How did you develop your confidence and self-esteem?

Confidence can open doors and is at the heart of so many amazing success stories across industries and disciplines and so we’ve always been interested in learning how we can help our readers and community members increase their confidence and self-esteem. Below, you’ll find highlights of some of the great conversations we’ve had on this topic.

Aleshia Moyamba

This is a layered question because where my confidence comes from now is very different from when I was younger. In my teens and 20s, my self-esteem was tied to external validation—certifications, accomplishments, and praise from others. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that real confidence comes from who I am, not just what I achieve. Now, my self-esteem is rooted in internal validation and qualities like kindness, generosity, curiosity, and simply striving to be a good person. While I value my professional accomplishments, they no longer define my worth. Read more>>

Max Parisi

I still suffer from these issues on a daily basis; however, when I am on set I strive to my very best on all of the projects I work on. I’ve learned to enjoy the moment and create what I want to create, it is an empty canvas waiting to be painted for the audience, so tell that story! When i start to plan ahead and create a shot list, make sure all my camera gear is charged and ready to go, ive found my confidence and self-esteem to bloom. As I piece together the puzzle, that is cinemaphotography, I begin to see the story developing and during this process I can see that I have a skill; which blossoms my confidence in this industry. Read more>>

Imani Gabriel

Confidence is often seen as something you gain only after reaching a certain goal or changing something about yourself, but to me, confidence is a way of life—a practice. It’s about fully embracing who you are. As a child, I was insecure about my small frame and big, kinky curls. But as I grew older, I learned to love those very features that made me unique. Looking back, I realize my insecurity wasn’t because I disliked my features; it was because of the kids who teased me and the society that celebrated a beauty standard that didn’t include me. The beauty of confidence is that it doesn’t come from others. That’s why even celebrities, adored by millions, can still struggle with self-esteem. True confidence is something you define for yourself. Read more>>

Karen Canon

Building my confidence and self-esteem has been an ongoing journey. Before creating Brunetta, my brand, I was often filled with self-doubt and insecurity. But Brunetta has shown me how strong and brave I can be, as challenges have left me with no choice but to keep pushing forward. Each obstacle I’ve overcome has taught me to trust myself. Seeing everything I’ve achieved and endured fills me with confidence, especially in those unsettling moments. Read more>>

Lizbeth Luz Sanchez Cazares

I get my confidence and self-esteem from my upbringing. In a nutshell, I grew up a suburban second generation Latina with a beauty obsessed older sister and traditionally Mexican parents. As the youngest, I really loved learning at school and needed to be stimulated all the time so I joined my first extracurricular by the 3rd grade. Needless to say, with only being two grades apart we had a very competitive household and kept mi Madre pretty busy. Mi Pa spent a lot of time working but never failed to shower my sister and I with words of affection and a warm embrace whenever possible, just like mi Ma did as well. Somehow both of my parents were able to work full time, smile and welcome those around them during turbulent times, and being able to watch that resilience unfold has been really inspiring. Read more>>

Sneha Nagar

Developing confidence and self-esteem is an ongoing process that often combines personal experiences, intentional mindset shifts, and gradual skill-building for me. Moving halfway across the world to pursue my master’s degree at SCAD was one of the most significant leaps I’ve ever taken, and it initially filled me with uncertainty. However, that experience helped me realize that I could accomplish more than I had imagined by stepping into the unknown and challenging myself. Completing collaborative projects with brands like Lowe’s, MGM Resorts, and Sylvamo strengthened my skills and showed me that hard work and perseverance lead to success. Over time, each project and challenge I faced built my confidence as I saw the tangible results of my efforts. Read more>>

Ayewhy

I haven’t always been as confident as I am now, some would say I was very shy in my younger days. After high school I became a lot more confident in myself and my life decisions just from being around like minded people and understanding my worth. Working retail for most of my life always played a big part in my ability to speak to people of all nationalities and relate to many as well. Once I found music and became a song writer and performer my self-esteem and confidence went through the roof! Having an understanding that I was a really good performer made me more comfortable expressing myself the way I wanted to. Read more>>

Tanner Adams

One crucial thing to understand is that the human experience is filled with highs and lows, and it’s often during these pivotal moments that we forget to pause and listen to what life might be teaching us. For me, it’s been both my highest highs and my lowest lows that have shaped my confidence and self-esteem. When you hit rock bottom, you gain a unique view of the steps that led you there, and with that awareness, you have a roadmap to climb back up – a reminder of the consequences of heading down the same path in the future. Read more>>

