If you’re human, you’ve probably had at least one bad week in your life when nothing seemed to go right. That guy (or girl) you’re dating has decided it’s time for “a break” and on the very same day you get scolded at work for a costly mistake. On top of it all, you realize the needle on the scale is going in the wrong direction after you’ve spent more than a few nights drowning yourself in a quart of rocky road ice cream. These periods of doubt can take your confidence levels down at least a notch or two, but you don’t have to let them define you.
When things go wrong, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of negative thinking that ultimately plunges confidence and self-esteem to even lower depths, creating a vicious cycle. For example, studies show that women who appear more confident win out over a women who are perceived as traditionally more attractive when it comes to how many times they are approached at bars.
So don’t just talk about changing, do it. Take control of your confidence and you’re bound to see your happiness level increase significantly. Here’s how:
Get Out There
Hanging with your friends and going on dates are two ways to make you feel alive again. Ring up your friends and ask them to meet up at a bar with fun, happy music you like (here are our picks of the best NYC rooftop bars). Or have them over for a fun girl’s night.
Another way to make yourself feel better is to get online and sign up for online dating (here’s a comparison of the top dating sites). If you’re not ready to go on dates again, I understand. Believe me, I’ve been there. I’ve actually cried telling my new date about my ex — on our first date. So embarrassing! Waiting to go on dates until I could talk about my breakup without bawling would’ve been a good idea. That said, there’s no harm in looking online and, once you’re ready, there’s no better way to get a little boost than by going on a few dates.
Improve Your Posture
If you walk into a room with your head down and your eyes on the floor, you probably aren’t feeling very confident and you’re projecting that. Even if you’re a mess inside, standing taller and appearing more confident may cause you to believe in yourself. Your body posture affects what others think about you and also what you think about yourself. Stand up straight and make eye contact for an immediate confidence boost.
Dress Better and Change Up Your Appearance
What’s in your closet can help you project your best image, significantly boosting your confidence level. How we dress can reflect the level of our self-esteem, so it may be time to assess what you’re wearing and make an effort to improve it. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are a number of fashion apps that help you use your current wardrobe to create effortlessly chic styles, or allow you to take pictures of your clothes and spin them around to make new combinations.
Making an appearance change like a new hairstyle or switching out your glasses for colored contact lenses, can make a dramatic difference that is sure to make you feel more confident.
Work Out
Exercising on a regular basis makes you feel in control of your own health, making you a more confident person. Physical activity also helps to battle the effects of stress, keeping you both mentally and physically strong so your confidence isn’t derailed by minor setbacks. Plus, if you’re in good shape, your clothes will fit better, you’ll stand taller and you’ll have more energy to do what it takes to succeed. Being fit allows you to be the very best version of yourself.
Be Creative
Getting in touch with your creative side can make you happier and healthier. There are numerous studies on the beneficial effects of creativity. Not only can being creative help your health, but it can also help you at work by opening you up to innovation and inspiration. Anyone can be creative, it’s not about skill or talent. Whether it’s dancing alone in your house, baking cupcakes, painting a picture or repurposing furniture, creativity will boost your mental health and overall wellbeing.
Challenge Yourself to Master Something New
Challenge yourself by getting out of your comfort zone and mastering something new. Whether it’s a new sport or getting over your biggest fear, the accomplishment is bound to give you a huge shot of confidence. You’ll feel better about yourself, which may even inspire you to achieve yet another hard-fought goal, bringing even more confidence, and so on.
Before you know it, the sky’s the limit. You can do or accomplish almost anything your heart desires because now you’ve got your mojo back!
Want more? Here’s 10 ways to deal with a breakup.
Whenever I’m going through a major change in my life, I cut my hair and color it into something different. I mark it as the first milestone into stepping out of my old ways. I also try to do facials in order to make me feel a lot more confident. If you work on your outer appearance, it has an emotional effect that can enhance the way you feel about yourself. Whether we like it or not, buying new clothes or simply pampering ourselves can make us feel better. Treat yourself! Buy new makeup or whatever you think will make you feel beautiful.
This article is also about self-improvement and I love that. Never stop being motivated in life. Keep your mojo going! ?
If you’re not confident about how you look, you would seriously drown in self-hate and insecurity. Not a good thing, ladies.?
This is a great way to start feeling better. I’m sure that this isn’t going to make you feel 100% better, but it’s a step.
If you want to get your mojo on, you really have to move it. If you’re really down and you don’t want to get up, that’s going to be a problem. I really think that you have to work on getting on the positive side of things if you’ve dwelled on being low for quite some time. One thing that I like doing in order to switch my mood up is to go out; get some sunshine, grab good food, and hang out with friends. This usually lightens up my mood and helps me feel better almost instantly. There are moments wherein I really need time to heal, but that’s okay too. I just have to make sure that I make an effort to feel better rather than just dwelling on my negative emotions.
When I’m not feeling okay, I go for a walk or a stroll in the park. I sit down in a cafe, read a book. Have my me-time. This is effective for me because I find that it helps me collect my thoughts so that I can prepare for a better day. Always be positive even when nothing is going right.
What I don’t like about working out when I’m upset is that I end up overworking myself. ? Working out with my usual routine feel like it’s not enough so I extend up to an hour or more. I end up feeling really fatigued after that but I don’t feel better at all!
These suggestions are really great–taking a proactive approach is always best!
Exactly my thoughts! Proactive approach is what works, self-pity and negative attitude is a big no-no!
All of these suggestions are things that would help anyone improve their lives at any point, which I love! Great suggestions!
Yes, CONFIDENCE plays a huge role in working your mojo. It can set you apart from other people in the crowd. And if you’re plain jane or simple sally, getting a new look can help boost confidence. I feel more confident when I’m dolled up or accomplish a new look. I tend to change my look pretty often because I like to play around different styles and especially hairstyles. I recommend everyone trying something different with themselves- be CREATIVE!