BoldJourney is all about helping our audience and community level up by learning from the experiences of others. One of the most important topics we’ve been focused on sharing insights and lessons on is confidence building and self-esteem. Below, you’ll find some brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives sharing their perspectives and advice.
Jeremy Rivera
I like this question because confidence and self-esteem are living and breathing realities that take time to develop. And even long after you develop them, like a muscle that can atrophy, there are seasons when confidence can be shaken and self-esteem questioned. Read more>>
Sonysha Thapa
Hello, there, I’m glad you asked me this question, because confidence and self-esteem are important for your well-being and happiness. 😊 There is no simple answer to how I developed confidence and self-esteem, because it is a process that involves many factors. However, I can share some of the things that helped me along the way: – I learned to appreciate my strengths and achievements, and not to focus on my weaknesses or failures. I also stopped comparing myself to others, because everyone has their own unique talents and challenges. Read more>>
Anna Stadler
I always had an interest in acting, but it hadn’t been recognized until I was in middle school. My then acting coach, Kevin Jones of Kevin Jones Performing Arts School, saw the talent and promise behind the shy girl that had always been used as background on the stage and challenged me out of my comfort zone by believing in me and making me eventually believe in myself. Read more>>
Joseph Salerno
My partner played a very big part in building my confidence with one simple truth. Each time I would poo-poo myself and say something like “oh, I’m not an artist” or “this piece isn’t good enough” or “I’m never going to be able to live off my art” she would tell me “well, you don’t know that”. And she would sort-of drill that into me. I couldn’t disagree with her logic and each time she said it I would get this great clarity and freedom of mind. Read more>>
Natasha Mahtani
Honestly, with practice. Most children come in to the world confident, going after what they want, dare I say demanding, and knowing they are worthy of love. For many, somewhere along the way, they start to lose that confidence and their self esteem. This is could via society, their families, friends and others around them. Read more>>
Kyulee Choi
I have always been a yes man when it comes to new opportunities. When someone asks me if I am willing to do a job that I do not have experiences in it, then I would always say yes. It is because I know I cannot grow without getting out of my comfort zone and taking risks. I also consider it as an exploring my new abilities. Read more>>
Kevin Seals
To develop my confidence and self-esteem, I have devoted time to truly understand and got to know myself. I’ve recognized the unique value I bring to every endeavor I pursue. In this journey, I have deliberately refrained from comparing myself to others, regardless of the company around me. By focusing on my own growth and progress, I have cultivated a mindset that enables me to approach challenges with optimism and embraced new opportunities with a deep sense of self-assurance. Read more>>
Giles Chapman
In the tapestry of my journey, resilience is the thread that weaves through every chapter. From orchestrating global campaigns to partnering with icons like Tamera Mowry Stefan Diggs, Joe Burrow etc, I’ve navigated diverse landscapes. Read more>>
Frank Favaro
My confidence comes from a place of perseverance and resilience. As a young boy, I was shy and insecure, lacking belief in my own abilities. However, my father introduced me to wrestling, which was initially one of the scariest experiences I had ever faced. Despite the fear and discomfort, I embraced the challenge. I practiced, I performed, and I pushed myself, especially when it was difficult and uncomfortable. Read more>>
Natasha Hunter
Up until recently, I would say that my confidence came from not being afraid to participate in a bit of trial and error. Anytime I set out to do something, if I succeed my attitude is basically “Great, now you know you can do that” and if I fail, I kinda look around and say “Ok, that didn’t work but what parts of it did and how can I use that? Did I learn how to execute next time? Is this what I really want?” Every experience is an opportunity to increase your confidence and self-esteem through growth. Read more>>
Amanda Li
I believe that confidence and self-esteem come from knowing who you are, knowing your self-worth, and loving yourself unconditionally. I’ve gone through a big transformation in the last four years and it was all thanks to the work I did on myself. I now have true confidence in myself as a person that I never had before. Read more>>
Kari Volen
Self esteem and confidence was something I used to really struggle with. I found my identity in awards, work accomplishments and other people. When I was doing well or being recognized in my industry, I felt good about myself, but if clients left or things weren’t going as well, I let that tear down my self confidence. Read more>>
Lynsie Outlaw
