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.

Melanie Goff

Confidence wasn’t something I just woke up with—it was built over time. For me, it started with embracing who I am, flaws and all, and realizing that my voice—both literally and figuratively—has power. Music became my way of owning my truth, and the more I poured myself into it, the more I found my confidence growing. Read More>>

Erica Lastarr

like when I was a skinny kid with long legs, glasses, and couldn’t always keep up with the latest fashion or hairstyles. As I observed people I once admired for their looks and popularity, I realized that many of them weren’t truly happy or kind. That was a turning point for me. Read More>>

Keante Mooney

I cultivated my confidence and self-esteem through my journey as a single mother, relying on a small but invaluable support system. My work ethic became not just a priority but a necessity in shaping my future and pursuing the dreams I envisioned. Read More>>

Alex Stanford

My work ethic is based in the belief that any skill can be attained if you take the time to learn the fundamentals correctly, put in the hours required to reach mastery, and continue learning. Read More>>

Milo .

To be honest, I haven’t always been the most confident person. I was born with a bit of a diva attitude that helped me through much of my childhood, but once I hit my teenage years, I became more aware of societal standards. Read More>>

Aaron Knight

I can’t pinpoint a specific moment where I knew my confidence and self esteem were high, I just always remember not being afraid to say something or have eyes on me. As a kid I just thought highly of myself, I guess that comes from being told I was special and a miracle as a child. Read More>>

Max Adelman

Developing my confidence and self-esteem came through years of trial and error, as well as learning to accept that if the people around you don’t embrace your true, authentic self, then it’s time to walk away. Read More>>

Olabisi Oshikanlu

From Self-Doubt to Unstoppable Impact

“Confidence isn’t about titles, looks, or achievements. It’s about knowing you are valuable just as you are.”

Leadership was in my DNA. As the eldest of five, I was relentless, ambitious, and driven. Losing my physician father at nine only fueled my determination medicine became my mission. Read More>>

Lydia Parrish

It’s an interesting thing. I had low self esteem growing up. I was bullied in every arena I found myself in. For a long time, I coped by people pleasing and acting as a sort of chameleon. Big shocker, that lead to more low confidence. I didn’t see myself as the unique individual I truly was. Read More>>

Samuel Poku

Unlike many bloggers, YouTubers, and so-called journalists who simply type away behind their social platforms, I’ve always believed in using my voice to amplify the narratives that matter. My fearless attitude, combined with my poise and vibrancy, sets me apart from others in this space. Read More>>

Hong Lin

Through Work

I grew up with little confidence—I was always the tallest girl in the room, always the one who caught attention. Back then, I didn’t like the way I looked—my features, my body, my height. I was the quiet one, trying to take up less space. Read More>>

Hetal Patel

Confidence and self-esteem are a work in progress—there are days when I walk into a room feeling 100% sure of myself, and other days when imposter syndrome creeps in. But over time, I’ve learned that confidence isn’t something you wake up with—it’s something you build through experience, growth, and continuous learning. Read More>>

Kelly O’donnell

Much of my confidence and self-esteem comes from my parents; they raised me to know that I was worth everything and could do anything. However, that doesn’t mean that your confidence never wavers throughout life. Read More>>

Fijiplus

A lot of it comes from just doing whatever it is, whether it’s releasing a song, or a short film, or even an instagram post. It’s also good to take a step back and acknowledge your accomplishments every now and then. Read More>>

Lucy Tetreault

Building confidence can be a tricky process, especially when there are so many other talented artists in the world.

