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How to Gain Confidence to Follow Your Dream of Success

Dreaming about dreams is easy...

Actually following those great dreams and bringing them into reality is tough. Especially if we are lacking the confidence to do so.

I think the majority of people agree on these points.

It took me a long time to realize no one was going to come and rescue my dreams from my mind. If anything was going to happen, I’d have to pluck them out myself and stand up to all of my fears.

Social anxiety experience. Talking on the phone. Having conviction when I think and speak about things. All of it took work.

how to gain confidence

But do you know what happened?

Things started to change. People started to listen. Bit by bit, what I had envisioned in my head became my life situation.

It still is.

​It all begins with confidence.

Focus on being confident!​

Today, we’re going to look at what you can do to build your confidence and follow your dream. Consider this a training class. Don’t just read. Get out there and apply the points that resonate. Take a ‘running jump’ at developing confidence and see what happens.

I’m looking forward to hearing about your success stories.​

​The first step to have confidence is believing there is enough success for everyone, and then taking the bit that belongs to you.

Let’s get started.​

How to Gain Confidence to Follow Your Dreams of Success​

Why taking control of your confidence is the best thing you can do for yourself

When you are low in self-confidence the world seems like a cold and dark place. Everything seems scary and demanding, and we find ourselves low on energy and motivation. From this mental state, nothing good can come.

Many people will tell you that the level of confidence you have is genetic and can’t be changed. Many people will tell you that you are stuck where you are, with who you are and what you have.

I call bullsh*t. Nothing could be further from the truth and further you can get away from these naysayers the better you will be in the long run. It’s not going to be easy. It will be a battle but, at the end, you will be a totally different person than the one who started with the war.

When you finally get a glimpse of what it is like to feel true confidence you will never be able to turn back. You will be committed, and that is when things start to happen.​

How to gain confidence and take your life back

Right now it feels as though your life is slipping through your fingers, doesn’t it?

Now is the time to take it all back.

You see, your life was never out of your control. Just all of the negative emotions made it feel that way. As we start to clear the clouds and let the sun shine, you will see just how powerful you really are.

To begin building your confidence you need a set-list of actions you can take. Powerful motivators that will anchor you in the now, flood you with confidence and have you reflect that out to the world.

Over time, these new feels of confidence become your reality.​

Confidence building actions to take right now to start building a better life

* Look after your appearance

Changing your self-image begins with your outward appearance. Believe it or not, most of what we subconsciously think about ourselves is based on the feedback we have received from others.

If we have been told repeatedly that we look terrible, we dress badly or we are out of shape, our confidence is unlikely to be rocketing.

​Begin to change that now by taking an extra special interest in your appearance.

This might sound stupid but it all begins with a shower and a shave. The second step is to get down to the store and pick up some fashionable clothes that you have always admired but never had the confidence to wear before. Well, now you do, so get down there.

Simply by changing your appearance like this you will get a feeling for what life can actually be like.

*Learn to control your thoughts and emotions​

Once the easy bit of changing your outward appearance is complete, you need to dive within and check in with your thoughts and emotions.

Chances are if you have been struggling with your confidence levels you are being bombarded by negative thoughts and emotions that have got lodged and became habits.

Negative self-talk is one of the number one factors in low self-confidence.

Right now, begin to change what your habitual thoughts rest upon. This may sound strange to begin with, especially if you have never made any conscious decision to direct your thoughts before, but stick with it. Though our mindset seems fixed it is actually fairly pliable, given enough repetition and persistence.

* Be a good person

You’ve probably heard that nice guys finish last but that is rarely true.

The truth is, having a positive self-image and leading your life with integrity is one of the most attractive things you can do. Helping people never hurt anyone, either.

Acting positively and giving generously are two of the most powerful ways to build a sense of confidence that is not based on external things. When your confidence is based on positive characteristics, nothing can touch you. No one person or thing has the power to bring you down or slow your progress.

The lesson? Think well of people and act when you think you can help somewhere. The rewards are tremendous.

* ​Know your life rules

What rules and principles do you have that guide your life? Do you try and treat everyone like the way you would want to be treated? Do you commit to always telling the truth, or doing no harm?

Having a rule, or sets of rules, that guide your actions and behaviours can be an extremely effective way to increase your self-worth. It can also help to give you a more constructive view of the world and a more realistic perspective on things.

Not many people live by their own set of rules and so feel constantly barraged by the rules and boundaries of others. Don’t be like that. Live via your own principles and watch your world come to life.

* Set small goals and achieve them

The act of setting goals and working until you achieve them is one of the most powerful confidence boosters ever.

Countless successful people who are now household names often started with little more than an idea and a goal on a scrap of paper.

If you are just starting out with setting goals for yourself, make them small and easily attained.

Success in this endeavor will increase your confidence in the process and develop the power of your will.

Once you have small successes you can start to set bigger goals, that will take more action and risks, in full faith that you will see it to its conclusion.

* Exercise​

Recent studies suggest that even a small amount of regular exercise can do wonders for our self-image. Apart from the rush of endorphins we get from vigorous physical activity, much of this can tied back the act of setting goals and hitting them.

It doesn’t really matter what exercise you choose to do as long as you put some effort into what you are doing. Some people like weight training. Others like running or playing tennis.

One activity that has been shown to be very effective in increasing self-confidence is training in a contact sport. Have you ever seen a down and out boxer or mixed martial artist? Didn’t think so.

If you are new to exercise, learning how to gain confidence is just a matter of pushing through and doing the reps until it becomes second nature.

* Become more competent

Much of our confidence when relating to the external world is based on our competency. How good we are at our job or how well we are liked within our social circles are generally huge reflectors of self-worth.

If you feel that your lack of self-confidence is down to your lack of competence or success in key areas then you need to devote the time to build your skills.

Commit to learning more about your job than anyone else. Learn more about your business or industry.

Practice your social skills until you are the first person people think of when they want to hang out.

What do you think?

Written by Terrence Kennedy

Terrence Kennedy is the man’s man on a journey to self-discovery. A traveler, extreme sports aficionado, an observant wanderer, a DIY-Know-How, an ultimate outsider and a documentarist of culture, sex, dating, relationship, fashion, style and gentleman's etiquette. He has learned a lot through his escapades, and is happy to pass that knowledge on to you.