Champion Mindset: Building Confidence & Self-Esteem

Every day, our team is focused on how to help our audience and community reach their full potential in every part of their lives – personal and professional. Building confidence and self-esteem is one of the most essential requirements for success and below we’ve presented some of the conversations we’ve had around how to build confidence.

Amanda And Nicole

In order to be a good Mahjong instructor, you have to be able to hold the attention of the room for a long period of time. That is hard to do if you lack confidence and self-esteem. The beauty of teaching Mahjong with a partner is that we can lean on each other in moments of weakness and be the confident presence in the room when the other is having an “off day”. Having a friend along this journey is worth its weight in gold. With Amanda’s background in HR and Nicole’s background in Law, we have a way of connecting with all different types of people and have had to develop confidence in public speaking. We enjoy connecting over a shared love of Mahjong despite our different backgrounds. Read more>>

Ashley Dobson

Confidence and self-esteem are an ever-evolving process for me and, honestly, how I feel about it depends on the day! I’m not a huge fan of the “fake it until you make it” mentality. But sometimes, especially in the beginning, that’s what it takes. There have been moments where I’ve had to step into rooms or take on responsibilities that felt way outside my comfort zone, and in those moments, pretending I had the confidence (or the delusion in today’s social media parlance!) helped me get through until I truly felt it. Read more>>

Linda Cohen

Developing my self-esteem and confidence didn’t happen overnight; it was a process that unfolded over several years, with plenty of journaling, affirmations. and day dreaming. As a stay-at-home mom, I found great joy and fulfillment in nurturing my family and taking part in various volunteer opportunities. However, when my father passed away, my kids were 6 and 9, and his death inspired an idea that would ultimately change my life and career. Read more>>

Yuhao Wang

Imposter syndrome is one of the things that has haunted me the most during my time as an artist. I sometimes refuse to charge for commissions or willingly do the work for almost half of the original price simply because I am dissatisfied with the quality of my work. Now, I have become more confident as an artist, not only because of how much I have improved, but most importantly because I’ve learned not to do the right thing for the wrong reason. I also try not to blame myself for things that are not in my control. The process of overcoming imposter syndrome can take a while, but it is possible if we start to realize how often we blame ourselves for unreasonable expectations and goals. Read more>>

Dawn Bassett

At about age 8, I was an observant, quiet kid. People would call me mouse or shy. I started an apprenticeship with a local artist about half an hour from the wilderness I grew up in. Once a week for two hours I would go to her garage and work alongside her at some sort of medium. Watercolor, mosaic, stained glass…she would talk to me like I was her age and if I got hungry she would make popcorn. She took me seriously, lent me books I still love to this day, books by Tom Robbins …Barbara Kingsolver. I felt she was herself with me and expected me to do the same. Being able to form my sense of self in this way gave me not just confidence but integrity. I could hold beliefs and defend them. It was very empowering for me, the tiniest girl in her class. Read more>>

Alison Cabanillas

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through both personal healing and overcoming my own rock bottoms. Growing up, mental health wasn’t something openly discussed in my family, so I had to navigate difficult emotions and situations on my own. Going through those low points and being able to pull myself out using practices like Reiki, meditation, and sound baths gave me a deep sense of confidence. I realized that if I could heal myself and rebuild my life, I could help others do the same. Now, I’m able to guide people through their own struggles, offering the same tools that helped me. Each time I see someone else thrive through these practices, it reinforces my belief in the power of healing and in myself. Read more>>

Lisa Aisato

I remember I learned the word “illustrator” at the age of 13 and wrote in a school essay that I wanted to become one when I grew up.
I left high school with excellent grades and a strong belief that I could make a living as an illustrator, but then I wasn’t accepted at the school I really wanted to go to, and when I started at another school I had a really difficult time both socially and academically. So after a year I had lost my self confidence and my belief in becoming an illustrator and artist, so I made a big decision, I quit art school.  Read more>>

Nova Baggerly

I developed my confidence and self esteem through working out at the gym and feeling confident with my strength and endurance. When I’m able to go to the gym and lift weights that are heavier than before it makes me feel empowered and confident. I didn’t work out much before but decided I needed a change when I noticed my weight wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I started going to the gym every day and pushing myself. I used the apple watch and tracked how many calories I burned through closing the circles on my watch. I had to stay disciplined through this and kept a log of my efforts in my notes. Seeing my new self made me feel amazing. Read more>>

Aylin Pashaian

I started dancing when I was 7 years old. As a dancer, you learn to keep your head up, shoulders down, relax your face, smile and tap into your emotions. You want the audience to really see your embodied movement, paired with dancing your heart out which could only happen if you tap into your emotions and show up confidently. You also have to be disciplined, show up on time, show up fully ready and do the work. As a ballet dancer, I had some strict teachers, but all those teachers taught me many things which I’m super grateful for. Read more>>

Garrison Bailey

I used to be very self-conscious and afraid to share my talent when I was younger. As I got older and matured and realized that I would stay stuck in mediocrity if I did not learn how to first, hone my talent, practice my craft, fall in love with the sound of my own singing, learn that I am good enough and what I have to say is important. I purposefully told myself that I may embarrass myself and I may miss a note or play a wrong beat on the drums, and I did often, but sing anyway, play anyway, and I did. When I stopped caring about other peoples view and thoughts of me and my talent, I started to thrive. Read more>>

