22+ Ways On How To Build Self-Belief

Last Updated on July 4, 2024 by Joshua Isibor

Growing up as a teen, I had challenges that resulted in my inability to express myself. I was taken advantage of and intimidated by the guys in my class.

I was a chronic stutterer, an introvert, and extremely shy, which affected me till my early twenties.

Despite these challenges, I was able to build a good self-belief. It all began when I studied materials addressing low self-belief, worked on my mindset, changed my environment, and appreciated my uniqueness. Furthermore, this helped me overcome my stuttering and shyness to an extent. Also, I can balance being an introvert and an extrovert.

Let’s look at some factors that can lead to low self-belief. Before addressing how to overcome it. These include:

Ways on How to Build Self-Belief

1) Home bringing.

If you were nurtured by parents, guardians, or teachers who are critical or perfectionists, you may develop low self-belief. The reason is that they will make you feel you’re not giving your best and compare you with others. This will develop a negative mindset in you, resulting in low self-belief.

2) Your Association.

You can easily handle negative words spoken by someone unrelated to you, But it’s difficult when such negative words are from a close friend. If you have a friend or clique of friends who talk down on you and make you feel intimidated or inferior, you may develop a low self-belief system.

3) Bullying from peers.

One thing bullying does to you is that it makes you feel inferior. It weakens you and causes you to doubt your abilities.

4) Poor Academic Performance.

Failing doesn’t make you a failure. However, settling there makes you one. Sometimes, you set academic goals for the semester and strive to achieve them. Nevertheless, challenges may set in, and you couldn’t meet your expectations. You find it hard to believe in yourself at such times, especially when it occurs repeatedly. This can make you develop a low self-belief.

5) Bad Childhood experiences.

This includes sexual molestation, etc. Especially when you’re threatened not to reveal it to anyone, it makes you feel depressed and unaccepted and develop low self-belief.

6) Bad Decisions.

It is in every human to feel happy when decisions produce positive results. But the reverse is the case when it turns out badly. That sense of confidence is reduced.
Besides that, it creates a form of guilt, making you feel sad and reducing trust in your decision. Automatically, your self-belief is reduced.

7) Negative thought

If your thoughts are patterned in the wrong way, all you’ll ever mean to believe will be wrong.  In as much your mind has been patterned to believe that way, you’ll indirectly begin to act like that. Then you’ll be convinced it’s impossible to achieve anything.

8) Guilt from your past.

Everyone has a past; you can decide to let go or allow it to prevent you from your present happiness. Holding onto your past mistakes and sins or listening to messages that condemn you will often lead to low self-belief.

9) Uncontrolled situations like stuttering, physical defects, etc.

This can reduce your self-belief if you allow yourself to be defined by it. A lot of persons with physical defects or stuttering(speech disorder) suffer from low self-belief. Because they are often mocked and intimated by others.

Having understood the areas where low self-belief emanates, let’s look at the best ways to build your self-belief.

10) Develop a positive attitude.

The way you position yourself before others is a reflection of your thought. Therefore, to portray a good attitude, you need to develop a positive mindset towards yourself. With the mindset of I can, I am beautiful, I am the best, etc, you will always act like that.

11) Positive affirmation.

It has been proven that speaking positively is one good way to overcome low self-belief. As you speak these words, your mind registers them and propels you to act on them.

12) Set achievable goals within your abilities.

Set small goals within your abilities and a specific period you want to achieve them. This will help you build a strong self-belief.

13) Exercises

Exercise helps build your system and causes you to be healthy. Staying fit always makes you develop a good sense of self-belief.

14) Self-development

Your level of self-belief increases when you’re able to deliver anywhere and anytime. Also, when you can engage in meaningful discussion, contribute positively. This is only possible when you have given yourself teachings, training and updating yourself with recent information.
However, the reverse is the case when you fail to improve yourself.

15) Adequate preparation before an event.

Preparation prevents poor performance. When going for a presentation, you should prepare beforehand to perform well and not flop. In addition, ensure you’re not overly confident.

