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.
Cammry Lapka
Confidence is a ruse and self-esteem is a frame of mind. When I was younger, I was known as “the quietest one in class.” I was terrified of social interactions and I kept to myself as much as possible. As I got older, I realized I needed to change if I was going to sell my artwork /and/ sell myself. I remember being hard on myself all the time for “not being good enough” and “not being smart enough.” Only thing was, I am good enough and I am smart enough. Convincing myself otherwise was counterintuitve to my life purpose. Over the course of a few years, I practiced positive self-talk. For every bad thing I had to say, I made myself think of one good thing. This literally kickstarted a whole personality change. Once I began talking to myself with kindness and love inside, everything else came naturally. Confidence is directly rooted in your self-esteem plus experience. So, I enjoy going out and getting experience, pushing my boundaries each time I’m out. Read More>>
Howard Zinahgel
Understanding yourself and knowing who you are, I think, plays a huge roll into having confidence and loving yourself. Self-esteem will come into play once you are true to yourself. Opinions are opinions at the end of the day. I’m still really open minded to other peoples opinions and constructive criticism. You will know what you want and need to succeed in this environment. Read More>>
Jaylan Speights
Building confidence and self esteem while juggling harsh realities of everyday life, can be challenging. I would say meditating really helps me, it allows me to be present in the moment and speak and breath positivity into myself. It is very important to always take a moment for yourself first, so you can always be the best version of you. Read More>>
Jon Handelman
Confidence is a big issue for many people that I’ve coached. It comes from finding your inherent worth and value, and getting past the negative self talk that we all learn d growing up. Something that has been helpful for me has been doing things I’m proud of, like a creative project or volunteering for a cause. Both make me feel better about who I am. Read More>>
Jaimie Anand
I personally think confidence is gained from experience and continuous work within the field. If you feel confident, it will show to both the clients and your colleagues when out in the field. Read More>>
Yona Lewis
I strongly believe in being kind to myself it helps me recognize unkind thoughts by focusing on the positive and repeating positive statements. Even if I have to act confident when I don’t feel it that allows me to still develop new skills and network by doing what I enjoy. Mostly, by taking on challenges and being responsible for the results signifies confidence within my ambitions. Read More>>
Adrienne Wise, LPC, CCTP
When I was about 10 years old a lot of things happened to me that year that was just remarkable. I broke my leg severely that year. It was a pretty bad break, but the doctor who healed me was the doctor for the NFL team the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins). I thought, what were the odds of that! Then I moved to a new school and despite being new I auditioned for a school play and got the lead role and for the first time sang in front of a live audience. I thought what were the odds of that! Then I heard the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) a very well known chorale group out of DC, were having auditions at the Kennedy Center. Read More>>
Alexandra Borzo
There was a time when I had a lot to say about self-confidence, but from a point of view that changed since. I remember my amazement when I learned how many people saw me as a confident person while I felt like I was drowning in a pool of self-doubt. How could I come off as confident if I struggled so much to like myself, to respect myself, to trust myself? Read More>>
John Phillips
Through my craft of knifemaking, I’ve honed my confidence and self-esteem. Each blade I’ve shaped signifies a personal voyage of growth and realization. Working with fire and molten metal breeds grace, intention and mindfulness into my life.
Despite facing a gauntlet of challenges, failures have never shattered me. Instead, they’ve kindled a fiery resolve. I’ve learned to view hurdles not as setbacks, but as catalysts for growth.
My approach has been shaped by self-reflection, ambitious projects, and an unwavering pursuit of goals, forging a resilient and positive mindset that enables me to keep my fires burning regardless of the odds. Read More>>
Wrendly Mesidor
To start, My father Domage Mesidor who was a Haitian professor was an outgoing human being, and communicating with everybody was a contributing factor.
As a young kid, I watched my father travel to different types of events, and being around many different professionals.
So, I aspired to be the same example and see everyone as friends.
