4 Quick Tips to Boost Your Self-Confidence

Mary Chapin Carpenter has a line in one of her songs that goes, "Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug."  When I've suddenly lost my confidence, I feel more like the bug, than the windshield.

When this happens, it's easy to replay the situation over and over again, hoping for a different ending.  This usually only makes me feel worse. What I really need is something to remind me that being the "bug" is a temporary state. I don't think I'm alone here. All of us need confidence boosters at some time in our lives. Here are a few ideas that can help:

Remember a Time When You Were Confident

Write down a past experience that gave confidence.  Think about why this experience made you feel confident.  Who was involved?  What happened?  What did you do? Be as detailed about this experience as you can so that it is vivid in your mind.  Refer to this experience to remind you that you have been confident before and will be again! 

Make a Success Album

Use a 3x5 card to write down things you've been successful at in the past. In this case, success is anything you've done that's made you proud of yourself.  It may be cleaning out your closets or bringing in a big account for work. Put the cards in a photo album. When your confidence is low, read the cards in your album to remind you that you've been successful in the past.

Affirm Your Confidence

 Leave written affirmations on sticky notes in places where you will see them regularly. The notes can contain action affirmations, such as "You Can Do It" or a favorite confidence-building quote.  It's best to use short phrases that are easily remembered and always use positive words.  For example, it's better to say "I AM successful" rather than "I am not a failure." When you see the affirmation, it's also helpful to say it aloud, rather than reading it to yourself.

Let Your Answering Machine Pickup Your Confidence

Ask friends to call your answering machine and leave positive comments about your strengths, talents and what makes you special to them. When things aren't going well, listen to these comments to remind you that there are people who believe you are talented and very special.

 Use these ideas to recharge your confidence. They're simple to do and useful to anyone who experiences a sudden loss of confidence or needs a confidence boost. They'll help remind you to be the windshield and not the bug!