It’s a work in progress and something I didn’t start to be self aware of until my late 20’s. I had so much confidence in myself when I was a teenager and then I entered to somewhat of the real world and lost my spark. I think I realized how harsh the world can be. Becoming a mother has completely changed me and one of those things is my confidence. I have realized how much my daughter picks up from me. Read more>>
Ruby Durham
My mom. At a young age she always reminded me that I can do all things and that I was phenomenal. In middle school I remember her telling me to try out for every sport and to also find clubs to get involved in. Now that I’m older, I realized it wasn’t to overwhelm me, but it was to push me to work with a team, find my tribe and to figure out what I’d commit to for a long time not a short time. Read more>>
Lindsay Law
True confidence comes from being willing to be wrong and to be kind to yourself through the entire process. I believe that confidence and self esteem are very intimately connected. They build on each other and encourage each other. And the moments in my life that gave birth to and strengthened them both are moments when I was willing to step into the dark, not knowing how it would go, where there was no evidence that I would succeed. Read more>>
Gabrielle Howell
Support from friends and family has played a huge role, as they provide encouragement and counter negative thoughts that I may have about myself or my artwork. I recall a valuable lesson from Brené Brown’s “Daring Greatly”, that involved creating a list of people whose opinions truly matter. I often refer to this list when concerns about others’ perceptions arise. Read more>>
Patricia Mendez
I feel like my confidence and self-esteem started to develop once I was in college. It wasn’t until I was in nursing school that I felt confident enough to go out for modeling; It started with local photographers and then grew into me working with local brands. I honestly feel that the statement, “fake it until you make it,” holds true. Read more>>
Melissa Teichert
This is actually a topic I still struggle with. I will say that at this point in time in my life, I am the most confident I have ever felt. I am blooming into a profound sense of sureness of who I am, what my skills are, what I’m capable of and what I bring to the table when I sit with others. I have always been a great team player, but for a long time I was reluctant to take the lead. Read more>>
Noah Frimer
Confidence and self-esteem was something I always struggled with growing up. I was always the shy, nerdy kid in school who sat alone at lunch, didn’t have a lot of friends, and always felt out of place. Throughout my time in school, I also would get picked on for these things which made it even harder to build my confidence and feel more comfortable with who I am. This continued happening for me throughout high school and until I got to college. Read more>>
Haley Slade
This was NOT easy. It took me 30 years to figure out how to love and believe in myself in the cliche, eye-rolling way you hear motivational speakers talk about. I stumbled into a journey of self-discovery and resilience by accident. Read more>>
Deanna Boyd
Growing up, my dad was my personal cheerleader, a constant source of confidence with his empowering words. Imagine this: in Junior High, I wanted to fix the gap in my front teeth, but he insisted, “You’re unique and different—save those decisions for when you’re 18!” Well, guess what? I still proudly sport that gap! Who wants to be like everyone else anyway? Read more>>
Aaron Milus
I would say these are still in-development, if I’m being honest. A lot of it comes from being surrounded by good friends and family — which I think you have to cultivate, it’s an intentional thing. You have to be mindful of the sources of feedback around you. You don’t want ‘yes men’, but you also don’t want sources of negativity and cynicism and doubt. Read more>>
Ada Nei
Growing up in a fairly traditional Chinese household, I didn’t feel safe to speak up. School was extremely competitive and shame and even physical discipline were practiced for misbehaving and underperformance. I was that kid to hold my head low and avoided eye contact to dodge any attention. Being thin was the beauty standard culturally, and there was so much social pressure to fit into the molds. Read more>>
Julien John Charles
This answer it simple but yet deep, simply put, I get my self esteem from my trust in God. Im a born again believer so I believe that if God is on my side then there are no obstacles too big to handle. I also believe that every failure is a lesson learnt and challenges make us stronger. Read more>>
Joley Paige
My confidence and self-esteem have been built out of many different types of blocks. To begin, I’ve always had friends and family who believed in me. They are who should get credit for the foundation of my self-esteem and confidence. Confidence is a muscle that has taken me many years to develop. I feel like my best “training” came from reading the quote: “Be so much yourself, no one is afraid to be themselves.” Read more>>
Jim Telli
I stay in the gym! It does wonders for my mental health and self esteem. It keeps me focused, hungry and wanting more. It also helps me develop discipline and resilience. Read more>>
