It’s okay to be scared, often that’s a sign that you are pushing yourself towards greatness. However, it’s equally important to build up your confidence and we hope the conversations presented below can help provide some food for thought around how you can level up your confidence and self-esteem.
Amelia Webb
Honestly, confidence wasn’t something I was born with — it was something I had to build piece by piece. For a long time, I tied my worth to what other people thought of me, and that’s such an exhausting way to live. I think real confidence came when I stopped performing for approval and started showing up as myself — flaws, quirks, everything. Read More>>
Tiffony Coleman
I was always doubted my whole life so I took the criticism as a challenge and always did the best at whatever I did where people had to recognize me or see my work even tho they wouldn’t like it or give me my credit my work spoke for itself and my work ethics. Read More>>
Lancelot S. Lenard
# How I Developed My Confidence and Self-Esteem Honestly? My confidence was built on a foundation of failure, fear, and a whole lot of showing up anyway. When I started in real estate ten years ago in Florida, I was terrified. I’d watch other agents close deals effortlessly while I stumbled through presentations. I’d see their polished social media while mine felt awkward and forced. Read More>>
Krystyne Escalambre
How did you develop your confidence and self esteem? Many of my life experiences and the meaningful relationships I’ve been fortunate to build have shaped both my inner self-esteem and outward confidence. My self-esteem and the way I value myself has been rooted in the small, quiet lessons from my dad. Read More>>
Parizad Srivastava
Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual process shaped by both mindset and environment. Early on, I realized that self-doubt is often the biggest obstacle to progress. I learned to challenge the inner voice that questioned my abilities by consistently rehearsing positive outcomes in my mind. Read More>>
A.J. Dunlap
I most definitely got any confidence or self-esteem from my mom. She raised us to believe we are capable of anything. From rewiring lighting to academic achievements to following our passions. She never once told us there was a ceiling of any kind, and for that I am so thankful! Read More>>
Samuel Vazquez
For years, my self-worth was dictated by the judgments of others. Growing up, the combination of being overweight and navigating my sexual orientation made me an easy target for bullying. I absorbed those cruel comments about my appearance and who I was, which severely eroded my self-esteem. I developed a deep need to hide, effectively locking myself inside a cautious, anxious bubble. Read More>>
Suzy Eaton
This is an interesting topic for me because in ,y day-to-day life I feel I lack self confidence and self esteem, but when I’m working, on a photo or video shoot, I’m in my element. I know what I am doing and have no issues being vocal or stern in my decision making. It’s the only time I feel this way about myself. Read More>>
Ezra-Shaun Lamar
Well…. growing up I was the black sheep at home and a ‘ugly’, ‘weird’, and ‘different’ at school. Years of being told different things from siblings and classmates have given me strength that noone couldn’t even imagine. Read More>>
Stephanie Beals-Grandelis
Many, many people ask me this very question. As a 47 year old woman, who turns heads in every room I enter, my response may be shocking. I would say confidence and self esteem were never my strongest qualities. They are traits that I have acquired with time, finesse, and some degree of self-awareness. Read More>>
Bret Kissinger
Confidence didn’t come naturally for me—it was something I had to build, brick by brick. Writing taught me resilience long before it gave me recognition. Every rejection letter, every edit that tore apart a chapter I’d labored over, forced me to develop thicker skin and a stronger voice. Over time, I learned that confidence isn’t the absence of doubt—it’s moving forward despite it. Read More>>
Jasmine Liora
My confidence and self-esteem really grew from getting hands-on experience and trusting myself. When I first started in the beauty industry, I was learning everything on the fly—techniques, client interactions, and how to present myself professionally. Every client I worked with, every look I perfected, and even the mistakes I made taught me something and reminded me that I could handle it. Read More>>
PORSHA Henderson
My confidence wasn’t something I was born with. I had to build it through experience and faith. When I first started bartending I just wanted to make some extra money and have fun. Over time, I realized that every event, class, and client was teaching me how to stand in my power. I developed my confidence by doing things before I felt ready. Read More>>
