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.

Alessandro Reinhart

Ive asked myself that question a lot too. In a way I feel like it’s always been there, like I was born to be on some sort of stage, that I’ve been born to confidently stand on a stage or in front of a camera. But then I think back to myself as a child and I realise that I used to be a shy kid. And I think that shy kid is where my confidence was born. I started doing performances in differerent forms very early on in my life. And the first time I stood on that stage, the first time I sang in front of an audience, I understood how fulfilling those things are for me. I got more confident as the years progressed and that started translating into my real life as well.  Read More>>

Eleanore, Rosalia, Fatima Shiner, Bialek, Patel

Eleanore: I have always been quite nervous in social environments, but when I founded Penrose Magazine I found that since I was genuinely passionate about the project, it was much easier to feel confident in my decisions. The leadership experience this has provided me has allowed me to gain confidence overall in my day-to-day life, from taking part in more out of school programs to attending networking events. Working with a team on a project you genuinely care about makes it easier to share ideas you might think are silly in some ways. I’ve been able to learn that people genuinely aren’t judging you; they’re listening and supporting you. Read More>> 

Heather Ferrari

Full Version
When people ask me where my confidence comes from, I think about the many experiences that shaped me. My life has been a series of challenges that also brought opportunities, and with each one, I learned how capable I could be and how important it is to look at a situation and make it better.

My parents divorced when I was very young. I was raised by my mother as my primary caregiver, and from a young age I was encouraged to step into responsibility.  Read More>> 

Anna Schulte

Developing self-esteem will be the work of a lifetime for me, and I think confidence and self-esteem are actually really different.

For me, confidence is just about doing the thing, whether I’ll be good at it or not. I get on stage to teach myself that I can. I go after opportunities because I know that I have to. I’ve wasted a lot of time wondering about whether or not I was capable of creating the life I dream of for myself, and I’ve learned it’s an undermining question. Confidence is an action for me. I teach myself what I’m capable of by doing it. Read More>> 

Leigh Ann Saperstone

I was the kid who couldn’t even ask for a free ice cream cone at McDonald’s. Confidence and self-esteem weren’t things I came into the world with, they were things I had to build, slowly and intentionally, with help from the people who believed in me along the way.

My high school photography teacher created a space where mistakes weren’t shameful, they were essential. Failing and trying again …and again, helped me build my skills and confidence. My brother gave me my first camera at 21, and I discovered that behind the lens, I wasn’t the quiet girl anymore—I was the director, creating connection and telling stories. With my mom’s encouragement, I earned my photography degree from George Mason University which set me on my photography journey. Read More>> 

Sarah Salone

My confidence and self-esteem and confidence came one year after going into a very deep depression in 2022. Many times I wear a mask, covering the true feelings that I continue to hold inside. Each day that God’s will is placed upon me is a blessing and reminder of my “why” I’m still here. I come from a strong family dynamic based on Faith. Those were the key components that were instilled in me. Read More>> 

Candace Color

Developing my confidence and self esteem has been a journey within itself. I believe each time I evolve to a higher consciousness of myself, it requires more confidence and self esteem each time. It’s a continuous journey. I develop it by going within. Accepting myself completely. Seeing myself how I feel and know God sees me. It’s a spiritual process for me. In turn, I receive the confidence and self esteem or shall I say, POWER, to be able to create from a raw and authentic place, unapologetically me. Read More>> 

Tori L. Edwards

My confidence and self-esteem didn’t just appear overnight, they were built over years of overcoming personal challenges, rediscovering my identity, and leaning deeply into my faith. I’ve experienced seasons where I questioned my worth, both as a woman and as a leader. What helped me develop confidence was deciding that my voice, my vision, and my story mattered. Read More>> 

Olaoluwa Kitan David Aboluwarin

I come from a lineage of large-scale industrial farmers, with my missionary/farmer father being the first in his family to attain tertiary education. Growing up, I split my time between life in the rural underserved areas, on expansive farmlands, and bustling cities. This duality gave me a grounded sense of identity and the belief that “impossibility is nothing.” I witnessed firsthand how hard work, vision, and resilience could change generational narratives. Read More>>

Archelle Bloodworth

Speaking life into myself daily and believing in myself builds my confidence and self esteem. Everyday that I wake up I work towards improvement within and practicing self care. I choose to surround myself with positive people and supportive. This has been a journey for me since elementary always choosing to be a leader and not a follower. Not allowing negative thoughts or comments to get the best of me. My mental and emotional being is apart of my confidence and self esteem so I must choose wisely with my connections.  Read More>> 

Britani Daley

Honestly, it started way back in middle school with makeup and a little bit of ‘fake it ‘til you make it.’ I’d watch what other people were doing with clothes and style and try to mirror it. But being in a bigger body, I quickly realized that most of the styles in stores just weren’t made with me in mind. That pushed me to really figure out my own personal style. I got into thrifting, makeup, DIY projects, altering clothes – basically finding ways to make things work for me.  Read More>> 

K S

I developed my self esteem by practicing my music everyday, performing a lot and going on lives talking to people. Read More>>

Eduardo Jovanovic

To me, confidence is situational rather than a permanent state of being. It’s not something you can—or should—force. I see it as a byproduct, not a goal in itself.

