Confidence and self-esteem

    Fast facts

    "It is remarkable how liberating it feels to be able to see that your thoughts are just thoughts and that they are not ‘you’ or ‘reality.’"
    Jon Kabat-Zinn, medical professor

    Top tips

    1. 1
      Find someone to talk to, like a good friend or counsellor, if you’re struggling with your confidence
    2. 2
      Ask other people how they cope. Many people appear confident on the outside when that’s not how they feel on the inside
    3. 3
      Try to act like you’re feeling confident, even if you’re not. You might start to believe you are
    4. 4
      Notice any negative self-talk, but remember the thoughts are not true. Try to change your thoughts to more positive ones. Think about what a friend would say
    5. 5
      If you find social media affects your confidence, take a break from it

    Watch

    • Help with negative thoughts

      A short video by Young Minds about how to deal with negative thoughts

    • 3 tips to boost your confidence

      Tips to boost your confidence by #LikeAGirl on TED.com

    Do something

    Ask your friends what they like about you and what they think your strengths are. Write down what they say. You can look at this whenever you need a confidence boost.

    Woman using her phone

    More info

    Tips for raising self-esteem on the NHS website

    NHS self-esteem

    Believe in yourself by Young Minds

    Young Minds

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    Updated 12 May 2020
    Review 12 May 2023
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