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.

Roy Covington

Confidence and self-esteem are both things that I innately had as a child but lost somewhere along the way to adulthood. Escaping the pressure of always trying to “fit in” by wearing something trendy or staying up to date on the newest slang was probably one of the most challenging things for me to do.  Read More>>

Rockelle Henderson

Growing up in New York City, and being the youngest of six has definitely contributed to the person I have become. To survive in New York City you must develop a thick skin—especially as a Black woman. Nothing is given to you and you learn early on that you must pursue any and everything in life that you desire for yourself. Though I am more of an introvert than not, I have always understood that the squeaky wheel gets oiled.  Read More>>

Zoe Taylor

I struggled with my confidence and self-esteem a lot growing up. I was a very shy and quiet child in school and struggled with my confidence quite a bit! I remember researching how I could build up my confidence, or celebrities who went through the same struggle. I do value having had this experience though. Since I would typically refrain from talking in large groups or classroom settings, I developed a very observant eye. Which I believe is such a crucial part of my photography and videography career. Read More>>

Nikki Mckenzie

Confidence and self esteem are a constant work in progress for me. But these tools have helped me thrive on the days when I’m up and on the days when I’m down.

1. Self love. It sounds so corny but developing a practice of loving myself has been a game changer. I stop my negative self-talk through guided meditations, affirmations and journaling. I use Insight timer and the To Be Magnetic app. Read More>>

Hannah Williams

I developed my confidence through self-advocation. I have experienced trauma beyond most children my age—moments where I just had to survive. During such moments, I tell myself to ignore my fear and instead focus on my intuition. Read More>>

Asma Ansari

My confidence and self-esteem were built step by step, through resilience and a willingness to grow in the face of challenges. Two years into my career in TV production, I made a life-changing decision to move back to Canada after over 20 years. It was humbling to leave behind the career momentum I’d built and start over. I began volunteering and working part-time, all while continually upgrading my skills through education. Read More>>

Joey Arnold

I am one of the lucky people in this world who was born with amazing parents. They loved and supported me in everything I did. Having that kind of love your whole life really helps you love yourself, or at least give you the tools to do that. Read More>>

Hannah Flattery

What developed my confidence the most was embracing my darkest parts. Most people shy away from their shadows, but my journey was about bringing them into the light and allowing them to exist as part of me—just as much as the light. The key was learning to love all of me, even the parts I once felt ashamed of. Read More>>

Silas Meridy

“I develop my confidence and self-esteem by setting achievable goals, focusing on my strengths, learning from challenges, and surrounding myself with positive influences. Regular self-reflection and celebrating small wins also help me stay grounded and motivated.” Read More>>

Alex Amborski

I love this question because a lot of my brand’s mission is centered around helping others find their confidence. But that does not mean it came easy for myself. It is something I have struggled with my entire life. I also think it is important to recognize that there are many aspects to be confident about Read More>>

Karan Menon

When I started doing stand-up comedy in 2019, I was not very good, and I knew I was not very good, and that awareness of the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be was very intimidating. I was really self-critical, and that almost stopped me from getting into comedy before I had even begun. But a teacher gave me advice early on that really helped: she said that my goal shouldn’t be to be good now, but to be good in 5 years Read More>>

Paul Thompson

This is a question better asked at the end of the day because I genuinely start 98% of my mornings with very low self-esteem and confidence. I wake up in a panic, with something on my mind causing me anxiety. I lie in bed, contemplating my life choices, wondering how I ended up where I am and how I became such a loser. Read More>>

Noah Kim

My confidence as an artist was shaped throughout a multi-year journey, where I battled with identity-related issues, and finding my true place in the realm of artistry.

