Confidence can open doors and is at the heart of so many amazing success stories across industries and disciplines and so we’ve always been interested in learning how we can help our readers and community members increase their confidence and self-esteem. Below, you’ll find highlights of some of the great conversations we’ve had on this topic.
Lisa Zahiya
I put courage before confidence. I have had, and do have a lot of self doubt that, at times, can spiral into negative self talk. However, in my life, I choose to put courage before confidence and did things, over and over, that I was terrified of. The secret is that doing things scared is what made me confident. Read more>>
Lisa Zahiya
I put courage before confidence. I have had, and do have a lot of self doubt that, at times, can spiral into negative self talk. However, in my life, I choose to put courage before confidence and did things, over and over, that I was terrified of. The secret is that doing things scared is what made me confident. Read more>>
Lauryn Nichole Hendrix
Developing confidence and self esteem wasn’t always easy for me. Growing up I always had struggled with confidence and loving myself. And it wasn’t until I graduated highschool that I fully felt confident in myself and truly realized my true potential. It started when I got out of highschool and I began to post more on social media and take more photos to help me fall more in love with how I look. Read more>>
Rielly Marquez
My confidence and self-esteem always seems to be a work in progress, at base level I am confident in who I am and the journey I have chosen. The obstacles of finding myself as an individual and artist, over time has brought feelings of shame, frustration and imposter syndrome. Though, through my support system, resilience and education, these feelings of self doubt have diminished immensely. Read more>>
Calista Garcia
I remember the exact moment in my life where I had finally gained confidence in myself. It was five years ago, during my freshman year of college. I had been with my high school sweetheart for over three years at that point. Unfortunately, he chose to go to college across the country. The distance was brutal since we had gone from seeing each other everyday to exclusively seeing each other on FaceTime. Read more>>
Julie George
Growing up, I was more familiar with insecurity than confidence, and it took me a while to realize that confidence isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you build by doing. The internet can have us thinking that someone else has all the confidence and courage in the world, but the reality is that most people you admire online have the same insecurities, vulnerabilities, and fears that you do, but they built up confidence by taking chances and trying new things, and proving to themselves they can do it. Read more>>
Julia Quena Kavi
Boosting my confidence and self-esteem has been a challenging journey, requiring a lot of work and effort. However, I have discovered a few pivotal moments that have helped me regain my sense of self-worth. One of the most impactful moments was when I began treating myself with the utmost love and care, truly recognizing myself as an incredible individual. Read more>>
Adé Miller
I developed my confidence and self-esteem from knowing that I was created uniquely. I know that I was given my gifts for a reason and that it is a part of my purpose to fully execute the ideas that come from the gifts I have. With knowing that I was created to shine the light given within me, the confidence didn’t take long to be developed it was more so about just getting better at my craft. Read more>>
Steve Morrow
By failing over and over again. I started learning Judo as a kid. My first randoris results were less than optimal, about 5 seconds into it I found myself flipped through the air and looking up at the ceiling. After getting back up and shaking off the embarrassment of losing, I also found in myself a commitment to learn and to do better. Read more>>
Andrea Testa
Confidence and self-esteem are like an ongoing adventure, a journey we all take in this rollercoaster of life. With every twist and turn, we learn to steer through new experiences and challenges. Right now, I stand at a point where I can genuinely say, ‘This is the most confident version of me.’ It’s not a boast, but a realization that the tough experiences I’ve weathered have played a role in shaping who I am today. Read more>>
Javier Pecos
Well, although I have improved immensely in this areas, my confidence and self-esteem are not something truly developed yet, but here’s what’s helped me get better. One of the most important things is something I keep being told; don’t compare yourself to others. To be honest, I believe that comparing ourselves to others is a natural human reaction, therefore it’s impossible not to do it. I’m convinced that everyone does it! Read more>>
Briana Bruneau