Pearl World
I’ve always been in clubs, sports, after school programs and most importantly, theatre which has always been full of challenges. When your team wins, when you rehearse and learn that song, or when you get a standing ovation after a show. Those accomplishments have been confidence builders and a way to keep learning and creating. Read More>>
Zykina Stewart
Where did I get my confidence from? The truth is, I was not always confident. As a little girl, I walked with my head down more often than I walked with it lifted. I let what I lacked and what others thought of me shape how I saw myself. I was motherless, my mother died before I was 3-years-old. Read More>>
Jessica Ross
Confidence, for me, was born out of curiosity. I learned early on that when I needed a new perspective or wanted to activate a part of myself I hadn’t met yet, I had to try something new. That “something” was improv. As a child, improv became my safe space—a creative way to direct attention, manage inner emotions, and make sense of life through play. Read More>>
Megan Wilkinson
Confidence and self-esteem weren’t things I was born with — they’re things I’ve had to build piece by piece over the years. Looking back, leadership found me early. I was the captain of my high school soccer team, later a math teacher and soccer coach. Guiding others always came naturally, but true confidence came from knowing my craft inside and out. Read More>>
Maddie Kopp
When it comes to developing confidence within myself, I had to discover who I truly am. I needed to take time alone with my thoughts and get to know myself. I know it sounds really cliché, but taking time by myself to understand my likes, dislikes, and recognizing patterns within my life that don’t serve my highest self, really changed my life. Read More>>
Nisha Sangani
Growing up as an Indian girl, I struggled to find confidence due to the insecurities I carried from a young age. Dance became my outlet—it helped me face my fears, embrace my individuality, and discover a safe space where I could express myself freely. It started as a stress reliever but quickly became a powerful source of self-esteem. Read More>>
Mallory Ann Caloca
The biggest push to overcome being stuck with an inner dialogue of doubts and shortcomings is to actually sit and listen to others that don’t feel alone. That is powerful. If able to, go to the local art show or weird movie that you’ve been thinking about – do it. The craving to be curious is essential. Read More>>
Anya Zhang
This is a good question because I personally am still in the process of doing so. It is an important subject for everyone but it also is a life-long one. For me it all starts with figuring out my own preferences. Most people struggle because they do not know who they are, so they have no idea what to belive in. Read More>>
Lisa Holst
I was fortunate to have loving and supportive parents that cheered me on early in life. The encouragement and security they provided me resulted in a good self-esteem and a solid foundation. Especially true in an industry that is open to anyone’s opinion and critique. Putting myself in new situations and taking risks has continuously developed my confidence over the years. Read More>>
Jennifer Jackson
My confidence comes from within, and my self-esteem has developed over time. I’ve learned not to stress over things I can’t control because no matter what you do—good or bad—someone will always have an opinion. What matters most is staying true to yourself, knowing your worth, and continuing to grow. That mindset has really helped me stay grounded and confident in who I am. Read More>>
Mayra Cavalheiro
“I developed my confidence and self-esteem over time by focusing on growth instead of perfection. I learned to trust my abilities through experience taking on challenges, learning from mistakes, and celebrating progress. The more I stepped out of my comfort zone, the more I realized what I was capable of.” Read More>>
Keeley Miller
Honestly, confidence didn’t come easily for me. For a long time, I struggled with body image and self-worth. I went through an eating disorder and an emotionally abusive relationship that left me feeling completely disconnected from myself. The real turning point happened when I started photographing women. Read More>>
KATBING
I don’t think I always have a lot of confidence, but what helps is being in the world and around other people, being sober, not isolating, and doing the things I say I’m gonna do. As a kid, my confidence came from being good at sports and making people laugh, so I leaned into those for a long time. Read More>>
Liisa Lee
