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{Note from Jessica: Today’s post is shared by my dear friend Kelly Matsudaira. Kelly is passionate about personal development and reflection on life and often pops in to share words of wisdom! I hope you enjoy today’s article!}

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by Kelly Matsudaira

When you were younger, I’m sure you felt like you could conquer the world. But then life happened, and maybe you were put into some difficult situations or circumstances and didn’t know how to deal or cope with what was going on. It happens to us all.

But then, you lost your self-esteem and confidence. Maybe you were rejected by someone you were dating and really loved. Maybe you didn’t get the job you really wanted. Maybe you were made fun of or belittled by a superior figure, family member or friends. Maybe you botched a speech in front of a crowd. There are many things that can happen to us to make us lose trust in ourselves and lose our confidence.

However, don’t let fear hold you back from being the best self you can be. We all have flaws; we all will stumble and fall down. But you must get back up and keep moving forward.

10 Ways to Feel More Confident in Just 5 Minutes a Day

Here are some ways you can start to feel better about yourself and your circumstances and gain back that confidence you once lost.

  1. Notice your posture. Take a look in the mirror every day and notice how you’re standing. If you’re slumped over with your shoulders slouched, you will portray yourself as being withdrawn. Be more mindful of standing up straight, shifting your shoulders back and holding your head up. Studies have shown that by altering your body posture and opening yourself up, you will feel more powerful and confident, and even increase confidence-boosting testosterone in the body. You will look more inviting and welcoming to people as well.
  1. Take time to stretch. Not only do you need to work on standing straighter, but you also need to stretch the body and allow it to move. This will lead to better blood flow, better posture, and more confidence. When you increase the circulation in the body, it sends oxygen to your brain so you obtain a clearer mind and better moods. If you’re feeling anxious or nervous, stretching can also help to calm you down.
  1. Smile more. You can trick your brain into thinking you’re feeling on top of the world by forcing yourself to smile. You will have more confidence, feel more relaxed and just feel better about yourself when you are smiling. It’s hard not to feel good when you’re smiling. Try to think of something negative and still smile. Hard, isn’t it? There are also many health benefits from smiling: elevates your mood, boosts your immune system, lowers your blood pressure, and relieves stress.
  1. Choose your wardrobe wisely. I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “dress for success,” well, there’s a reason these cliches last so long. Studies have shown that what you wear affects how you feel about yourself. When you’re lounging around in sweats and slippers, you won’t feel like you can conquer the world. However, when you feel good about what you’re wearing and how you’re presenting yourself to the world, you will start feeling more secure and powerful.
  1. Visualize a time when you felt strong and confident. Take five minutes to visualize a time in the past when you weren’t feeling afraid, nervous or worried. Pick an event or circumstance where you eluded confidence, courage and boldness, then channel your inner self to feel that way again. It’s still there inside of you, deep down you know it’s there. You can bring that confidence back to the surface.
  1. Expect success. Many of us are so negative with our thinking and always expect the worst things to happen to us. Shift your mindset and start thinking about positive changes that can happen in your life. Remember, what you think about will come about, and you attract every good thing or bad thing into your life. So put the good vibes out there and start expecting the best things to happen for you.
  1. Be more mindful during your morning routine. What you do in the first few minutes of your day matters. If you wake up in a grouchy mood, then you will notice that the rest of your day will spiral downward until you’ve wished you never got out of bed. Practice waking up with more intention and mindfulness. This will create a surge of reassurance and certainty as you get ready. Take pride in your grooming rituals and pay attention to what you’re doing, not just mindlessly going through the motions.
  1. Turn up the radio. Listening to bass-heavy or uplifting music will not only put you in a better mood, but it will also give you a self-esteem boost, especially if you’re preparing for a big event. So before you go to that job interview, pump yourself up with the “Eye of the Tiger” or “We Are the Champions” before heading out the door.
  1. Meditate. Just sitting still with yourself for five minutes a day will increase your self-acceptance. When you quiet the mind from all its racing thoughts, you’re able to get back to your true self where truth lies, and it’ll tell you that you are more than capable of becoming whomever you want to be, and you can do whatever you want to do. You will feel more confident, collected and calmer.
  1. Make an “I’m Awesome” List. Take a moment to think about all the things you are good at, do well and take pride in doing. Then each morning when you begin your day, or as part of your morning ritual, review that list to start your day off with some positive reinforcement about yourself. When you pick out your best and strongest attributes and keep reciting them over and over to yourself, you will start feeling more empowered and believe in yourself more. You are taking your attention towards your best qualities and not focusing so much on all your weaknesses.

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