The Science of Self-Confidence: How to Build a Stronger You

Low self-confidence can be a major obstacle to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. However, it's important to remember that self-confidence is not a fixed trait and can be developed over time. By understanding the science behind building self-confidence, you can start taking steps to feel more confident and empowered in your daily life.

Understand the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence.

While often used interchangeably, self-esteem and self-confidence are actually two different concepts. Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself overall, while self-confidence is more specific to your abilities and actions. For example, you may have high self-esteem but lack confidence in your public speaking skills. Understanding this difference can help you identify areas where you may need to work on building your self-confidence.

Some common places having low self confidence may show up:

• In the workplace, putting yourself forward for opportunities.
• Relationships, not feeling confident in a relationship or asking for what you need.
• Public speaking, this can be an extreme fear that leads to avoidance.
• Body image, we might be very conscious of how we look to others.
• Driving, we might lose confidence in skills such as driving or sports.

How to improve your confidence?

We all have an inner voice, this can be supportive and motivating or it can be your biggest critic. The way you speak to yourself and about yourself is so important, if you allow your internal thoughts to be very negative it results in negative behaviours.

Hypnotherapy works with you conscious mind to become aware of these negative thoughts and behaviours and challenge them with exceptions - is that always true or do we have evidence that shows us we are imagining and negatively predicting behaviours and thoughts. Through hypnosis, your hypnotherapist will also allow you to access your subconscious and teaches it to be more positive.

Hypnosis works to help boost your confidence and increase your self-esteem.

It allows you to recognise what is false and unhelpful and no longer serves you, and move forward with a new and determined optimism.

To grow  positive thinking patterns you need to let go of the old and negative thoughts. However, this is one of the most challenging things to do.

However, hypnotherapy uses positive images and affirmations which are passed to your subconscious,  It also helps you to reframe situations and create a new way of seeing yourself, all the negative thoughts you have are easier to dismiss or confront.

In order to grow in confidence you have to not only change your negative thoughts but you also have to show yourself with actions, this allows you to slowly and steadily expand your comfort zone.

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Set achievable goals and celebrate your successes.

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Setting achievable goals and celebrating your successes is a key component of building self-confidence. Start by setting small, achievable goals for yourself and working towards them. When you reach a goal, take time to celebrate your success and acknowledge your hard work. This can help boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue working towards your larger goals. Remember to be kind to yourself and recognize that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the process. Use them as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than reasons to give up.

Practice self-care and prioritize your well-being.

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Self-care is an important aspect of building self-confidence. Prioritizing your physical and emotional well-being can help you feel more confident and capable. This can include things like getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and taking time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation. It's also important to practice self-compassion and avoid negative self-talk. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would a good friend. By taking care of yourself, you'll be better equipped to face challenges and build your self-confidence.

Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

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The people you surround yourself with can have a big impact on your self-confidence. Seek out friends, family members, and colleagues who are positive, supportive, and encouraging. Avoid people who are overly critical or negative, as they can bring you down and make it harder to feel confident in yourself. If you don't have a strong support system in your life, consider joining a group or community that shares your interests or values. This can be a great way to meet new people and build positive relationships.

Book A Free Consultation with Focused Hypnotherapy

If you would like to discuss how hypnotherapy can work for you please get in touch with Emma to book your free consultation. There is more information and a link to book at https://www.focusedhypnotherapy.co.uk/services/1-1-sessions-for-anxiety

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