Mimiko Mao

I believe that confidence radiates from within, blossoming when you recognize your own uniqueness and strengths. When you truly feel that you are exceptional, a deep sense of self-assurance emerges. It’s important to remember that perfection is an illusion; no one is flawless. However, you should have faith in your own distinctive qualities. Read more>>

Minister Vickie Simon

Developing confidence and self-esteem, especially in running a full-service bridal company, has been a journey for me. It’s rooted in my faith and belief that God has a purpose for each of us. Starting out, I leaned on prayer and reflection to seek guidance and clarity. This connection with God provided me with a sense of assurance and strength, reminding me that I was equipped to handle challenges. Read more>>

Jonathan Bogner

Bold Journey incorporates all the subjects from resilience, work ethic, generosity, imposter syndrome, one room, optimism, and purpose down to one core trait called confidence or self-esteem. I don’t know if people are born with confidence or if it is acquired. I believe my confidence was nurtured, and I acquired more confidence and self-esteem throughout my life. It is good to question yourself, but we must always move forward and be confident until proven wrong. That is how I live my life. In my daily routine, I practice rigorous optimism, rugged flexibility, and resilience, which is how I begin my day. Now, let’s go to work. Read more>>

Cheryl Dedecker

It took many years. I was so shy as a child, at family gatherings I would pretend to nap so I could blend into the background. In other words, self-esteem and confidence didn’t come naturally to me! I was a shy, sensitive, awkward, smart kid who dealt with social anxiety and being bullied. At some point, I remember just wanting to feel comfortable in my own skin. I started pushing myself to do things that made me uncomfortable–drama, forensics, debate, etc… Slowly, I began to realize I had the ability to shine and the more I pushed myself, the more comfortable I became. Read more>>

Leann Hall

I developed my confidence and self-esteem at a young age. I was always popular in grade school, and was accustomed to be praised for my talents as a ballerina and trained dancer from my youth. From those experiences I’ve learned to live life with extreme humility. As a dancer and model, being in the entertainment industry you are always in competition for a job, a role, an opportunity, everything. You have to train your mind to understand that there is only one you, who can only do what you can do.  Read more>>

Nicole Sallis

I’ve always wrestled with self-esteem. Growing up in Iowa, I was captivated by fashion from an early age, sewing outfits for my Barbie dolls without fully realizing that my identity and self-expression were trying to break through via style. Feeling like I didn’t quite fit in was tough, and the struggle went beyond confidence; it was about finding the freedom to show up fully, even when I felt out of place. I was driven by this pull to see if my talent could thrive among the best, so after college, I took a leap and ventured to NYC, ready to test my limits. Read more>>

Juan Lopez

My self-esteem was built through many years of hating myself. I grew up with a stutter (and still have it), so from an early age, I was ridiculed. I felt terrible. I felt so different, so inferior, so odd. Everyone else could speak normally but me. Why? Everyone’s opinions of me took so much weight in my life that I hated talking and I hated myself. I believed all the bad and hurtful things everyone said about me. Read more>>

Rachel Warmath

Confidence is practice. It comes from within. For me, it’s been less about huge milestone achievements and more about embracing and enjoying the process. I often think of it as keeping the small promises I make to myself, but also having grace and compassion for myself on days when I don’t have as much energy as I thought I would. Resting is an important part of confidence that we don’t often hear about much. Read more>>

Dioni Saenz

Confidence and self-esteem are essential for creatives like me, but I often feel like it’s the curse of the former gifted and talented child to wrestle with imposter syndrome while trying to redefine how we see ourselves. I find myself questioning whether my art is worth sharing. Am I good enough? Read more>>

Jaclyn Sokolowski

Growing up I was super shy but i was always confident at an early age. I feel like i was always very comfortable in my skin. Thinking back to when I was in high school I was 14 wearing bright red skinny jeans with a crazy top and a vest… it was the times ok? Hannah Montana was my fashion icon around that time and probably saw her wear something like it in a magazine and was inspired. Read more>>

Gabriela Michelle

Growing up I was always insecure about myself. Big things and being successful always felt impossible for me. I always felt like I couldn’t love myself, It wasn’t until the age of 19 years old that I started reprogramming myself to what I am today even though I still have many things to work on.
I believe your beliefs are usually what you tell your subconscious mind, your surroundings, family, etc. You usually start believing what other people tell you and if you hear your surroundings saying that it’s impossible to love yourself and accomplish big things, all the time.  Read more>>