In middle school, as the storm of the pandemic slowly died down, my time spent indoors had stunted my growth socially and academically. I emerged into my social environment scared, and awkward, with no grasp on reality. My awkward approach to life was something that hindered me not only socially, but academically as well.  Read More>>

Miranda Cyre

I think I was very blessed to have parents that always allowed me to explore who I was, I am naturally quite chatty, loud and outspoken. My parents always encouraged me explore my likes and passions. Letting my per-sue things that interested me and could allow me to learn a lot about myself just through experience. Read More>>

Denise Vernon-dyson

My journey to developing self-esteem and confidence began with understanding myself and how I interacted with those around me. I learned at a very young age that people who lack the discipline to nurture their confidence often resort to deflection. Growing up, I faced a significant amount of abuse and bullying from various sources. Yet, through it all, I made a choice to stand up for myself—a choice rooted in self-advocacy. Read More>>

Meagan O’nan

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through a journey of embracing my truth, navigating challenges, and finding purpose in bridging divides. One of the most defining moments was being outed as gay in Mississippi, an experience that forced me to confront deep-seated fears and self-doubt. At first, I struggled with shame and rejection, but over time, I realized that true confidence comes from owning my story, not hiding from it. Read More>>

Elena Shramko

Confidence often grows when you become more skilled. In the jewelry business, learning about materials, design techniques, and market trends can boost your self-assurance. The more you understand your craft, the more you trust your ability to create and sell. Read More>>

Joshua Kennedy

Independence. Looking back with a more mature mind appreciating my life experiences I realize being held accountable for my actions made me more self aware. When I was 9 my father and I needed a place to live so we moved in with my Grandmother. She worked full-time so she needed me to be more responsible and independent. So she got me everything I needed and enrolled me in school.  Read More>>

Myra Ford

I developed my self-confidence by being a thinker and doer. I create events for me to grow in and prosper like this business. I give myself a pep talk saying in order to be successful I have to be more engaging with people which include my actors and the audience that participate in the annual productions based on humanity. Smiling is contagious. When I smile, I get a positive response that makes me feel effective. Read More>>

Calvin Norstad

Developing self-confidence is one of the most challenging steps in becoming your best self. Most often I find myself focusing on the mistakes I’ve made, not leaving space for my accomplishments. How else would I get better if I didn’t use every experience as one to learn from? This mentality got me through high school, college, and my first years in the work force. Eventually it wore on me as even the smallest misstep led to a cycle of self questioning and punishment. Read More>>

Jaemen Jones

I keep promises to myself. I believe confidence and self-esteem are developed over time through experiences, self-reflection, and practice. Those little promises are all part of the practice.

Ask me how to build confidence and I’m going to tell you to recognize your strengths. Confidence grows when you lean into your skills and talents. For me it’s my ability to teach, entertain, and connect with audiences through music and humor. Recognizing your strengths will help you feel capable and valuable. Read More>>

Yahira Torres

Throughout my life, I’ve experienced living in different bodies, often battling issues with self-image. I initially saw myself as the “fat friend” in a group of friends who were always slimmer than I, but over time, I found ways to celebrate and embrace my body. Fashion and photography became outlets for expressing my unique style and boosting my confidence.  Read More>>

Bre Via

Developing self-esteem and self-confidence is a process that takes time and reflection. Here are some steps that can help:

Set Clear Goals: Break down your work into manageable, achievable goals. When you accomplish these goals, it boosts your sense of competence and reinforces the belief that you’re capable. Read More>>

Kenyetta Davis

Developing my confidence and self-esteem was a journey that started with a significant personal struggle. After having twins, I found myself overweight and feeling disconnected from the vibrant, confident person I once was. This affected not just my self-image, but also my sense of identity and purpose. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic left me unable to work in hospitals, a career I had dedicated myself to for years. It was a tough time—one where I had to dig deep to rediscover my strength. Read More>>

Nicole Saavedra

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through my experiences working with women in the beauty industry. Over the years, I’ve seen many women express insecurities about their appearance, often focusing on flaws that I don’t see at all. This has taught me that everyone has their own struggles with self-image, and it’s a reminder that we can be our own toughest critics. Read More>>

Kimberly Mae

Building confidence and self-esteem isn’t easy—it’s a journey, not a destination. But like anything worthwhile in life, it’s something we can work on and grow with over time. I’ll be honest, there was a time when I didn’t think much of myself. I didn’t see myself as someone who could do “cool” or meaningful things, and I didn’t feel worthy of the life I wanted. Read More>>

Danya Anchondo

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by proving myself right. Every time I set a goal, worked towards it, and accomplished it, I built trust within myself. Over time, this process taught me that I’m capable of more than I give myself credit for. Positive feedback definitely helps, but what’s been most empowering is the realization that I can rely on myself to make things happen. Read More>>

Christy Hughes

I was a shy and fragile child. I saddled myself with the label of “low self-esteem”, which made me feel defeated every time something happened to reinforce that belief.

