my unbridled power, intelligence and will, I can make anything happen!
Special Circumstances - Positive Affirmations for Work
Confidence at work is important for many reasons.
First, it helps you to be more productive. You feel better about yourself and your role in the workplace, so you are more likely to stay focused on tasks and not get distracted by other things.
Second, confidence can help you to be more creative in your work. When you feel good about yourself and your abilities, you more readily morph into an outside of the box thinker, devising solutions to problems that may not have been obvious before.
Third, confidence can help you build stronger, healthier, and more lasting relationships with coworkers and clients. People want to work with people who are confident because they seem more trustworthy and reliable.
Confidence is a key component of success, and it's important to have confidence at work. Studies show that people who aren't confident in their abilities are less likely to get promoted and more likely to get passed over for big projects. It's also been shown that people who lack confidence are more likely to quit when they feel like they're not being given enough opportunities.
To boost your confidence at work, try these positive affirmations:
22. I can do whatever I set my mind to and can easily succeed at my job.
23. I am confident when it comes to dealing with people at work because I know how to communicate effectively with others.
24. I am doing the best work of my life right now!
25. I am confident in my abilities and skills.
26. I have valuable ideas to contribute in meetings with coworkers and managers.
27. I have unlimited (intellectual) potential and I can complete the most demanding tasks on time.
Why is it Vital to Feel Confident, Good About Yourself and Empowered?
Talk about an important lesson: Believe in yourself as confidence, high self-esteem, and empowerment boost your relationships with others, promote career success, and reduce anxiety and depression.
Self-confidence is a powerful and transformative feeling, one that people crave deeply in order to lead fuller, richer lives. When you believe in yourself, you're less susceptible to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, and you're more likely to reach for your goals instead of letting them fall by the wayside.
You're also more likely to live a healthy lifestyle, take care of your mind and body, and engage with the world around you with confidence.
A positive mindset can help us excel at work, fortify our relationships and improve all areas of life, but it takes commitment and dedication to get there.
Plenty of research has shown that cultivating a positive mindset is extremely difficult for most people, especially when it comes to improving their confidence, self-esteem, and sense of empowerment. And yet, knowing how important this is for our well-being and success as human beings means that we'd be foolish not to try.
To reach this state of mind, we need to take stock and make sure we’re focusing on the right things. This includes mental preparation before an important event (such as a job interview or other high stakes meeting), physical fitness (which improves self-esteem as our looks and our health get better), and good relationships with others (which supports and empowers us).
Positive affirmations are also helpful in cultivating a positive mindset—whether it's verbalizing them out loud or writing them down on a piece of paper or a sticky note.
Affirmations remind us of our own self-worth and value.
Our confidence is a choice, not a feeling. It's a conscious decision to believe in ourselves, even if we don't feel like it.
We are the only ones who can give our lives meaning. We have the power to make choices that will move us toward our goals and dreams.
The more we believe in ourselves, the more opportunities come our way. The more confident we feel about ourselves, the easier it will be for others to see how amazing we are!
Affirmations for Confidence - Final Words
This self-esteem affirmations infographic lists all 27 affirmations mentioned in this blog post. Repeat each day, if possible, with conviction!
Positive affirmations are a type of self-talk that uses positive language to replace negative thoughts. They’re designed to help you correct your perspective on yourself and the world around you, in order to make you happier and more fulfilled.
We can trace the roots of positive affirmations back hundreds of years, but only recently has scientific research on them taken off. Such research is still in its infancy, but so far it appears self-esteem affirmtions offer many benefits as they remind us of our own self-worth and value.
While affirmations work, they don’t seem to be a cure-all for all ills. They will do nothing about external problems or situations that are out of your control—but they can still help you feel better about yourself by marshaling self-confidence, self-esteem and empowerment.
How to Manage Fear and Uncertainty in Hard Times (FREE On-Demand Training)
Are you ready to say goodbye to fear and hello to confidence? This free training will help you embrace fear and identify and stop the negative self-talk that keeps you from living an authentic, fulfilled life. This can’t-miss presentation, hosted by the Secret’s John Assaraf, will present myriad brain-based strategies, including positive affirmations, to eliminate fear once and for all so you can achieve anything you want.