That’s how I build confidence and self-esteem. Read More>>
David Deutsch
Ooof wow, what a loaded question. This I feel like I’ve been developing my entire life. Due to trauma in childhood and then all the issues that stem while you grow up, I had a skewed sense of self and was insecure. But through consistently working on myself, my image, my persona, and telling myself to get out of my head, has really helped me to lead a happier, and much more fulfilled and healthy life. Read More>>
JaQuita Johnson
Since I can remember I’ve always had the can do attitude since I was a kid and my self-esteem has ALWAYS been the highest. My mother would always say, “You can do anything you put your mind to. Keep God first and never give up.” That has always stuck with me throughout my life. As I got older & started to pursue my career the confidence began to fluctuate. I would be confident in getting a high score on finals and landing my dream job. When I didn’t get those things I’d lose that confidence & get super discouraged. I would beat myself up a lot if I didn’t meet my expectations for what my life should be in that moment. Read More>>
Kelley Wren
VNTRbirds (venture birds) is a company whose mission is to get more women in the outdoors with confidence, proper knowledge and self-reliance. To have such a bold mission, you have to have your own confidence. As owners and sisters, Leanne and I grew up in a rural area of Pennsylvania and were constantly outside. We gained confidence from constant exposure and experience in the wilderness. On the water, in the mountains, through the forest, we had the incredible privilege to call the outdoors our true home and feel so comfortable in its embrace. Read More>>
Bex Williams
As a boudoir photographer, I get to know women in an incredibly intimate way. I get to know their stories, their interests, their goals, and their insecurities. Over the years, i’ve noticed patterns in my clients and women in general. We accept unrealistic expectations for our bodies. We allow social media, celebrities, influencers, and more to convince us that perfection is not only achievable, but expected. We are expected to stretch and increase to create humans, but our body should not reflect the process once that child is no longer inside of us. Read More>>
María Elena Lavaud (AKA MEL)
When I was a child, I dreamed of being a great theater director. I loved to read and write. I remember always asking my mother if she thought I would make it, and she, without hesitation, always said yes, I would be anything I set my mind to be and do. So, I am convinced that the great confidence I have always had in myself came not only from my determination and my desire to achieve my goals, but also from the infinite confidence my mother always gave me. Read More>>
Alison Auditore
Blink 182 wasn’t kidding when they said nobody likes you when you’re 23! My self esteem at that age was at such a low. I was watching people from my graduating class soar, while I felt left behind. I’d always been sure of myself, but failing to achieve my goals post graduation lead to a lot of self doubt and depression. I started to journal regularly about my feelings, which eventually helped me feel comfortable enough to talk with my friends about it. It was like a light went on in my brain. Read More>>
Jasmine Shin
One of the key practices I’ve adopted is starting my mornings with intention and purpose. It begins with the simple act of getting out of bed, even when the allure of staying cocooned in my comfortable sheets is strong. I’ve found that resisting that temptation and embracing the day by showering and dressing up helps set a positive tone for the hours ahead. Taking the time to choose an outfit that resonates with my personal style, applying makeup thoughtfully, and styling my hair with care all contribute to a boost in my self-perception and body confidence. By making the conscious decision to prioritize self-care and presentation, I’m able to shift my mindset from negative to positive, fueling a sense of empowerment. Read More>>
Ruben Alvarez
You develop confidence by undertaking the worst circumstances and coming out the victor. People as whole, run in the opposite direction of anything new or change. When you run to pressure and run to change, you get put in situations that would break a lot of people mentally. When you are able to put yourself in those situations and not break, you develop confidence. Read More>>
Jason Reyna
This is a great question. Growing up I did suffer feeling confident in myself. It was a continuous battle that only I could get out of. For me, going to the gym was a form of therapy. The gym was the place where I could be myself the most and how I started to gain confidence and interact better with others. Though that was a start of gaining more self-esteem, I knew I had to get out in the world and interact more with people. Another note to add is surrounding yourself with individuals who exude positivity and always boost you up when you aren’t feeling at 100%. Having a positive influence in your life does amazing things that no amount of money can buy. Read More>>
Julissa Williams
Meeting my customers and receiving the support from my audience has developed a confidence I’ve been searching for as a woman and entrepreneur. I’ve struggled with self-esteem and having a brand where I create a product that encourages other ones to feel beautiful, bold and strong. Seeing that builds my self esteem. Read More>>
Domo Jones
As a child living with a disability, you often automatically get looked at and/or deemed as difficult because your flaw is on display. With that in mind, I knew I still had value despite my limitation, so why not give them a reason to look! My style is my style regardless of my limitations. People are going to talk regardless, so I got out of the mindset trying to please and just be comfortable with who God created Read More>>
Terrace Wyatt, Jr.