Aaron Hinds
I have always had a high self esteem or since of myself. As a kid I was not a great student but that did seem to dampen my spirit any. I grew up in a violent house hold so I and my siblings were in survival mode most of the time. If you family life is rough it causes kids to grow up fast and I was no different. I decided not to participate in school so they kicked me out. Read more>>
Doug Pisik
When I was a kid I used to mess around trying to fix things around the house that were broken. Lawnmowers, cassette tape recorders, and junk like that. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing, but I had a unique mindset for being so young: “It’s already broken, so it doesn’t matter if I mess up.” I think this way of thinking grew with me as I got older and turned into confidence to try all sorts of things I wasn’t necessarily good at or knew anything about. Read more>>
Keanna Jones
I developed my confidence by taking time to understand my strengths and weaknesses, having faith and trust in my capabilities, and continuously learning about myself. Recognizing when I’m uncomfortable in a certain situation and pushing towards my goals has been crucial. Believing in God and myself, appreciating limitations, challenging myself, and visualizing a confident version of myself have all played a part. Read more>>
Caley Versfelt
Shy? Yes, that was me. I also believed I had a lot to give back. In High School, I earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and was selected to be a float rider on their 100th Anniversary float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. I was so shy I could barely say my name during my first media training. Read more>>
Jen So
The development of my confidence and self-esteem came from years of hard work to constantly learn about myself, the industry I chose to dedicate my craft to, and by listening to how I can better support those around me. I found that when I was open to discovering more about my capabilities, and practice empathy and being open to learning about the people around me (and their passions), it was easy to be confident because I had the knowledge and context to have something important to contribute at any given point in time. Read more>>
Pavel Sokov
Confidence and self esteem , for me at least, is a function of trust that I have with myself. This trust is developed by living up to my own promises and standards over a long period of time. When you pose yourself artistic and professional challenges, you make a commitment to do the actions you have to do in order to accomplish those goals. Read more>>
Erica V. Walton
Growing up in the 90s I a predominantly black neighborhood I didn’t quite fit in. I’m a black girl myself but I didn’t grow up with my parents. I was also a bit of nerd and extremely thin. It didn’t help that I wore thick glasses. The girls in my neighborhood came from two parent homes, they were curvy and in the cool crowd. I with the help of my grandmother I learned to affirm myself and be comfortable with the way God made me. Read more>>
Jovan Scott-Walker
I believe, the sooner you take the first step, the better the outcome. You can never be perfect, so it is better to kickstart your journey and learn on the way up. I wasn’t the way I am today on day one, but I knew I had to begin the ride somewhere to get to where I am now. Additionally, I think having a support system that believes in you and your dreams helps. For me, my Mama and Nana were the two who instilled the initial dose of confidence to help me step forward. A trick to gain confidence is to share your story. Read more>>
Shawn Fink
My first career was working as a journalist for newspapers and I was put into challenging situations at a young age and I learned a lot about the world — and fast. As a result, I developed fast confidence and self-esteem that led to great interviews, solid writing and fearless mindset to get the story. I believe confidence is something we build over time through taking brave action and that career gave me an early start into being brave and doing courageous things. Read more>>
Kiefer Strong
After years of being bullied for being fat, told I wasn’t good enough, or being told my voice isn’t good enough to be a frontman even though I love to sing. You either take all that and let it defeat you, and become all the things people claim you are. Which I did, until one day I woke up and realized all the criticism is just fuel to be a better you. Read more>>
Kent Speakman
I was a big nerd when I was a child, glasses, braces, and young parents working to make ends meet didn’t always have the money for the “Cool Clothes”, so I used to get picked on a lot. One day, on the 7th pair of glasses that had been broken due to being bullied my father finally said “Next time, when you know you are going to get hit in the face, don’t you try sticking up for yourself and punching first.” So, the next time I did that… Read more>>
Nolan Harmon
I’ve always believed in myself. I’ve been a creative since forever, and if you are in any of those industries with doubt in your mind, you can’t make it. There is so much competition that if you don’t buy into yourself, why would anyone else? My parents always believed in me and supported me as well, so it’s a combination of my DNA as well as my support system. I’ve got great people around me. Read more>>
