Join a few clubs where you can find like-minded people. Do volunteer work to meet new people and experience new things. Talk to people that you don’t know everywhere you go, saying hello to people you normally wouldn’t.
Make it a rule to say yes to any invitations you get for a month. If someone wants to go to dinner, go. Plan to meet and talk to someone with different views than you. They might have different religious or political beliefs than you do. Use this as an opportunity to learn and find common ground. Say yes to the next community service group that asks. You’ll gain valuable experience and skills.
Initiate and maintain eye contact with people you’re speaking with so that they feel the intensity of your interest. Stand tall and straighten out your shoulders. It may feel silly, but proper posture helps you to feel stronger and more confident. Test this out by going back and forth between a straight, tall posture and a slouched, hunched over posture. See which one makes you feel more confident. Make a better handshake with a firm grip, an effective shake, and dry hands.
Accept compliments no matter who they come from. Many of us are taught our entire lives to be humble. As such, we learn to deflect compliments from other people. Graciously accept compliments by simply saying thank you. You’ll feel better and so will the person giving the compliment. [3] X Research source Advocate for yourself. If you need something, whether in your relationship, at school, or at work, speak up. The people around you won’t know unless you say something.
If you’re trying to lose weight, mark each 10-pound loss with a pedicure. If you want to read more, keep a list of each book you’re reading. If you want to save money, put a sticker in your calendar every day you avoid frivolous spending.
Build a team of friends that will boost your confidence. Participate in your favorite activities and you’ll meet friends who like the same things. Ask for phone numbers, email addresses, or social media accounts for fellow participants you click with to meet outside of your meeting. Make sure to follow up with them as well. Based on your unique interests, you may want to attend classes at a local library, join a herpetology club, or a writing group. There are so many different clubs available to meet new people.
Wear something silly and people will assume you’re naturally confident. Try intentionally geeky glasses or mismatch colorful patterns. Be okay with having different viewpoints than other people. If you follow a certain religion or believe in a particular political candidate, you don’t need to keep this to yourself. Aim to be true to yourself and your feelings. If someone hurts your feelings, let them know in a mature and rational conversation. Don’t get too emotional about it, but be confident enough to speak up.
Take a low-cost class in a subject that interests you at your local community center, library, or college. Enroll in an online class about something that interests you. Many websites offer MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses from well-regarded universities for free. Listen to podcasts on your smartphone. Some cover topics about history, technology, and even marketing.
Be confident without being arrogant. Being confident means that you’re secure with who you are, while arrogant people need reassurance to overcome their insecurities. Use your confidence to get attention. Confident people are perceived as more attractive in photographs and may be more likely to get dates. So if you get asked out on dates often, other people might sense your confidence. [7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Make confidence your career advantage by exuding it in the workplace. Having confidence in yourself may have a positive impact on your career and advancement opportunities. [8] X Research source
Start something new like an online business. Do a quick search of “online businesses to start” and read through suggestions to see what interests you. Travel to the places you want to go, even if you plan to travel alone. Don’t wait to go somewhere when the opportunity presents itself. Prepare yourself to follow your dreams by putting money aside in a savings account for this very purpose. When a trip, class, or other opportunity comes up, you’ll already have the money saved.
When you see something that’s not right, ask to speak to the appropriate person. If you see a spill on the floor, tell a manager so everyone is safe. Listen to others, then be heard by not cutting people off. They might lack confidence to rejoin the conversation. Consider the needs of fellow humans and stand up for them, whether someone is treated unfairly at the grocery store or gets looked over for a promotion. [9] X Research source