Kiara Davis

There are still moments when my confidence wavers, but I strive to exercise my faith every day, even on those days when I don’t feel my best. I have come to understand that my faith and confidence are closely intertwined. The more I place my trust in Jesus and embrace the journey He has set for me, the more I realize that I don’t need to have all the answers; I simply need to trust that He created me with unique gifts and abilities. Read more>>

Kristin Stinavage

My confidence and self-esteem have been shaped by an insatiable curiosity and a willingness to embrace challenges head-on. For me, curiosity has always been the driving force behind my growth—it’s what pushes me to explore, experiment, and continuously learn. I view every new situation, especially the difficult ones, as an opportunity to expand my understanding. Read more>>

Adam White

I’ve struggled with confidence and self-esteem for most of my life. Growing up I always knew I was different. I come from a single-parent home. Being of mixed ethnicity I didn’t look like any of my family. I’m gay. This led to many years of seeking acceptance, approval, and validation from everyone around me. It wasn’t until later in adulthood that I started to question who I am, what my passions are, what brings me joy, what my purpose is. I realized then that I lost myself trying to live up to other people’s standards of who I felt they wanted me to be. Who I thought I had to be in order to feel like I belong and am worthy of taking up space in the world. Read more>>

Ms. Octavia D. Perkins

Honestly the Confidence and Self-Esteem moved in today took a lot of Unlearning and removal of Negative self talk. Growing up in a household were you believe approval is the Highest form of Acceptance, you move in certain ways to gain what you believe is respect and thank goodness that as life brought it’s various as well as necessary experiences that brought understandings that would bring Self-Awareness! Read more>>

Lan Li

My confidence comes from being able to proceed with my craft. I am interested in weaving, woodworking, metalworking, and ceramics, all those art media involve building something gradually with details and attention. Sometimes I seek inspiration from the structure and design of objects used on a daily basis. I study the structure of door handles, locks, and engines. I observe my clothes and think about their woven structure. I also studied floor looms and imagined the possibility of using them in other areas of specialties. Whenever I am making small progress in understanding those small structures and successfully utilizing them in my art, I feel I am engaged in the world more. Read more>>

Brittany Ford

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by consistently pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Embracing discomfort allowed me to grow, face challenges head-on, and build resilience. Each time I stepped into the unknown, I gained more confidence in my abilities, which ultimately empowered me to handle anything that came my way in business. Read more>>

Cara Verwholt

I have not always been confident. I’m an introvert and an only child and have also struggled with anxiety. For me, building confidence and self-esteem has resulted from gaining understanding and a sense of ownership. Over time, I realized that a lot of my anxiety stems from a thirst for understanding and a need for context that only practical knowledge and firsthand experiences can satisfy. While this realization hasn’t silenced my anxious thoughts entirely, it has provided me with a useful framework for navigating them. Read more>>

Rochdi Elhafiane

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a journey shaped by experience and self-discovery. Early on, I faced self-doubt, especially in the creative world, where it’s easy to compare yourself to others. But as I grew, I realized that confidence comes from embracing who you are and valuing your unique perspective. My travels, interactions with diverse people, and immersion in different cultures taught me to see my individuality as a strength. Each project and every piece I create reinforce this belief, building my self-assurance. Now, I approach my work and life with the conviction that my voice and vision are worth sharing. Read more>>

Travis Lohmann

I don’t know if one honestly ever FULLY develops confidence and self-esteem. Part of being an artist, I feel- involves that feeling of the constant goalpost getting higher and higher. For myself, I know that I’m nowhere near the level of artistic quality I want to be at, (both in composing and performing) however, I know that constantly working at it keeps me grounded and helps me feel a sense of growth and improvement- no matter how slow it is.  Read more>>

Kate King

Confidence and self esteem are not gained overnight, nor are they a one-stop shop. Especially in the world we live in today, building a strong base of confidence and self-esteem requires consistent self-reflection and inner work. Much of what was required for me to build such a base is the un-learning of outdated, possibly harmful narratives, beliefs, and core-perceptions about myself that held me back and kept me feeling small.  Read more>>

Briana Janeé

Developing my confident and self-esteem comes from surrounding myself with my loving family and friends who inspire me, hold me accountable to my goals, and make room for me to be authentically me. Since a young girl art and food have been my passion. I grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood and as a kid I remember being in my grandmother’s salon drawing to pass time- creating portraits of her clients or at home in my parents kitchen baking a cake with my mom to surprise my dad. I’m always aspiring to find the joy in everything and make it a responsibility to bring joy with me everywhere I go.  Read more>>