Easy answer: The Hard way. Honestly, confidence can be a fragile thing for anyone, especially artists, and one bad teacher or coach can destroy it for years. So in my coaching and directing, I make a real effort to “find the good and praise it” as acting coach Richard Lawson has said, while still being pragmatic and real about the work and what’s required. Read More>>
Alejandra Reyes
I developed my confidence and self-esteem over time by embracing both successes and challenges in my creative journey. When I started in 2013, I sometimes doubted my style and ideas, but with each project, especially client feedback and seeing my work published, helped me realize my skills had a real impact. Read More>>
Han Kim
Not something I innately had, I was actually a very insecure person with low self-esteem. Even now, I have moments of vulnerability, which I don’t think is a bad thing. My confidence was developed through a mix of having a “no-regrets” philosophy and proving myself over, and over, and over. Read More>>
Veronica Gutierrez
As someone who has suffered with low self-esteem and self-worth, I use art as a way to love myself and feel that I am enough. Through college, I began to experiment with different media and styles that reflected different aspects of myself. It was a way to feel vulnerable. While I enjoyed creating, for a while, I always compared myself to others. Read More>>
Alexandra Montalbano
My confidence is very much a work in progress. But it has grown. I’ve spent much of my life being told I am ‘too’ something. too loud. too direct. too much. I’ve only just begun to start uncovering all of the layers of how I would shrink myself, make myself and my voice smaller so that I could be just enough for people. Read More>>
Jai Cade
I believe my confidence was shaped by constant change. Growing up, I attended six different schools throughout elementary and high school, which meant I was always the new girl…always stepping into unfamiliar spaces around new people. Those experiences taught me early on how to adapt, hold my own, and show up as myself no matter who was in the room. Read More>>
Mic Harrison
I use to be extremely shy and quiet, especially when I was a kid. My dad was overbearing and I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness in the 70 and 80’s south which does not instill a lot of confidence. Read More>>
Brandon Conti
I am not quite sure when the change happened and maybe it hasn’t changed completely, but I know from where I was when I was growing up to where I am now, I feel like a different person. Read More>>
Dan Howard
I still remember sitting in front of my laptop at 11 PM on a Tuesday night, staring at an email from my third potential client that month. Another ‘no, thanks.’ My hands were shaking slightly as I closed the laptop—not from the rejection itself, but from the voice in my head whispering, ‘Maybe you’re not cut out for this.’ That was 2019. Read More>>
Joelle Joyner-Wong
Confidence was something that I struggled with for a long time. In school I was that girl who never said a word in class. The girl who would have a panic attack if she was asked to read out loud or had to present in front of the whole class. I was afraid to use my voice. Read More>>
Ashley Douglas
I think developing confidence and self-esteem is an ever evolving thing. I’ve learned to become confident in myself and my work but it was definitely the biggest struggle in the beginning. I had my first baby and wanted to document everything about her. Read More>>
Emily Schranck
Confidence and self esteem, like healing, are practices that we choose to integrate into our awareness daily, rather than a state we achieve and remain in once we arrive. Confidence is built through consistency. Showing up for oneself time and time again, honoring your intuition, engaging with the practices and hobbies that inspire and uplift you, often. Read More>>
Thomas Chappell
I developed my confidence by finding myself. Initially, finding myself was hard while in high school. I was bullied almost every day nonstop for almost 4 years straight, until I had enough. I couldn’t give eye contact to other students in the eyes because I felt they were judging me and criticizing me. Read More>>
Alison Deyette
Confidence didn’t arrive like a lightning bolt—it showed up gradually and continuously the more work I did and the more I realized my voice mattered and I was good at what I delivered. Read More>>
Elizabeth Moore
I’ve been a professional digital artist for over a decade, but the moment that really changed everything for me was my very first convention where I sold my art. I was 17, super shy, and honestly hiding behind my oldest sister, who was tabling with me and doing most of the talking. Read More>>
Cashmere Morley