This is a really important question because I think there are a lot of people personally and professionally that think that I am extremely confident. The thing is I am not and it is something I am constantly working on. It can be very hard for me to pursue new leads and to put myself out there. It was becoming really easy to hide behind my phone and social media, to the point it felt like it was hurting my business because I didn’t seem like I was relatable when I was just posting generic images with AI captions. Read more>>
Brooke Hoover
I guess I faked it until I made it. I grew up as a shy kid, became super chubby at puberty and beyond so behaving super confidently and trying to deflect with humor was my classic toolkit of protection. And, in a way, it toughened me up for “the biz” and all of its drama and rejection. Yet, I’m also learning that it’s now important to break down those walls and let vulnerability in for me to be able to fully enjoy life. So, my self esteem feels more grounded now and not as sharp and jagged. Read more>>
Tony Rodini
I think that all creatives can agree that no matter where you are in your career, extreme highs and extreme lows are inevitable in regards to confidence and self-esteem. What’s important is resilience and balance. Over the span of my career as a producer/ songwriter I have certainly gain more confidence with every milestone I cross. Read more>>
Shannon Mann
As women, I think this is an area we all struggle with at some point in our life. As a breast cancer survivor, I was determined to come out stronger and more positive. Our bodies are beautiful and resilient, and survival is in our bones. When you realize your value, self worth and uniqueness, that’s when the confidence soars. Read more>>
Suzanne Karp
My brother and I marvel at this shared sense of confidence we both feel. No one sat us down and talked to us about how to build confidence. Our parents simply showed us. They lived their lives confidently and boldly, unapologetically. Sturdy, chins up, smiles strong, always radiating warmth and love. Read more>>
Ross Gordon
The confidence I have in my craft comes from a couple different places, the first being my father. Prior to my photography journey starting, I actually did not like it. I truly hated being in front of a camera or working with them. My father did photography as a hobby and would request that I help him test all his new toys and gadgets whenever he purchased a new one. Read more>>
Maxim Pronin
As I had previously mentioned on BoldJourney, I’ve been playing piano and I’ve been into acting&filmmaking for quite some time now, around 7 years. However, I’ve never really showcased any of my interests (and, uh, skills?) to the world or even my extended friends and acquaintances. I believed that, as I pursued the arts by myself without any professional education, my skill level would not be high enough and therefore not interesting enough for anyone to see or hear. Read more>>
Ma’yet
Personally and honestly, I have developed confidence through failing, getting up, failing, getting up, and having this play on repeat. In general, society sees failure as the end of everything, but if we shift our focus and ask ourselves, “What is this moment or situation teaching us?” then we realize it is not the end of everything. Failure has taught me so much more than success ever could. Read more>>
Nikki Contini
I am continually developing my confidence and self-esteem. The confidence journey is not a straight path in one direction, more of a spiral that moves in and out as I try new things and work on myself. I find that while taking risks and moving out of my comfort zones often feels a little unsafe and feelings of self-doubt or unworthiness rear their ugly heads, if I am able to not let fear be in the driver’s seat and allow myself to keep moving, I am rewarded with increased confidence and a deeper sense of myself and my capabilites which builds my self-esteem. Read more>>
Lulu Mason
My self-esteem has been the weight that has held me down for most of my life, as I’m sure it’s the same for any young woman in this day and age.But today, for the first time in my life, I feel liberated from that pressure. Now, I can shine forward in confidence. Read more>>
Emiland Kray
My confidence and self-esteem are 100% works in progress, and I constantly remind myself that my ‘best’ looks different everyday. While I was in art school, much of my confidence came from external sources of validation. I would feel good if my peers and mentors admired my work, and most of the artwork that I created was solely based on how I thought others would receive it. Read more>>
Petra Santana
My confidence and self-esteem have evolved through a combination of experiences, challenges, and intentional personal growth. Engaging in continuous learning, navigating through both successes and setbacks, and receiving positive feedback have all played integral roles in shaping my self-assurance. Additionally, effective time management, surrounding myself with a supportive network, and acknowledging and celebrating achievements have been crucial aspects of my confidence-building journey.
