Name: Confidence From the Inside Out
Rating: 4.6 (36 reviews)
Author: The Blinkist Team

Problem and Promise

Lacking confidence can lead to missed opportunities, crippling self-doubt, and limited growth. But this article is your confidence booster.

It explores the power of self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem, offering practical tips like confident body postures, mindfulness, setting goals, and positive self-talk.

Embrace challenges, learn from failures, and watch your self-assurance skyrocket. With these insights, you'll tackle life's challenges head-on, unlocking your true potential and achieving remarkable success.

TL;DR

Here's the TL;DR version of this Blinkist article

The past 50 years have seen the Self-Esteem Movement surge, fueled by the idea that confidence boosts success. Psychologist Nathaniel Branden kicked it off in 1969, showing improved self-confidence leads to better performance.

So crack the code and meet self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem—which are not the same.

Self-efficacy is about personal control. Self- confidence is about trust in your abilities, and self-esteem covers overall self-worth.

Belief in yourself is more than a mindset. Confident body postures and mindfulness practice energize you. And don't just think: act confidently. Exercise, visualize success, set meaningful goals, and be your own cheerleader with self-compassion and positive self-talk.

Fear isn't the enemy, either. It's a companion to courage. Stepping out of comfort zones cultivates courage and drives remarkable achievements. And avoid overconfidence. Collaborate and seek help to strengthen self-worth.

Building confidence is a journey of embracing challenges, and celebrating progress

Keep listening to the full Blinkist article for a deep dive into these game-changing concepts.

Alright, let’s get started!

Confidence and courage build success, not the other way around.

Our source article explores how lasting confidence is cultivated over time, not in-born or instantly acquired. For decades, as Steve Baskin noted in a 2011 study, Western society has prized self-esteem, thinking confident kids become successful adults. But it is a bit more nuanced.

While high self-esteem often correlates with positive outcomes, the path someone takes toward self-confidence matters. As the source explains, artificially inflating a child's ego through excessive praise can backfire, feeding narcissism instead of achievement. So how do we build confidence the right way?

9 Simple practices to build positive self-confidence

Here are nine simple practices to help you build genuine confidence. Not arrogance or bravado, but the quiet assurance that you can handle what comes.

The first practice is to stand tall. Research shows posture influences both hormones and mindset. So walk with purpose, shoulders back. Take up space and let your body language reflect the confident person you're becoming.

Conclusion

Real confidence is a lifelong process - grown through practice, patience, and persistence in the face of struggles. Even the most self-assured among us face moments that shake our confidence.

But by regularly stepping outside our comfort zone, speaking kindness to ourselves, and embracing the journey over perfection, we build the quiet strength needed to handle whatever comes our way.

Recommendations

If you want to dig deeper into some of the concepts and ideas from this article, check out our blink to Nathaniel Branden’s The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem. Branden’s work provides some key insight for the article.

Or check out The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, that offers a closer look at the science behind women’s confidence, and the benefits it can bring.

Key ideas in Confidence From the Inside Out