Reading lots and lots of plays; studying the aspects of what’s given in order to find your own path to tell your stories the best creative, profound, and influential as possible. Every time I read a play, I’m always influenced by storytellers for the theatre world that grinds my gears of brain storming my own pieces. Another one is music! My life has been filled with stress, major anxiety, depression, things that brings me down as if I’m dying with no resurrection. However, music is always my medicine just as much as writing my feeling onto the pages. Specifically I listened to all kinds of music but one of my personal, adrenaline, favorite artist that inspires me to be who I am as a person and as a creator is Chris Brown. He’s been my influence sine he started in 2005; he’s such a pro of lifting you up though his vocals and his journey he tells through his music and most iconically his concerts because his shows are like no other concerts, especially in the black community. Read More>>
Harsha Chathuanga
Throughout my career as a UI/UX, web, and graphic designer, I have focused on the continuing process of gaining confidence and self-esteem. Here are some key factors that have helped me build my confidence and self-esteem: Read More>>
Max Riehn
I chose this question because I feel like I am in the middle of developing my confidence and self-esteem as we speak. I think there are a lot of people who look at what I do for a living as a commercial photographer and assume that confidence and self-esteem come to you once you have pursued and gotten your dream job. However, I’m still not as confident about my work as I would like to be. The fact is, if you deeply and passionately pursue something, the more you learn about it, the more you realize how much you don’t know. You will meet people who know way more than you do about the subject matter, perpetually. Read More>>
Deonta Pace
Being Betrayed By People You Call.Friends Isn’t Easy Cause In Reality You Learn They Wasn’t Your Friends To Begin With. My Confidence Was Built When I Was Told I wouldn’t amount to anything, I.Was This I.Was That With 3 20$ And a 50 i.was backstab Many People.Turn On Me Family Wouldn’t Help So.Deonta Only Had One Choice Turn To God Or The Streets. Deonta Chose God Cause In.God All.Things Are Possible. But Watch Who You Call Yourself You Homie Friend And Brother Read More>>
Nicole Burch
I think confidence comes when you step outside of your comfort zone. I’ve had to push myself to do things within my business that I wasn’t very confident about, like doing videos for my social media. I used to be terrified to do videos. One day I just decided to take the leap, and do it. My first video was probably very bad, but at that time I went by the philosophy of, “feel the fear, and do it anyway”. Eventually, you get better and become more confident in what you’re doing. Developing self-esteem I think is different than building confidence. Read More>>
Kathy Katz
I feel like I genuinely connect easily with people. They quickly feel very comfortable around me and in return I love sharing my love of cooking with them. When you have a true passion for something, I believe that it makes it easier and more confident that you simply want to share it with everyone! Read More>>
Eileen Bild
There is a difference between confidence and self-esteem. Confidence is a state of mind or a way of being with a foundation of inner peace and having unbridled certainty, strong assurity, courage to take risks and clarity in decision making. Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves based on our internal belief system. Read More>>
Angel Mae Glutz
I realized, at a very early age, that I was a different sort of person. It was when I tried to fit in that there was no place for me. I was odd and only by embracing my oddness was I able to make any friends as a kid. Art and learning were all I cared about in my youth and when I poured myself into my passions, I excelled. The true friendships I cultivated by being genuine and the praise I received for my art and academics were inspiring. I thought, “I’m the only me this world is gonna get so I better give it my best.” When you truly give your all to everything you do, success is the natural next step. When you look at life as a series of little successes (and some big ones) the confidence and self-esteem come naturally. Read More>>
Wellington Marinho
Well, I have to say thanks to my Therapy. If I have any advice to share that would be it. Is not every day that a normal human being wakes up and feel confident. To be confident comes with daily basis of paying attention to yourself, doing what you love to do and good feedback from the others. If you’re feeling great with yourself, the other is gonna fell the same. I was a very shy kid when I was young, was never easy to comfortable with quiet way to be, but I’ve learned how to work on that. Self-esteem is about to recognize. Read More>>
Lauren Oliver
I developed my confidence and self esteem slowly over time. I really worked hard on eliminating the negativity in my life whether that be intrusive thoughts or just people in general! I made it a goal and mission to find things that I truly loved about myself and focused on those things. And my confidence was one of those fake it till you make it situations. I started out pretending to believe in myself until I truly believed in myself! And it worked! I also learned that every day is a new chance to wake up and be better than I was the day before and I refuse to allow any day to be taken for granted! Read More>>
Willie Tuggle
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by various methods such as observation, trials and errors, completion of task at hand ,seeking advice of others when needed. I don’t think outside the box or inside the box, I think outside of outside. Read More>>
Tamara Whitted
“OMG..I can’t believe that you are the same person from high school!” This is something that I hear quite often. I was very quite, shy and timid from adolescence all the way to adulthood. One day I just woke up and realized that I have been putting on a facade of happiness. My self- esteem was low and my confidence shot, I made a vow to myself that I would begin to live unapologetically. I began a journey of self love and discovering who I really was. I began journaling as a way to release the negative thoughts about myself and replace them with affirmations. I started to do, say and experience all the things I really wanted too. Stepping out the box and being uncensored really helped to boost my confidence. Read More>>
Natalia Carnevale
I use to struggle a lot with analysis paralysis. However, as I have grown I have come to recognize that was a self defense mechanism. The best analogy I have for this is a mama duck and her ducklings. If she starts moving every little duckling follows.
Decisions are similar. Make a decision with confidence. Everything else follows. Sometimes I don’t know how or why but I give it all I’ve got once I make a decision. Read More>>
Eddie Mickenberg
Over time, I see how valuable time is and where I am putting my attention towards. There are times you will need to make snapped decisions and quality decisions. Both need to be made at one point or another. Snapped decisions would be based on trusting my gut on what I believe is the right thing to do on the spot, which doesn’t mean to only consider the little pieces to the puzzle, but more importantly the entire board. If I know I need time I will also communicate that. More than likely people respect that and it shows the level of quality my decision is that I want to bring to the table. Asking the right questions to whomever or even myself is also important. Read More>>
Tanya Nygard
You can read any self help book and there will be some part that talks about those small daily choices we make that impact how we live our lives. Although there’s a sliver of truth in that, I believe we make our best choices based on what we’ve learned from past failures. My failed friendships taught me the kind of people I need to surround myself with. My failed jobs taught me what type of career to pursue. Most importantly failed marriage taught me the love I needed to give myself and receive from others. Overall, emotional intelligence has taught me when I need to trust my gut or past experiences when making decisions. Read More>>