16) Know what you want.

What do you want? What do you want others to know you for? Once you can identify this, no one can convince or persuade you to do otherwise. Also, it makes you firm in your decisions and actions. And you won’t be bent on pleasing others to your detriment.

17) Know your strengths and weaknesses

Knowing what you can and can’t do will help a lot so you won’t bite more than you can chew.
One thing that fosters low self-belief is delivering below expectations. But this can be curbed when you do things you’re sure and convinced it’s within your strength.

18) Face your fears

Nothing is too difficult to accomplish if you set your heart towards it. Although you need the right mindset, still you need to work towards it. If you have issues accomplishing a task, it’s advisable you start with the less complex ones and then face that challenging one later. But don’t give up on it; face it with the mind to win.

19) Address your inner critics

Sometimes, your mind communicates fears to you. But, If you can overcome the negative thoughts in your head, then you can overcome the ones from your surroundings. Because winning begins from the mind.

20) Be prepared to win

No warrior goes to a battle with the mind of defeat, or else he will fail. In this situation, you might face every challenge or whatever you set your heart to achieve. Acquire all that is needed to achieve your success, and go for it.

21) Encourage others

Helping others and making them smile gives you the strength to pursue yours and makes you happier and more fulfilled. This will help boost your self-belief.

22) Trust your instincts

Human instincts don’t lie. When you have understood your instincts, then follow them without a doubt.
If you fail to listen to your instincts, you might regret it, resulting in low self-belief.

23) Take care of yourself.

You develop a sense of confidence when you look smart, gorgeous, and attractive. Also, compliments from others trigger your self-esteem because words are powerful. Taking good care of yourself, eating healthy meals, resting when necessary, and looking good always makes you look healthy and smart. This fosters a good self-belief.

24) Maintain your integrity.

No matter what, your integrity should be maintained. You’ll find it hard to believe in yourself when you always give in to other opinions.

25) Embrace your uniqueness

No two individuals were made alike; neither was your design to function like the other. Your personality is unique in its way. However, comparing yourself to others is a sign of low self-belief and a lack of appreciation for yourself. When you compliment yourself and place value on yourself, you’ll build a good self-belief.

26) Cut off negative acquaintance

Anyone who doesn’t speak well of you shouldn’t be accommodated in your life. Words are powerful and can build or destroy you. Therefore, you should filter your friends and decide who remains or not. Furthermore, When you’re surrounded by people who appreciate your uniqueness and value and celebrate you, you will possess a good self-belief.

27) Let go of your past

Learn to forgive yourself for the mistake you made and work at being your best. You can never correct yesterday’s mistake while holding onto it, but letting it go will give you the strength to build on yourself. Also, you’ll be able to develop your self-belief as you recover from it.

28) Do things that you love most

Never be forced to do things to please others to your detriment. Do the things you love and enjoy doing for as much as you do, it will give you satisfaction and happiness.

29) Never depend on people’s appraisal

No one can celebrate you more than you do to yourself. Depending on external factors for praise is the beginning of low self-belief. Because when those you expected it from don’t respond to you as expected, you’ll feel depressed and doubt your ability. Conclusively, work at being your cheerleader.

30) Avoid procrastinating

Excuses never make a man. Rather, it reduces one’s ability to function effectively and achieve meaningful results on time. Most poor performances result from postponing what can be done now. And when you always perform poorly, it’s bound to affect your belief system. To avoid this, avoid procrastinating and act on time. It’ll enable you to have enough time to access other areas and make necessary corrections.

31) Have a role model

To overcome low self-belief, a model with a good self-belief attitude will be a perfect template for you. It will be more effective if you can be physically connected. Notwithstanding, you can still model someone from a distance. However, you should understand and be yourself.

Conclusively, self-belief can be built no matter how low it is. All you need to do is decide to develop it, and once you have decided, you can surely do it.

ALSO, READ Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills

Originally posted 2020-10-29 10:12:46.