I’m confident in areas related to creativity and art, and far less so when it comes to things like math or other unrelated aspects of life. I’ve always had a natural sensitivity to aesthetics, and I’m constantly thinking about and playing with artistic ideas in my mind. Read More>> 

Sharon Macey

Good question! Both are universal struggles, and I know I’m not alone in navigating them through different seasons of life. Confidence isn’t born – it’s built. Mine has been layered over a lifetime, with some layers coming from hard-earned wins and others from falling flat on my face and realizing I could still get back up and try again. Read More>> 

Lenese Barnes

I’d like to believe much of my confidence and self-esteem have come from my parents. My mother was a plus size woman and my father only had a 9th grade education. They both instilled in me that not only was I ‘pretty’ but I had the smarts and the ability to do and be anything. I grew up being a very ‘shy’ child, however, with witnessing the love between my parents, my curiosity of how to socialize and engage with others and my high engagement in primary school grade levels I do believe this has began the development of my confidence and self-esteem. Read More>> 

Marca Ewers-Shurtleff

Like many women, the road to confidence and self-esteem hasn’t always been easy or intuitive for me. In fact, self-esteem has probably been the most difficult hurdle I’ve faced in my professional career. Self-esteem refers to how much you value yourself, while confidence is about trusting your abilities. Read More>> 

Morty Shallman

In a word, “practice.” Since so much of what I do requires a performance, of one kind or another, I find that confidence stems from being fully rehearsed and prepared. Whenever I’ve got a big show coming up, I diligently get my voice in shape, practice my set backwards, forwards, and inside out, and that becomes the foundation of confidence upon which I build my show. When you’re well-rehearsed, you can just relax and perform with freedom and emotion. Read More>> 

Young Scratt

Like the great Malcom X said, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” I put my mind to everything I do to be the greatest. Read More>> 

Jeff Ronci

A writer and visual artist for 40-plus years, I’ve seen my work published in books, magazines, and news outlets; aired on television and radio; and displayed in public institutions and private homes in South Florida. While I’ve considered myself primarily as a writer, I’ve devoted most of my time since 2019 to photoart, with some of my work available for browsing and purchase at my online gallery, CrazymOOn Photoart by Jeff Ronci at crazymoon.jeffronci.com. Along with my husband, I’m also a longtime human-rights and social-justice activist. Read More>> 

Rita Casaverde

My mother instilled in me a great sense of self. Her care, words of affirmation, compliments, assurances and support built a strong foundation that I think supports my confidence and self steem.

It hasn’t been a linear process though, even through my confident years I can doubt, undervalue, and question my worth but once I make it through whatever experience I’m struggling with, I come out stronger and more appreciative of my mom’s early years work. Read More>> 

Lauren Busman

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by always being open to growth and development opportunities, practicing my craft, and accepting constructive feedback. Read More>>

Irene Bremis

“It all comes from the inside out: exercise, meditate, and eat healthy. I try to Marie Kondo all negativity from my life.” Read More>> 

Tammi Norman

Believe it or not, I wasn’t always the bold, outgoing woman people see today. In high school, I was shy, painfully shy. I often felt inadequate, overlooked, even unworthy at times. But that version of me? She evolved. She blossomed. She did the work and most importantly, she survived. Read More>> 

Zandra Arnold

From ministers, friends and family Read More>> 

Nathanael Nunemaker

It wasn’t easy. I haven’t always been confident in my ability to produce a good product, but a lot of that came from having just imposter syndrome. The more I practice my craft, the more confident I got in knowing that what it is that I’m producing is amazing. I spent hours and hours studying and working towards creating amazing tasting products. When you become so immersed in whatever you’re building, you study and you learn everything there is to know about what you’re making, which in turn is what builds confidence.  Read More>> 

Elyssa Matson

I haven’t always been confident. It’s something that’s been built over years of growth. I believe it came from being willing to ask questions, observing closely, dropping my ego, and learning when to set boundaries. I’ve pushed through barriers by reading contracts, civil code, taking classes, researching anything I wasn’t sure about, and asking even more questions. For me, confidence comes from knowledge. Read More>>