Podcast Summary
Building healthy self-confidence: Learn who you are, work with strengths, improve challenges, and avoid arrogance for good mental health
Self-confidence is about trusting in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary. However, it's important to distinguish between healthy self-confidence and arrogance. Building self-confidence involves more than just believing in oneself or working on body language; it requires self-awareness and addressing the root causes of any self-doubt. This process involves learning who you are, working with your strengths, and improving or working around challenges. Rather than pretending to be someone you're not, it takes time, effort, and perseverance to change. Remember, healthy self-confidence is essential for good mental health, but arrogance can be irritating and damaging.
Understanding Self-confidence and Self-esteem: Self-confidence is our belief in abilities and handling situations, while self-esteem is our appreciation for ourselves. Both impact emotional well-being and success in life. Self-confidence is situational and can change, while self-esteem is more internal and can be influenced by life experiences.
Self-confidence and self-esteem are related but distinct concepts. Self-confidence refers to our belief in our abilities and our ability to handle situations, while self-esteem is our appreciation and value of ourselves. Both are essential for emotional well-being and can influence our personal and professional lives significantly. Self-confidence enables us to take on challenges and make mistakes without fear, while self-esteem helps us accept ourselves and be kinder to ourselves. The University of Queensland explains that self-esteem is our perception of ourselves, which can change based on life experiences and interactions with others, while self-confidence is more situational and can vary depending on the task or situation at hand. Self-confidence is about engaging with the world, while self-esteem is more internal and focused on our relationship with ourselves. When we feel confident, we feel good about ourselves and our abilities, which can lead to greater emotional well-being and success in life. So, remember, as Lizzo sings, "Baby, how you feeling? Feeling good as hell." Embrace your strengths, accept your challenges, and know that you are the shit, no matter what others may say.
Building a Healthy Approach to Confidence: Recognize strengths and weaknesses, take pride in accomplishments, communicate effectively, take calculated risks, and develop confidence through practice and self-reflection.
Confidence is essential for leading a fulfilling and productive life. When we lack confidence in ourselves and our abilities, we struggle to find the emotional energy to take on new challenges and may experience negative self-perception, which can negatively impact our mental health. A healthy approach to confidence involves having a balanced view of ourselves, recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, and taking pride in our accomplishments without becoming overly arrogant. Confident people are more likely to take calculated risks, communicate effectively, and make better decisions. It's important to remember that confidence is not about being perfect, but rather having faith in our abilities and trusting ourselves. Confidence can be developed through practice and self-reflection, and it's never too late to start building it up. By focusing on our strengths and learning to overcome our weaknesses, we can cultivate a healthy and sustainable sense of self-confidence that will serve us well in all areas of our lives.
The Impact of Self-Confidence on Mental Health: Self-confidence is essential for mental health, but pretending to have abilities or competencies you don't possess is not healthy or ethical. Authenticity and self-acceptance are key.
Self-confidence plays a crucial role in boosting mental health and well-being. It helps individuals accept themselves, have a positive outlook on life, and be more resilient in the face of stress. However, the concept of "fake it until you make it" can be both helpful and problematic. While self-belief, positive visualization, and even tricking yourself can improve mood and confidence, pretending to have abilities or competencies you don't possess is not healthy or ethical. Social media can also negatively impact self-confidence as it often showcases only the best moments of people's lives, leading to unrealistic comparisons and expectations. It's essential to be mindful of this and strive for authenticity and self-acceptance instead.
Authenticity and confidence: essential elements of self-esteem and self-worth: Through self-awareness, understanding our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and recognizing the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance, we can cultivate and maintain self-confidence.
Authenticity and confidence are essential elements of self-esteem and self-worth. Celeste Barber, an Australian comedian, exemplifies this with her humorous yet respectful impersonations of celebrities, showcasing her honesty and confidence. Building and maintaining self-confidence involves self-awareness, understanding our thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as our goals and values. Reflection and mindfulness are simple yet effective practices for self-awareness, allowing us to learn from experiences and grow as individuals. Additionally, it's crucial to recognize that our confidence can fluctuate and that being proactive in maintaining it is essential. By focusing on self-awareness, we can better understand ourselves and cultivate the confidence that comes from authenticity and self-acceptance.
Embrace personal growth with self-compassion, authenticity, and assertiveness: Practice self-compassion, be authentic, and assertive to foster personal growth and lead a more fulfilling life. Focus on strengths, communicate clearly, and remember your worth.
Personal growth and self-improvement are essential for leading a fulfilling life, but it's important to approach it with self-compassion, authenticity, and assertiveness. We all have blind spots and areas for improvement, and reflection and self-awareness can help us identify them while also accepting and loving ourselves. Being authentic means being true to who we are, both to ourselves and to the world, and asserting ourselves with confidence and kindness. It's crucial to focus on our strengths and accomplishments instead of being overly critical of ourselves. Remember, you are a valuable and lovable human being, and you deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, both from others and from yourself. Don't be afraid to express your thoughts and feelings, ask for what you want, and communicate clearly and confidently. By embracing these principles, you can live a more authentic, fulfilling, and confident life.
Practicing self-confidence: Be kind to yourself, practice mindfulness, try new things, surround yourself with positivity, give yourself time, take care of yourself, focus on growth, practice self-compassion, engage in new experiences, and remember self-confidence is a journey.
Building self-confidence is an ongoing process that involves being kind to yourself, practicing mindfulness, trying new things, surrounding yourself with positive people, giving yourself time, and taking care of yourself physically and mentally. It's important to remember that self-confidence doesn't come easily or overnight, but with patience and consistent effort. Be gentle with yourself, and don't compare yourself to others. Instead, focus on your own growth and development. Practicing self-compassion, mindfulness, and engaging in new experiences can help boost your self-confidence. Surrounding yourself with positive people and taking care of your physical and mental health are also crucial components of building self-confidence. Remember, self-confidence is a journey, not a destination. Keep working on it, and you'll see progress over time.
The importance of self-confidence and self-care for overall happiness: Believe in yourself, be kind, and address harmful practices like self-harm for improved mental health and happiness
Having a positive relationship with yourself is crucial for overall happiness and well-being. Self-confidence is something that can be developed with time and effort, and it's essential to be kind to yourself throughout the process. Remember, "once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening." Self-harm, whether physical, mental, or emotional, is a harmful practice that warrants an open conversation. In the upcoming episode, we will discuss the importance of addressing self-harm and ways to stop causing ourselves harm. For more resources and inspiration, check out my books "Life Advice That Doesn't Suck" and "Let's Talk About Mental Health Volume 1," available on Amazon and Apple Books. Don't forget to sign up for my free newsletter, Thursday thoughts, for weekly inspiration, and join me on Patreon for exclusive content. Lastly, be sure to follow me on Instagram @ltamentalhealth and @itsjeremygodwin for daily tips on mental health. Remember, "you get back what you put out," so spread positivity and kindness. Take care and join me next time on Let's Talk About Mental Health.
