When I look back on my 20s, I see two different versions of myself. The first five years were dominated by feelings of insecurity and anxiety. I was living a life I did not want, and I wasn’t confident enough to stop it. Then, in the second half of my 20s, I learned to embrace my purpose and began living the life I wanted — the life of an entrepreneur. One thing is clear: The success I’ve experienced would not have been possible with my old mindset.
Now at age 32, I can clearly see my shift from a negative mindset to a success mindset was caused by my developing more confidence. When you feel confident, the whole world seems to belong to you. You suddenly surround yourself with other successful and confident people, and both opportunities and success come your way with ease.
Here are 10 ways you can develop the mindset shared by the most confident people.
1. Define your purpose.
It’s hard to be confident in what you’re doing if you’re not sure why you’re doing it. What is your purpose in work and in life? Once you identify your “why,” you’ll be more confident because you’ll be coming from a place of purpose.
2. Avoid comparing yourself with others.
In almost every case, when you compare yourself with someone else, it takes the form of negative self-talk about how you’re not good enough. Doing this weakens self-confidence. The only person you need to compare yourself with is the version of yourself that you want to become. That’s it.
3. Focus on solutions.
There will always be challenges. But focusing solely on a problem is a self-defeating practice. Instead, acknowledge that problems will arise, and when they do, focus on finding solutions as a strong leader. The more problems you overcome, the more confidence you’ll build and the easier it will be to find solutions.
4. Play to your strengths.
Sometimes we spend more time making up for our perceived weaknesses than we do honoring our strengths. While I certainly agree with improving weaknesses, you might find that your confidence will increase when you play up your strengths. For example, if you’re not good at math (like me), don’t be a CFO. Stick with your strengths.
5. Fake it till you make it.
If you suffer from imposter syndrome, or the untrue belief that you’re not good enough, just pretend to be confident. Keep embracing the idea that you’re already successful. You might not be convinced at first, but eventually your thoughts will follow your emotions and you’ll become a more confident person…Read the full original article on Inc.com