I build my confidence by doing things that scare me and push me out of my comfort zone. This is the only way to keep growing. Read More>>

Michele Monroe

Working hard on my channel has given me more confidence. I can see how far I’ve come with editing and the quality of my videos and that makes me proud. At the end of the day, it’s important that you’re proud of your work and know you’re doing the best you can. Read More>>

Shawna Rowena Morgan

From a young age, I learned that my worth was rooted in the love and support of my family, friends, and my unshakeable connection with God. Yet, even with this strong foundation, there were seasons in life when my self-esteem wavered. Read More>>

Ryan Leach

There’s both good news and bad news about how I developed confidence to be on camera: it took a lot of practice. That’s good news, because I believe anyone can do it. But of course, the inherent bad news is that it takes work and a lot of time. Read More>>

Jae Hunter

My confidence and self-esteem were forged through some of the most challenging experiences in my life. In my early years, I struggled with self-sabotage, and after enduring several toxic and failed relationships, I reached a turning point. Read More>>

Leen Gundogdu

Confidence and self-esteem come from embracing who you are and owning your unique style. As a designerat KIVANCI, I developed mine through experience, continuous learning, and seeing the impact of my work. Read More>>

Andreas Alfaro

I have developed my confidence and self-esteem through discipline and consistency but more importantly doing hard things!

I maintain a strict regimen as far as physical and mental health. I push the boundaries of my physical and mental learning capacities on the daily. Read More>>

Stella Crowl

My parents divorced when I was 8 years old. My dad had custody of my brother and I, so I didn’t grow up with my mother in my younger years. I faced insecurity and low self-esteem issues. My dad did the best he could to raise us, but he couldn’t replace the mother, nurturing part. Read More>>

Chef Erik Vigil

Fighting for a place at the table. In a house of four siblings, you learn early that nothing is handed to you. Attention, respect, space, it’s all something you earn. You either make yourself known, or you get lost in the noise. Read More>>

Joshua Danskin

I didn’t. That may seem a bit misleading, but confidence isn’t a thing you have, at least not in my case, it’s how you act. Those thoughts in the back of your head telling you that you aren’t good enough are always going to be there. Read More>>

Akilah Whitaker

Confidence and self-esteem are things I actively work on every day. Whenever I start to doubt myself or have negative thoughts, I acknowledge how I’m feeling in the moment but don’t let it consume me. Instead, I combat it with something positive—whether that’s speaking affirmations out loud in the mirror, dressing up just because, or even buying myself flowers. Read More>>

Lexi Vondrak

I’ve always believed that self-love is the foundation of true happiness. When you fully embrace who you are, everything in life starts to feel more natural and fulfilling. That’s why creating content never feels like work to me—it’s an expression of my authentic self. Read More>>

Mary Tomassetti

How I Developed My Confidence & Self-Esteem
I’ve always done things a little differently, and while that made me stand out in great ways, it also meant I was often misunderstood. Read More>>

Lily Chen Kokoefer

Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual and deeply personal journey for me as an artist. In the beginning, like many creatives, I struggled with self-doubt and the fear of judgment. But over time, Read More>>

Swetha Chinnari

My journey toward developing my self-esteem and confidence has been a blend of experiences across my personal and professional life. As an international model and pageant winner, I’ve had the opportunity to work in industries where confidence is key. Read More>>

Fernando Alvarez

I built my confidence and self-esteem through various methods, including pep talks and client feedback. Confidence was a crucial factor in creating and growing my Mobile Mechanic business. Read More>>

Soneka Dekid

Honestly, I didn’t initially have it. It actually came from strangers who appreciated my work and would openly let me know and give me motivation to continue working on my craft. Strangers who would reach out to highlight my growth. Trusting me to have them as my canvas. Read More>>

Asia Hamilton

I get my confidence from believing in myself—but that wasn’t always the case. I always knew I had a gift for photography; it came naturally to me. However, my teachers were harsh, doing their best to criticize that confidence out of me. Read More>>

Katey Kingra

My self-esteem is mercurial. When I feel up about myself, which is the majority of the time, it is often traced back to this simple truth: I love humans. I’m a human and so, naturally, I love myself. What I love about us is how multifaceted we are, how impulsive, joyful, thoughtful, scared, and quirky we are. Read More>>