What does confidence look like

But what does this show of confidence actually look like? Or feel like? Martial arts is a great way to stay active, release built-up energy, and learn self-defense skills.

And physically training your body to be strong and healthy makes you feel more confident. Trying something new takes guts. And if you doubt yourself, then taking on new challenges is a challenge in and of itself. It can be repetitive, and maybe sometimes a little boring. An important point to make here is that we all have the power to be more confident.

For some of us, specific life circumstances and events knock our confidence. Natalie Trice, Independent PR Consultant and Writer , chose to work with a coach after balancing building a PR business and dealing with an unwell child left her feeling like she had lost her identity. Slowly I would join in conversations, come up with ideas and start to admit that I didn't really know who I was or what I wanted to do anymore.

Understanding the power our thoughts have and changing our mindset is a huge part of building confidence. Developing greater self-awareness here is key — the more we understand how our thoughts affect our actions, the more control we have over them. This is something Katie Hoare , digital marketing executive at Happiful, noted about her coaching experience.

She tells me she wanted help her let go of a previous destructive relationship and how this affected the way she thought about herself. It helped me learn strategies that challenged my negative thoughts and supported me in understanding my worth and how I want to present myself to the world. Often these negative thoughts we experience often referred to as the inner-critic can be particularly pervasive in our work-life. Has someone told you that you're smart? A good student?

A good writer? A good athlete? When people praise us or recognize our skills and capabilities, it can boost our confidence — as long as we believe these good things, too.

If you've ever doubted the good things people say about you, that's the opposite of self-confidence. To feel truly confident, you need to really believe you are capable. The best way to get that belief is through using your skills and talents — by learning and practicing.

Confidence helps us move forward to discover and develop our capabilities. When we see what we're capable of and take pride in our achievements, confidence gets even stronger. If something shakes your confidence, show yourself some understanding. Don't criticize yourself. Learn from what happened, think what you could have done differently, and remember it for next time. Talk about what happened with someone who cares.

Then remind yourself of your strengths and the things you've achieved. Get back in the game! Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Confidence? Confident people: feel secure rather than insecure know they can rely on their skills and strengths to handle whatever comes up feel ready for everyday challenges like tests, performances, and competitions think "I can" instead of "I can't" Why Confidence Matters Confidence helps us feel ready for life's experiences.

Believing in Yourself Has someone told you that you're smart?