When I first started running a company, I had to learn to trust my instincts—there wasn’t anyone telling me I was making the right call on a design direction, a client decision, or a public art proposal. Over time, I realized confidence isn’t about never doubting yourself; it’s about learning to move forward *through* that uncertainty and trusting your experience. Read More>>
Anya Shumskaya
Confidence and self-esteem development is a never-ending journey for me – it evolves alongside my life. I’ve always struggled with insecurities about my body: wearing concealer to bed at sleepovers, waterproof foundation to swimming practice, or avoiding short skirts without tights to hide my cellulite. It wasn’t until I started writing and talking about my acne journey online that I realized my experience wasn’t unique. Read More>>
Aleya Harris
Confidence didn’t arrive gift-wrapped. I had to build it in the dark. After I had my daughter, I went through postpartum depression so deep it felt like my light had been unplugged. I was used to being the woman who could walk into any room and command it. Suddenly, I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. Read More>>
DeShaun Jay
Remember you can never stand out if you’re too determined to blend in. Master your tunnel vision and focus on what you aim to accomplish because there’s room for all of us. I’ve always been somewhat of an alien in the room. Read More>>
Margo Segura
I would say that all the traits you have listed: confidence, resilience, work ethic and generosity came from seeing my mother struggle with all the ‘isms’ as a child. By example, as a single mother with four children, she fought against sexist landlords, racism, sexism and low wages in her workplaces. She held 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet. Read More>>
Anna Kreynes
As a dancer and child performer, one needs self-confidence and self-esteem. However, many performers are at home on stage but not in their personal lives. Gene Kelly always said, “Balance your career life with your personal life.” I try to follow that. Always work at something you love. Read More>>
Colleen Coleman
Believe it or not, I was actually very shy as a child. Moving to new towns twice during elementary school was especially hard, I was always “the new girl,” standing on the edges, hoping someone would notice me. But somewhere along the way, I realized that being the new girl didn’t have to be a burden, it could be an opportunity. Read More>>
Aylia (AM) Colwell
This is an ongoing struggle for most artists, I’m sure. As an actor and a writer, I constantly face rejection, and it requires not only a thick skin to continue, but a confidence that I am good at what I do. Read More>>
Christine Simmons
For a long time, I confused confidence with perfection. I thought if I worked harder, achieved more, or stayed two steps ahead, that sense of certainty would come. But what I really developed in those years was the habit of apologizing — excessively — even when I wasn’t wrong. I asked for permission when I should’ve just moved forward. I played small so others could feel big. Read More>>
Leanna Pascascio
Confidence and self-esteem aren’t something you go searching for in some hidden place, they already live inside of you. They just need to be unlocked and nurtured to truly blossom. Read More>>
Whitney Zimmermann
I used to really struggle with feeling “good enough” in many areas of my life. I was entirely hesitant to embrace who I was and make that person known. I constantly looked to others for validation or to set bench marks for what success should look like. But, then I met the person that is now my best friend (and husband). Read More>>
Chantam Duong
Honestly, by just doing things. What’s helped me build self-esteem has been intentionally pushing myself into challenges and then looking back at what I was actually able to do. Read More>>
Ariel Phoenix
I developed confidence and self-esteem by completing the hard things. Everything that I thought I couldn’t do; college, graduate school, teaching, buying a house, I was able to accomplish. I have learned to lean into my strengths and find ways to accommodate for my weaknesses. Read More>>
Kevin Lowe
When it comes down to building our own self-confidence and self-esteem I’m not going to act like I have this all figured out. But from my own life’s experience I feel it comes down to us focusing on two simple, yet essential steps. Read More>>
Richard Philbrick
Finding my confidence has been one of those journeys that, in the moment, feels like it never ends, and then I have this almost out of body look in the mirror that helps bring things into perspective. It can come from all kinds of different places, self reflection being the main catalyst. Read More>>
