As lockdown comes to an end, you might be getting ready to face the world again. Emotions might be running high and it’s no surprise that your confidence may have taken a knock. When you don’t feel confident, you’re not able to show up in the best way you can. The good news is that this is something we can all work on. If you feel you could benefit from a confidence boost, then here’s some simple tips to help get you started.

Sarah Giles

Sarah Giles

1. Identify the areas where you don’t feel confident. Sometimes we can feel stuck but don’t quite know why. Be brave and lift that lid to delve a bit deeper. Is it your skills that are limiting you? Is it body image? Relationships? Career or Business? Think about when those feelings of self-doubt and negative emotions start creeping in. The more specific you can be the better.

2. Think back to a time when you felt confident. What were you doing? How did it make you feel? Tap into this feeling whenever you need it.

3. Remember your strengths. It’s easy to forget all your good qualities if you’re feeling a bit down. We are all unique and have amazing talents, abilities and experiences that shape us. Write down 3 of your greatest strengths. What do people compliment you on the most? What do you like most about yourself? Refer to them every time you find yourself focusing on your flaws.

4. Be mindful of what you tell yourself. We are our own worst critics. What we tell ourselves is what we start to believe. We can’t stop negative thoughts, but we can choose how much power to give them. Start to notice the language you use. Reframe any negative self-talk into something more empowering.

5. Body language. Even if you don’t always feel confident, there are things you can do to appear more confident. Think about your posture. Stand up straight, no slouching! Make eye contact and focus on the people you are engaging with rather than focusing on how others perceive you.

6. Get active. When we look after ourselves, we feel better about ourselves. Incorporate some exercise into your daily routines. I bet you can recall completing a workout and feeling great afterwards. You feel that sense of accomplishment and it improves your mood. Get those bodies moving and get out in nature if you can.

7. Do something you enjoy. Life is busy and you want to make sure you’re filling it with happiness. Make time for you and do something that brings a smile to your face. It might be reading a book, listening to some music, enjoying a coffee with a friend, putting on your favourite outfit, or new lippy. Smiling generates a feel-good ripple effect. It will not only boost your wellbeing but increase your self-esteem.

True confidence comes from the inside out. It’s about being comfortable in who you really are without the worry and self-doubt. Having that belief in yourself that you are just fine as you are. Embrace being you, enjoy the journey, and be kind to yourself along the way.

Sarah Giles Bio

Sarah Giles is a Confidence Coach. Sarah is passionate about helping quietly ambitious women to grow in confidence and transform their own wellbeing so that they can discover their true potential. She uses a blend of coaching and NLP techniques to support her clients on their confidence journey.

Sarah also works with organisations offering bespoke 1:1 and group coaching to support with employee wellbeing. Providing people with the tools to help make some positive changes to enhance their health and wellbeing.

Prior to starting her coaching business, Sarah had a successful 16-year career in HR. She operated in a variety of roles leading up to Head of HR/Director level. She has experienced numerous industries but spent most of her time working in Professional Services.

Sarah is a Chartered Member of the Institute for Personnel & Development, a certified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner, Life Coach and Time-Line Therapy Practitioner. She is also qualified in Psychometric testing and uses a variety of Resilience and Strengths profiling tools in her work.

Website: www.sarah-giles.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/s-giles

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahgilescoaching

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahgilescoaching

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