Emily Rose McLeod
I moved to Los Angeles at the age of twenty two without knowing anyone. I came here because I was fortunate enough to be cast at A Noise Within, a classic theatre company in Pasadena. Being amongst the thriving theatre artists at A Noise Within helped me find confidence in myself as an artist, and helped me find community when I needed it most. Read more>>
Carl Kravats
I developed my confidence by believing in my artistic sensibilities. You can develop confidence and you can be helped by those around you who believe in you. Working hard at understanding your true abilities is not always an easy task. If when growing up, you had a parent, a friend or teacher that gave you positive feedback, that in itself can move you forward with your confidence. The opposite can tear you down. Read more>>
Kobe Warner
Wow. This is a loaded question. Each one of us are uniquely ourselves, yet most of us want to be like other people. I think I finally found self-confidence when I realized that my differences are the only thing truly worth leaning into. I think the commercialization of so many artistic industries is ruining the best part of art – the individual perspectives. Read more>>
Jamila Brown
Growing up in a household with to bold and courageous parents, I regularly witnessed my parents make confident choices for themselves and our family. Both my mom & dad would regularly tell my sisters and I, “You can do whatever you want to do”. They said it so much it was nauseating as a child but it stuck with me. They supported me heavily in basketball through high school and college by sending me all over the country to play some of the toughest levels of competition. Read more>>
Emily Werner
Honestly, a lot of it comes from your mindset! I never thought of myself being the pretty girl in the friend group throughout high school and college, but as time goes on, you just start feeling more like yourself and you just care less of what people think about you! I believe that once you start believing in yourself and not letting the judgments of others affect you, it just starts to feel like a whole new level of confidence! Read more>>
Brittany Wilson
Building your confidence & self-esteem can take time, it is not something that just happens overnight. There’s a few steps I took that may be helpful for others: – Be kind to yourself. – Look after yourself. – Spend time with people who make you feel good. – Focus on the positives. – Do things you enjoy. – Become more assertive. – Stop caring about what others think. Read more>>
Olivia Hughart
I started playing music from an early age, and immediately had a lot of support from my band director at the time, Dr. Jenny Neff. Having a lot of encouragement was very helpful to my growth, confidence, and self-esteem. Read more>>
Lisa Duke
While I don’t think everyone feels confident all the time, I definitely have developed a lot of confidence through learning how to identify and shift limiting beliefs. I believe this skill is critical for success, and that’s why I spend a good bit of time with my clients teaching how them how to do this. Read more>>
Steph Lilly Smith
My journey to cultivating confidence and self-esteem has been a dance between resilience and self-discovery. Embracing the multifaceted roles in the entertainment industry, from talent agent to CEO, allowed me to harness a diverse skill set and navigate challenges with a sense of purpose. Grounded in the belief that anything is achievable with inspired action and faith, I’ve turned setbacks into stepping stones. Read more>>
Aqeel Aadam
When it comes to building confidence as an artist and entrepreneur, I think there’s a couple of really important elements to look towards. The first, which might be obvious, is just plain old hard work. Putting in the hours when nobody’s watching, when there’s only yourself to satisfy and yourself to impress. In all likelihood, you’re always going to be your own biggest critic, so once you’ve satisfied yourself, the public reception of whatever you’ve created will probably be far beyond what you might expect. Read more>>
Josh Overton
Honestly overtime. I was always kind of a shy kid. Or not really open to trying new things. That really changed when my friends in high school and I started a band in our senior year and competed in a Battle Of The Bands our high school put on. That I think is where the idea that maybe I won’t live life to the fullest and enjoy the things I could if I stayed shy so I forced myself to come out of my shell and learn to enjoy more in life. Read more>>
Carmen Jabier
It’s an on-going journey with constant setbacks, if I’m being honest. I’m really proud of how my work has developed over time, but it’s easy to get lost in your head when you work mostly by yourself. I don’t think self-esteem should be built on external validation at all, but positive feedback from peers and customers really helps confirm that I’m on the right path! Read more>>
Kasper Park
