Tips for Building Confidence

[GUIDE] 15 Tips for Building Confidence

Many student athletes, especially females, lose confidence easily. There are many reasons why this could be true for you, but, regardless of the reason, know that you can build confidence with just a little practice.

Here are some tips to help you get started boosting your confidence level:

1. Reframe Your Failures

If you look at your failures in a negative light, it will be hard to grow from there. Instead, reframe failure as “feedback.” What can you learn from this failure? How can it make you better and propel you forward? Use it to improve.

2. Work on It

In whatever you lack confidence in, work on it. Expand your skill level and make sure your work ethic matches what you desire to be good at. Get a coach or a mentor if you need one. Find creative, fun ways to improve.

3. Learn to Bounce

This takes practice, but, with every setback, there are two things that can happen: either you get down about it, or you allow it to fire you up. If you allow yourself to get down, you usually stay down. However, if you embrace the setback and allow it to fire you up, chances are you can move right through it. Practice bouncing. It may be one of the single most important factors in building confidence.

4. Embrace the Challenge

When you are in a tough situation, embrace it and know that it is helping you become better. Check yourself when the challenge hits and be thankful for it. I know that sounds weird, but trust me, if you can learn how to do this, college and the rest of your life will be more successful.

5. Take on a Positive Mindset

Just being more positive in life will help you gain and build confidence. If others want to be negative, don’t allow them to drag you down. Stay positive and grateful. You may even be able to sway them into a more positive mindset as well. It’s more fun and way more healthy to have a positive outlook on life.

6. Give Yourself a Break

Life is hard. Being a high school student athlete is hard. Getting to college is hard. Graduating from college is hard. And on and on it goes. Give yourself a break when you need to recharge. It’s not only healthy, but it gives you the energy to keep building your confidence.

7. Be Kind to Yourself

When you mess up, don’t beat yourself up. Let it go and get onto the next. Don’t dwell on it. Pat yourself on the shoulder and tell yourself, “It’s ok.” Keep going. Always reassure yourself that you are doing the best you can. Give yourself positive encouragement daily.

8. Brush It Off

If someone else discourages you when you mess up, brush it off. Don’t allow someone else to govern your mood or your confidence. You can do whatever you put your mind to.

9. Broaden the Focus

If you only focus on what you are doing poorly, there is no room to see the brighter side or the things you are doing well. Broaden your focus. If you did poorly in one thing, focus on the good that you did in something else. Allow that feeling of accomplishment to keep building.

10. Be a Listener

When it comes to your growth, be a listener. You never know when you are going to hear something that turns into an opportunity for growth. Be open to hearing people out when they are giving you feedback. They may convey something that you had never thought of before.

11. Ask for Help

When you need help with something, don’t be shy to ask for help. Just asking builds confidence, and it gets a little easier every time. Learn how to use your resources with empowerment.

12. Use Your Sport 

Your confidence grows through sports. Sometimes it may seem like it’s the sport that makes you lose your confidence, but, in reality, it’s the other way around. Allow your sport to build your confidence because there is nothing that will push you like sport does. Your sport is making you better every day. Be proud of the work you put in. You are making gains more than you realize.

13. Believe in Yourself – Always

Never give up on yourself and what you are trying to do. You have more strength than you realize. Once in a while, you might have to remind yourself that you are an amazing person who has the power to do whatever your heart dreams of. Go for it and don’t look back.

14. Always Be Grateful

Be grateful to all those who try to help you. Sometimes that means being thankful for a coach who you feel critiques you harder than you would like. Maybe it’s a teacher who gave you a C instead of a B. Maybe it’s someone who says you can’t do something. All of these people come into your life for a reason. Be grateful as all of them play a role in your success.

15. Have Fun With It

Don’t forget that learning to build and rebuild confidence takes some practice. I challenge you to pick just one of these tips and work on it this week. Then pick another and keep working at it. You will eventually feel a difference in your confidence level in all areas of your life. Come up with fun and creative ways to challenge yourself.

If you need help with growing your confidence or in finding ways to make it fun, contact us. We’re here to help.