What is self-confidence? It is a characteristic of someone who believes in their abilities and is convinced of their worth, behaving assertively and decisively. We, as women, entangled in the stereotype of the “weaker sex,” easily lose faith in ourselves. Without exercising strength and mental resilience to shatter prejudices and stereotypes, we will be afraid to pursue our dreams and climb to the top. It doesn’t mean there is no hope for you. It’s enough to introduce discipline into your life and strive for your goal, using the necessary tools for it.

Get to know yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Create your ideal version and strive towards it until you become that version. Remember that the goal is not to make you feel bad but to help you develop yourself in the direction you dream of. Throughout the process, love yourself. Love yourself in every version. Be proud of making changes and growing.

Find comfort in being uncomfortable. Challenge yourself with activities that will have a positive impact on you, such as reading books, engaging in sports, or opening up to conversations with strangers. We are not wired for happiness; we are wired for comfort. Stepping outside of our comfort zone presents challenges that, once overcome, bring satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. However, it may not be immediately colorful, as there might be a shock associated with leaving the comfort zone. Start by taking small steps in these activities. The Kaizen method is very helpful in this process.

Accept and truly feel certain emotions until they fade away. Putting ourselves in situations that trigger stress or awkwardness teaches us to live with them. Over time, they will become less intense than they were at the beginning. When we don’t confront our fears, we become susceptible to their control. Feel like a warrior and face it head-on. Look your fear in the eyes. As you do this, you’ll feel a surge of strength, and confidence will come.

Let go of perfectionism. Setting unrealistically high standards prevents us from accepting mistakes and imperfections. This won’t contribute to building self-confidence. The key is to become better while also learning from our mistakes and embracing imperfections. Destructive thoughts won’t motivate us to take action. Also, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. If you seek validation from others, you won’t get what you want because people may not understand. The vision wasn’t for them; it was for you. If you receive negative feedback from them, you might likely give up. Focus on yourself; be the most important person to you.

Take care of your inner and outer appearance. Neglecting yourself is a form of self-disrespect. If you don’t see yourself as someone worth caring for, neither will others.  It’s a boomerang effect. Speak to yourself as you would speak to someone you love. Know your worth.

Ignore the biological limitations associated with gender. Develop the belief that you have the skills and resources to navigate life without relying on a man’s shoulder. Adopt the mindset of “Okay, and?”. If you want to lift weights and build muscle and someone tells you it’s not feminine, that the silhouette should be slender and delicate – okay, and? Or if you prefer wearing oversized clothes and you hear comments that you look boyish – okay, and? It’s not worth investing energy in people who dictate how you should live. You know best how to live and what brings you joy.

It doesn’t mean that mentally strong people never stumble. They do it often, but they can focus on how to get up and move forward. Women are already aware of how important this strength is. Each of us possesses mental strength. The issue is that we don’t strengthen it. Similar to physical strength, when we don’t exercise our muscles, they weaken. You’ll gain confidence in yourself. Navigate this journey, overcome obstacles, and eventually, when you sit down and reflect on what you’ve accomplished and what’s ahead, you’ll feel satisfied and motivated to keep going.

Aleksandra Szumielewicz

Sources: 

Youtube.com – “This video will make you confident” Thewizardliz

Wsjp.pl – Pewność siebie

Zwierciadlo.pl – Międzynarodowy Dzień Dziewczynek. Jak budować siłę od najmłodszych lat?