Jackson Randall

I will never forget the day I decided to get out of my comfort zone. I picked up the camera and went to a public sporting event in my area (Battle At The Rock). In fact, 19 year old me, who was fully capable of driving, and had been driving for some years at that point… had my dad drop me off, due to gut wrenching nerves. As I continued to peruse this passion of mine, I made myself vulnerable… I branched out, asked questions, then became friends with other creatives, so on and so forth. Things then began to flourish. To all of the young kids or new creators…take that risk, ask questions, study the craft, and be a sponge.  Read more>>

Torre Washington

After going from low self esteem as I child, I started bodybuilding to become a super hero. Once I was able to create that physique my confidence went through the roof. Once I entered college and learned about my culture it raised self esteem. Now, that is not an issue. Read more>>

Katie Gilmore

When I think about myself, the first word that comes to mind would not be “confident”. However, as I’ve grown in life, I would like to think that I possess a quiet confidence. I know what I am good at, and I know that I am good at it. I let my work speak for itself. Read more>>

Smiz Smith

Confidence is built through repetition. When it comes to Art, or anything in life, repetition builds speed, accuracy, and confidence. The more I create with favorable outcomes, the better I feel about taking on new challenges. I’ve been able to build my self-esteem by realizing that everyone goes through something in their life. No one in a good place will say anything bad about someone that’s making a genuine, honest effort. That, and having a low self-esteem or feeling “embarrassed” is a mental punishment we put on ourselves. We judge ourselves based on how we THINK people perceive us when we make an error, trip, stumble, anything. Read more>>

German Gamboa

My career as a Tattoo Artist, has helped my self-esteem and confidence greatly; however, it has been a long journey, full of trial and error. I quickly learned that feeling confident and having good self-esteem are key elements when tattooing. From a young age, I had the opportunity to participate in many sports, mostly due to my family always encouraging me to stay active, and without realizing it, I developed a sense of competitiveness. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I took part in many competitions, both in sports and drawing. Read more>>

Jennifer Nix

Persevering Through Challenges: A Mindset for Success
Starting and running a business—or any major project—requires not just skills but the right mindset. Here are the key principles I’ve learned through my journey:  Read more>>

Elen Richmond

I have been able to develop confidence and self-esteem in my creative work through repetition, practice, and continual learning. By dedicating specific times of the day or week to focus on certain studies, I’ve been able to establish a consistent routine that supports my growth and strengthens my sense of self-confidence. Small incremental change over time creates BIG change in the long run. Read more>>

Hannah Cohen-lawlor

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately since I’m directing for the very first time! I also produced for the first time this year, so it’s been a lot of firsts lately. It’s funny, I started out as just an actor, and getting humbled is basically a sport for actors, from the audition process onward, it’s part of the job. As a director though, it’s my duty to everyone who agreed to work with me to be confident, or else why would I waste their time? I’ve been learning everything I can, and getting as prepared as possible. I’m reminded that as an actor, I have been working with directors for years, talking to them in depth repeatedly about the work, reading hundreds of scripts and being on dozens of sets. Read more>>

Aby Rao

Developing my confidence and self-esteem was a gradual process influenced by my life experiences. A significant part of it stems from my upbringing and the environment in which I was raised. Read more>>

Cole

You know, my confidence wasn’t really something that I consciously decided to develop. It kinda just happened. I’ve always felt free to be who I wanted to be, even if it meant others didn’t like it. I see so many people desperately trying to be what their friends, family and bosses want them to be and they never give themselves the chance to ask: who am I? I know who I am, and I think I’m pretty cool. Read more>>

Alexandra Grace

To be honest, I’m still working on both. I’ve always been more comfortable in the background, and I am a dangerous combination of perfectionist and procrastinator. It’s hard to be perfect when you’re not great at planning. However, I’ve grown so much in all categories since I started writing. I contribute this to two things: 1) book publishing and marketing forces you to put yourself out there, and 2) I’ve found my community. Writing and the people I’ve met along the way make me so happy. With the help of my new author and reader friends, I’ve discovered so much about myself, and they inspire and motivate me every day, Read more>>

Lexi Lebaron

These weren’t the skills we were taught in school growing up. That’s what we do over here at Lexi’s School of Life. We learn the vital life skills never taught in school. Our purpose is to try to teach these skills at a young age so our kids can thrive through life equipped with the toolbox of skills they need. Read more>>

Kait Kenobi

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by embracing the very parts of myself I once tried to hide. We grow up in a world that rewards conformity—trends dictate how we dress, what we say, and even what music we listen to. For a long time, I felt stifled, constantly trying to fit in and wondering why it didn’t feel right. It was only when I started to lean into what brought me true joy and energy that I discovered something powerful: the best version of myself is the one that’s unapologetically weird. Read more>>

Shanese Shields

This is an ongoing battle every single day. As a child I lacked confidence and self-esteem due to being bullied in school. Something finally clicked inside of me when I realized why the children were bullying me. The girls used to tell me, “Ain’t nothing cute on you but your eyes, your hair and your skin!” As much as those statements crushed my self-esteem and confidence in the beginning, those feelings quickly changed. I started using my humor to get out of bullying situations, as I had an extremely smart mouth as a child. Read more>>