By the end of this article, you’ll feel more confident in yourself.

Here’s a fun fact: every writer uses the “show, not tell” principle when writing novels or stories. This means showing emotions through actions rather than stating them directly. For example, instead of, “He was angry,” you could write, “He clenched his fists, his jaw tightened, and his blood was boiling. All he saw was red.” Notice how anger is conveyed without stating it explicitly?

Confidence works the same way! Your external presence is automatically taken care of when you feel confident internally.

Here are 10 techniques to help you cultivate more confidence in your own life.

1. Embrace Yourself

Self-acceptance is the first step toward self-love—it’s a prerequisite. Sit down with a pen and paper (or use the Notes app) and make two lists with the following headings:

• What do you dislike about yourself?
• What do you like about yourself?

It can be related to physical appearance, personality traits, or anything else you want to include. Now, go through the things you dislike and try to devise logical reasons.

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My nose used to be one of my biggest insecurities. It’s not a small button or pixie nose—it’s tall and imperfect. It was a rather bumpy road to solving this insecurity (pun intended).

However, I realized that in ancient times, prominent noses were seen as attractive. Lip fillers may be trendy today, but small lips were once ideal. Beauty standards constantly change. What’s “on trend” today might not be tomorrow.

Plus, the things you consider flaws do make you unique and beautiful. People who truly care about you won’t stop loving you because of them. They probably don't even care about or notice it. And remember, changing your appearance won’t magically change your life.

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Take the Quiz: Are you "Delulu"?

Are you grounded in reality, or letting your overthinking run the show?

2. Couch Potato? Not You.

This isn’t about weight—it’s about adopting an active lifestyle. Regular physical activity boosts your mood, energy, and fitness. It improves sleep, builds stamina (thereby helping you to climb the stairs without passing out) and prevents health issues caused by a sedentary lifestyle.

Appearance is just a by-product. Feeling fitter and stronger boosts confidence.

"Oh but I can't go the gym!" Well, don't worry. You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership to be active. You could simply start by walking—it’s free.

Or YouTube has thousands of workout videos for yoga, pilates, dance, or cardio. If you can afford the gym or other fitness classes, great. If you can't, don't worry. You have your body, yourself, and that's enough.

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3. Go Beyond Your Zone Of Comfort

This might sound intimidating, but it's not. One of the easiest ways to step out of your comfort zone is by trying something new. Starting the regular habit of exercising was the first time I went out of my comfort zone. (I used to be a professional couch potato.) What you do repeatedly becomes your identity.

The moment you do something new (even if it is only for 10 minutes), you automatically push your limits. Recently, I started learning dance routines from YouTube. At first, I couldn’t keep up with the fast beats and steps, but with practice, I improved!

Your boundaries expand with every new habit. Whether it’s reading a book, learning a new language, or filming a video if you are camera-shy, any small step will help you build confidence.

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4. Experiment is My Middle Name

Haven’t found your aesthetic yet? Think you don’t have a defined style? That’s great!

Experimenting is fun. Go through your wardrobe, mix and match outfits, and experiment with styles you’ve never tried before. You could even recreate outfits inspired by your favorite movie or TV character. This is a fun and creative way to see what suits you the best and what you enjoy wearing the most. If you like an outfit or a style, you'll subsequently feel confident as well.

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5. Tick Off Your Daily Task List

You don't need to have a mammoth-sized list with a dozen tasks. Start with just three small tasks a day. Accomplishing a few tasks each day builds satisfaction, which ultimately boosts your confidence.

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6. Good ol’ Sleep

You heard me right. There's a reason why sleeping beauty was called a beauty. It's because she was sleeping!

Jokes aside, did you know that sleeping can change your brain for the better? Even if your sleep schedule has been bad for years, fixing it now can reverse the damage. Sleep helps your brain form new neural networks, preserve existing ones, and flush out the toxins. In the long term, healthy sleep habits can delay or prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. With proper sleep, you’ll feel more energized, think clearly, and naturally, be more confident.

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7. Thank the Lord (Or Science If You're an Atheist)

Start by listing three things you’re grateful for. Soon, you’ll find yourself thinking of five, then ten, and even more. Can't think of any? Let me help.

• If you are not homeless, be grateful for your home.
• You are reading an internet article. This means you have a device and an internet connection.
• You are not dying because of starvation.
• You have access to proper hygiene and sanitation.
• You have access to clean drinking water.

These are basic necessities, yet we often take them for granted, though they’re a luxury for millions. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimated that 2 billion people worldwide (yes, billion with a “B”) lack access to clean water. 2.8 billion people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet — 35% of the global population.

What you take for granted might be someone else’s dream. Replace the feeling of “lack” with the feeling of “have”.

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8. Unlock the Hipster in You

Just 10 minutes of meditation daily can yield life-changing benefits. The age-old practice of meditation helps you reach a heightened level of awareness. While you are meditating, you let your thoughts pass away and reach an altered state of consciousness where nothing exists, and you feel one with the ultimate source of energy. It might take some time or practice to reach deeper levels of meditation, but nothing is impossible.

With just a week of consistent effort, you’ll notice improvements in your meditation. This practice will translate into daily life benefits such as being in more control of yourself and your life, judiciously reacting to situations, and enhanced focus and attention span.

Tip: If your mind wanders while meditating, give guided meditations a try. You'll find plenty of good ones on YouTube for free.

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9. Comparison? What's that?

Your strengths might be someone else’s weaknesses, and vice versa. Unless you’ve lived someone’s life, you can’t fully understand their struggles (especially the internal ones).

Instead of comparing, start celebrating. Congratulate others on their achievements and focus on your wins. "Wins" don't always mean winning a gold medal or a championship. Completing your homework, finishing a workout, or even just getting out of bed on a tough day all count as victories.

Your wins are yours. No matter what someone else achieves, there is nothing that can take away from your accomplishments.

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10. Apply The Advice

You can hire the most successful life coach, but still nothing will happen because, at the end of the day, everything depends on you. Your life is a result of your actions. The only person who can change your life for better or worse is you.

You don't have to conquer the world in one day. Start small - and sustain it.

Remember: Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

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Confidence isn't rocket science. Action sparks improvement. Improvement ignites enjoyment.

Enjoyment leads to satisfaction. Finally, satisfaction builds confidence! All it takes is to start.