My confidence has not always been a strength. Growing up, I had a stutter that hindered me socially. It wasn’t a learning disability, but more it hurt my confidence and made me develop a fear of speaking my mind when asked to. I would avoid words, conversations, and people as a whole at times. Read more>>
Nicole Brice
To be honest, I have always suffered from low self-esteem and confidence issues, but since 2022, this has all been slowly changing. I grew up being mocked, made fun of, and bullied. My adolescence was truly rough. I was nerdy and thought differently than most. I will say, though, all of the negativity through the years has only made me stronger and as more obstacles are thrown my way, I continue to grow. For me, it’s all about mindset. Change the trajectory of your thoughts and the rest follows. Read more>>
Katheryn Labosky
This seems a little natural as I was always extroverted and enjoy people and new opportunities. There are some instances where I am not so confident but I meditate before facing these. I actually seek out situations that make me uncomfortable. As an example I once took a job that required public speaking to hundreds publicly. I had an ingrained fear of this but pushed through that and now love to speak publicly. As soon as I notice a lack of confidence in an area of my life I subject myself to it and in that way overcome it. Read more>>
Dana Azzi
Self-doubt is a feeling that I’ve become intimately familiar with throughout my life. The journey to develop my confidence and self-esteem has been a lifelong journey, intricately woven into the fabric of my diverse work experiences across the globe. Each professional chapter has played a unique role in nurturing my personal growth. Read more>>
Scott Toepfer
As a scrawny suburban kid in the 1990s, “confident” wouldn’t be a word I used to describe myself. I found a semblance of self-esteem through academics, where I was able to combine diligence with a potentially unhealthy desire to please my family to do well in school. I accomplished those goals in young adulthood but found my holistic confidence tenuously balanced with the mirage of mainstream success. Read more>>
Shivani Varandani
As a designer, I get my confidence by always striving to be the best at what I do and by constantly attempting to learn the best tools out there. My passion for design makes this journey not only fulfilling but also surprisingly effortless. The genuine enthusiasm I have for my work allows me to approach challenges with confidence; encouraging me to believe that my dedication will see me through even the most complex problems. Read more>>
Carmella Dean
Building confidence and self-esteem has been a transformative journey, and a significant portion of my growth can be attributed to embracing the philosophy of being unapologetically me. This journey involves daring to be different and recognizing the inherent value of embracing one’s uniqueness. In a world that often demands conformity, I’ve learned to celebrate the fact that it’s entirely okay to be weird – understanding that ‘weird’ is synonymous with being different, and different is a powerful asset. Read more>>
Monica Shulman
The thing that has helped me to develop my confidence and self-esteem the most has been to have patience with myself and realizing that most everything is a long game. There’s no instant gratification when it comes to being confident and it wasn’t something that came naturally or easily to me when I was younger. Like anything else, developing confidence and self-esteem is like a muscle that needs to be worked out and strengthened over time. Read more>>
Tiffany R Easley
“see” myself the way God sees me. Three core belief statements I have about myself are: I am made in the image and likeness of Christ. (Genesis 1:27) I had to recognize that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I am marvelously complexed. (Psalm 139:14) I embraced being a designer original and accepted my value Two actions I practice frequently are self-care and speaking affirmations which encourage me to be the best version of myself. Read more>>
Emily Sioma
I was a precocious child: loud, competitive, and always striving to be the best. As a young kid, I had heaps of confidence in myself and my ability to achieve the crazy dreams I had for my grown-up life. But, as most people experience, the “Oos” and “Ahs” you receive as a kid start to wane as you grow older, and little bits of shame and doubt start to grow as you become more self-aware. Read more>>
Amber Maalouf
This is one of those questions that can have different answers at different stages in life. You’re asking me at a time that questioning myself isn’t at the top of my to-do list, in fact, quite the contrary, I don’t think about it all. That hasn’t always been the case and maybe that’s a part of the overall concept – don’t think about it. I’m my biggest audience, my biggest critic, my biggest validator. When you start living up to your own physical, conceptual and existential standards – you start caring less about the negative or unfounded opinions of others. Read more>>
