5 Strategies to Build Confidence

24 Dec

Confidence is not something we are born with; it is something we cultivate through intentional actions and a growth mindset. These five strategies are designed to help you strengthen your confidence, align with your unique path, and live with purpose.

Strengthen Your Confidence

Know and Use YOUR Gifts and Talents

When we take time to reflect on our strengths, it shifts our perspective from focusing on what is wrong with us to recognizing what is right. Tools like assessments or self-reflection can highlight the unique gifts and talents you bring to the table, helping you see how you can add value to the world. Too often, we dwell on our failures or weaknesses, which can pull us into a cycle of self-doubt. Confidence grows when we shift that focus to our strengths. Each person was created with specific abilities that make them unique. By embracing and using your talents to serve others, you can build a sense of purpose and internal confidence.

Instead of trying to fill the gaps in areas where you are not naturally strong, partner with people who excel in those areas. Focus your energy on what you can do, and you will not only feel more confident but also experience personal growth. While there are some areas (like emotional intelligence) where improving weaknesses is critical, for most things, leveraging your strengths is the key to confidence.

Identify and Leverage Opportunities You Have Today

Regret over past decisions can weigh heavily on our confidence. It’s easy to get stuck in thoughts like, I should have done this, or I wish I had done that. However, the best opportunity is always the one you have in front of you today.

Focusing on the present helps you build momentum. If there are regrets or gaps from your past, use those as fuel to set plans for the future. For example, if you regret not spending time with loved ones, take action today—call them or plan a visit. If you regret not pursuing a particular goal, create a strategy to start working toward it now. Confidence grows when you take control of the present and use it to move forward. Dwelling on the past often robs us of the energy and clarity needed to create a brighter future. What opportunity do you have today that you want to embrace and take action on?

Find What is Working and Build Off It (Stop Doing Things That Are Not Working)

There are always areas of your life that are going well, even when things feel overwhelming. When you focus on what is not working, it can consume your perspective and drag down your confidence. Acknowledge those challenges, but then intentionally shift your focus to what is working. Take time to identify your successes, joys, and areas where you feel traction. Then, build on those. Confidence is rooted in the positive momentum we create through small wins.

Conversely, continuing to invest in things that are not working only drains your energy and hinders your progress. By doubling down on what works, you create a foundation for confidence to grow and thrive. Create a habit of reviewing your wins, even small ones, at the end of each week. Reflection reinforces awareness of what’s working and builds confidence by celebrating incremental progress. A daily question might be: What one small thing went well today, and how can I do more of it tomorrow?

Innovate (Try Something New) and DO SOMETHING (Get in Action)

When we feel stuck or unsure, the tendency is to hesitate and stay in a comfort zone. This only reinforces apathy, discouragement, or lack of clarity. Confidence builds when we take action—especially when we try something new.

A friend once told me she challenged herself to do one new thing every day, whether it was walking a new route, trying a new food, or stepping out of her comfort zone in some small way. These seemingly minor actions can spark new ideas, uncover hidden talents, and fuel a sense of possibility. Taking risks can feel scary, but each time you face a challenge and succeed, your confidence grows. It is proof that you are capable of more than you believed. This momentum creates a sense of achievement and expands your capacity for the next challenge. Highlight the value of micro-actions.

Sometimes, trying something new feels daunting because it seems big or risky. Breaking actions into small, manageable steps allows people to take immediate action without overwhelming themselves. For instance, if someone wants to learn public speaking, they could start by practicing in front of a mirror or recording themselves.

Be Thankful for Who YOU Are (Stop Comparing Yourself to Others)

Comparison is one of the greatest thieves of confidence. When we compare ourselves to others, we focus on what we don’t have or who we aren’t, which leaves us feeling inadequate. Gratitude is the antidote.

Take time each day to appreciate who you are and what you have—your gifts, home, family, job, or unique opportunities. Gratitude shifts your mindset from lack to abundance. It helps you focus on your path, rather than being distracted by someone else’s. Your journey is your own, and comparing yourself to others only creates confusion. Their strengths are for their path, just as your strengths are uniquely designed for yours. Staying grounded in gratitude and self-awareness allows you to focus on the opportunities meant for you, leading to greater confidence and clarity. Confidence often grows in adversity and builds resilience. Normalize setbacks as part of growth and focus on learning from failures. Share how reframing failures as lessons can turn discouragement into opportunity. For example: Instead of thinking, “I failed at this,” ask yourself, “What can I learn to succeed next time?”

Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you. Consider: Who in your life builds you up? How can you spend more time with them? Confidence is a cycle. When you know your strengths, leverage today’s opportunities, build on what’s working, try new things, and embrace gratitude, you create an upward spiral of confidence. It is not about arrogance or ego, but rather a deep sense of satisfaction in doing what you were created to do.