Shari Trahan
I developed my confidence and self esteem over the years in different aspects. How I felt about myself and my capacity is derived from the support of my parents. Every day my mother told me that I was smart, I was pretty and that I could do whatever I want. The positive affirmations are really invaluable and have set the tone for the way I ultimately see myself. Read more>>
Sabrina Culver
I am glad that you ask this because this is something I have had to become acutely aware of as the mother of teenagers, most significantly my daughter. Over the years I had developed a system of using self effacing humor , putting myself down in a funny way and acting a bit like a bubble head in an effort to be accepted by others and fit in . The first time I witnessed my daughter attempting to do the same I realized I had to stop. Read more>>
Gueston Smith
Confidence, much like an iceberg, reveals its true magnitude beneath the surface of appearances. It’s a profound journey, one that I embarked upon with intention and unwavering commitment. The process of building confidence is like sculpting a masterpiece; it takes time, patience, and a keen awareness of our inner selves. Read more>>
Kimberly Browne
Through life experiences with bullying, molestation, and domestic abuse. I began to question who I was and why things kept happening to me. I would often ask myself, what I did to deserve this treatment. As I got older I realized that everything that happened to me was not my fault and I was an amazing person inside and out. Read more>>
Victoria Nielsen
Cultivating a daily meditation practice has allowed me to become comfortable in my own skin and to know that I’m worthy of anything I desire in this world. Working with the subconscious mind to re-write old stories takes time, but your healing is always worth it. Confidence is an inside job, and something you have to come to internally. You can put whatever outfit you want on to feel confident in the moment, but if you don’t love yourself on the inside, it’s not sustainable. Read more>>
DeVaughn Hooper
I found a lane that aligns with my natural attributes and talents and I stay committed to it. Confidence and self-esteem is directly chained to self identity. I dedicate time into getting to know thou self. Low self-esteem and low confidence often comes from a place of confusion; moreover, an identity crises. Not knowing who you are will subconsciously have you drifting from lane to lane, draining your energy, all while seeking validation, and acceptance in everything external rather than the true-self on the inside. Read more>>
Antonio Alvarado
Growing up I definitely struggled with low self esteem. It was something that really took a lot of focus to get right and improve over time. I was a military kid growing up so moving around was common place for me to be thrown into a new place surrounded by new people. Self admittedly, I am without a doubt what you call an introvert. Read more>>
Morgan Hutchings
I certainly haven’t always been as self confident as I am today. Years ago you would catch me in the back of the room just hoping to go un-noticed. Now speaking from stages, writing books and coaching over 40 business owners in multiple countries. A mentor of mine once told me ‘competence breeds confidence’. Read more>>
Marc Raphael
As a child, I was very active and athletic. I played Little League, Pop Warner Football, and Club Basketball, and I excelled at all of them. The success I enjoyed playing sports as a child made me feel good about myself and fostered my identity as an athlete. It also instilled in many the value of discipline, hard work, and persistence. Read more>>
Von Kochar
I talk about such concepts as confidence and self–esteem in a time when I’m completely lacking both. This time of doubt and confusion, however, is the time I welcome the most, because it is here where I realize that both confidence and self-esteem are just that, concepts. This immediately puts them in the category of graspable and practical rather than some inherent quality or acquired characteristic. Read more>>
Miles Jones
From a very young age I always had a sense of self belief. If I saw someone doing something my initial thought was never doubt, but instead “Why not me?” As much as I’d like to take credit for this I think a lot of it came from how I was raised. My parents were constantly teaching me that nothing was impossible. Read more>>
Delesia Robinson
Confidence and self-esteem is something I work on, on a daily basis. Being a burn survivor comes with emotional and physical scars that last a lifetime. When I was younger, I spent lots of time “primping” in the bathroom mirror of our tiny 2 bedroom home. So much so that my parents voiced concern. I would take the time to make sure my hair was just so, and my overall clothing and appearance was, “good or ok” before I left home. Read more>>
Gerald C. Anderson, Sr.
This is a great question. I lacked confidence and self-esteem when I was young. It wasn’t until I joined the United States Air Force and became a musician in church that I started to overcome my lack of confidence and self-esteem. Read more>>