It wasn’t until I stopped drinking in 2018 that I began to create a new belief. My mentor told me “self-esteem comes from esteem-able acts.” I began volunteering for Meals on Wheels every week, forging a bond with my clients that brought us both an unmatched level of joy. Read More>>

Naïka Winy

Growing up, I faced many challenges with my self-esteem. People made fun of my forehead, saying it was too big, and criticized me for being too skinny or “too simple.” Later, when I transitioned from permed hair to natural hair, the teasing got worse—not just from classmates, but even from some of my family. When I cut my hair short and wore twists, people said I wasn’t pretty, and their words deeply affected how I saw myself. Read More>>

Shubham Ghotekar

At first, the thought of building something and showing it to the people scared me a lot. I started focusing on building my idea and slowing posting about it on social media. As the time passed i started posting my videos on IG and Linkedin. I got a good response from people and it helped me build my confidence. The plan is simple, take small steps and show it to people, eventually you will realize the world will support you and help you achieving your dreams. Read More>>

Jacqueline Jensen

Oof. That is a doozy of a question—mostly because a lot of days, I feel like I’m still figuring it out. I can say though, looking back on my life, there are a couple of things that really made a huge impact on my confidence and self esteem, helping me to solidify my worth. The most important being, music and art. Read More>>

Rohit H. Sivaram

My confidence and self-esteem stem from a lot of change and self-acceptance. The reason for this is that growing up, with my constantly changing living situation, I had to adapt to many different circumstances and mature quickly. To be honest, I was in India not long ago, and I was finally close to having my group of friends, my schedule, and my routine. This would have been around middle school when everything that had been stable for me suddenly changed.  Read More>>

Marie Thouvenot

First, I want to point out that confidence and self-esteem, while often used interchangeably, are actually quite different. Simply put, confidence is about believing in your ability to do something, while self-esteem is about your sense of worth as a person. Read More>>

Brittany Canaski

I didn’t know it at the time, but starting your own business requires a lot of confidence. Looking back, I’ve realized there were several factors that helped me gain the confidence to bet on myself by quitting my day job to pursue my business full time. Read More>>

Ashley Miers

I believe that my confidence and self-esteem are a product of two main sources:

First off, I believe confidence and self-esteem result from accomplishment. This doesn’t have to be anything monumental… Even just keeping small daily commitments to ourselves is extremely powerful. I’ve come to learn that when I make a commitment and keep it, I begin to develop a trusting relationship with myself, and when I consistently do this over time, that translates into confidence.  Read More>>

Amelia Oke

Developing my confidence and self-esteem definitely took some time. I think the first step to really developing my self-esteem was graduating high school. Through the growing pains of puberty and the cruel words of other classmates coming down upon you, it really takes a toll on a person.  Read More>>

Michelle Nirumandrad

My journey to confidence and self-esteem has been one of transformation and growth. I wasn’t always a confident person —in fact, I used to be overweight and a bit of a wallflower. Taking ownership of my health and fitness was my first major step. With the support of Lifetime Fitness, I not only lost the weight but also kept it off. Read More>>

Demin（edgar) Wang

As a graphic designer, I have built my confidence and self-esteem by continuously challenging myself in different projects, testing my professional skills, and striving for improvement. Each project presents unique challenges, requiring me to adapt, learn, and refine my expertise. Over time, successfully overcoming these challenges has reinforced my belief in my abilities and solidified my professional identity. Read More>>