How do some people exude such confidence while another shrinks away? Do you know that super-confident person? She always seems grounded in self-care and always has it together. That person shows up, lights up any engagement, talks with everyone, and just seems larger than life. She speaks up for herself and others and just never seems to care what others think. Have you ever wondered how self-confidence shows up in others?
The secret weapon that distinguishes those who succeed is often self-confidence. And self-confidence doesn’t just happen. It comes from simple truths that are deeply rooted in self-care.
And although it can seem that some people are just born with confidence, they actually have many habits and underlying practices in play that other less confident folks may not. We often hear the words: strength, health, and wellness used synonymously, but taking a closer look reveals the distinction between these terms and how they contribute to your own confidence. First, let’s examine where self-confidence grows.
Where Confidence Comes From
Self-confidence is a way of being and results from doing hard things. In that way, many people who exude natural self-confidence may have a very different back story than others. When you dig deeper, you will realize that many self-confident people have struggled to get where they are. Many have likely had experiences (often difficult) that have tested their skills. Through trying and failing, and trying and succeeding, confidence comes as a reward.
Because confidence results from doing hard things, we know many proven ways to build more of it. One of the ways to develop more self-confidence in business is to take care of yourself. This is defined as self-care. Many people are afraid to focus on themselves and were taught that self-care means selfishness, but that’s not true.
Self-care means working on your life from the inside out. It means that you first focus on your health, well being so you can be stronger for everything you need to do in your life. Self-care is integrally important and directly related to self-confidence. To build both, try these 3 strategies.
Build your physical strength
Physical strength comes from self-care practices and routines. And strength builds self-confidence from the inside out. When you feel stronger, you display more strength. However, physical strength has long been associated exclusively with the male gender. But a closer look shows the importance of strength for women in business.
According to Reference.com, the definition of strength is the power one has to resist attack, strain, or stress. Your strength refers to your durability and ability to maintain a moral or intellectual position firmly. It also refers to your capacity or potential for effective action. Strength is your source of power and force. So a closer look reveals NO gender bias in the definition.
Your physical strength protects and supports you. Physical strength is an asset, and it’s based on self-care. You can’t get strong by sitting on the couch all day. Your strength and self-confidence are directly related.
Your degree of intensity, force, effectiveness and potency are all directly related to your strength. If you are feeling overdrawn, unhappy, overwhelmed, and out of control, devote time to doing basic strength-building exercises. The physical exertion involved in the process not only tones your muscles, but after a good workout, you release important hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, estrogen, and growth hormones that produce a general feeling of well-being and euphoria.
Self-care supports you to live more healthy
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is well known that the context in which you live your life has much to do with your level of “health”. The term “healthy” is also widely used to describe things other than humans. For instance, the terms healthy communities, healthy cities, or healthy environments – all reflect an impact on society.
Healthcare interventions, your surroundings, and other factors influence your overall health. Some key factors include your background, lifestyle, economic and social conditions, and the levels of stress they work daily. When you focus on health you create an environment, community, or ecosystem for yourself (self-care). This way, health does not just mean being free from disease or infirmity. Feeling well means you’re supported and confident.
Build wellness routines and habits
A routine is something you do often. A habit is when a routine becomes a way of being. When my husband started jogging to get fit, he never considered his early attempts as a routine. But, when his running routine turned into a habit of at least 4 days a week, he became a runner. AND, throughout the time of transition, his self-confidence grew. This example shows how building routines, and creating healthy habits in the area of self-care builds self-confidence.
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. It is more than being free from illness. Instead, wellness is a dynamic process of change and growth. There are many interrelated dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, environmental, and occupational. But it is very personal. One person’s definition need not match another’s. Nor is this an exclusive list, as you may have other areas that are just as important to your well-being.
The Wheel Of Life and Self Care
Often, these dimensions are pictured in the form of a wheel, referred to as your Wellness Wheel: Each dimension is equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health. But in order to make the Wellness wheel work for you, you need to evaluate where you desire to be and where you are today. It’s important to periodically assess where you are on your wellness wheel, especially during periods of intense change or transition. Wheels work when balanced according to your needs, desires, and actions. An imbalance in any of these areas can cause great strain in the other areas.
Many successful entrepreneurs spend considerable time regularly on their health, self-care, nutrition, and wellness practices. And one of the easiest ways to change your feelings of lack is to focus on things you are grateful for.
Although you may not feel confident about your business in the beginning stages of growth, a focus on your strength, health, and wellness will absolutely transfer into business success. Creating a healthy lifestyle as your foundation will contribute to small successes and begin to create lasting internal feelings of confidence that are yours alone.
Confidence grows where energy goes.
If you’d like support to figure out how to gain more balance and time for self-care and wellness in your life, now may be a good time to work with a coach. Apply for your complimentary Discovery Call today.
