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.

Tso-Hui Ting

Read books, especially those successful people’s autobiography. Meditation and self-awareness.
The universe treats all people equally. But our own mindset and vision decides who we are. Obstacles are stepping stone if we know our purpose and what we want to achieve. Read More>>

Aaliyah Sullivan

When acting I used to often feel that I had to prove I belonged in the room. But over time I’ve learned that the more time I spent around people the more I trusted myself and learned that everyone messes up and that no one is perfect. No one is as focused on you than yourself no one is judging you but yourself so you have to remind yourself of that. Read More>>

Victoria Hirsekorn

Getting out of my comfort zone has been key, especially when I entered the illustration program, full of art and life, after having studied graphic design, where it forms an internal structure and system. From small experiences like trying a new food or going to a place I’m familiar with, to accepting jobs in a language I don’t speak or working with big brands; these were initially terrifying experiences, but I managed to overcome the obstacles that arose, or I learned from my mistakes so I wouldn’t make them again. Read More>>

Wesley Pulphus

One way that I develop confidence and self-esteem is through regular exercise. Particularly strength training and stretching. Weight lifting/resistant exercises are well documented as a great confidence builder. When you are stronger, it has a positive effect on your self -esteem.

Stretching increases your blood flow which helps you become more flexible, alleviates pain, helps you avoid injuries and feel better. Which in turn encourages you to do more! Read More>>

Kristen Clark

I didn’t develop it—I remembered it.

Confidence wasn’t something I built over time. It was something that revealed itself once I stopped trying to be who the world expected me to be. I didn’t follow a 10-step process. I simply stood in the fire of my life—again and again—and realized I was still standing. Still breathing. Still me.

That’s what burned off the noise and left behind the clarity. Read More>>

Lucas Lehman

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by dreaming big, consistently trying things outside my comfort zone, making mistakes, and persistently and consistently learning and growing as a consequence. The most profound example of this was the production of my original rock musical “Prime!” which was a small success in my home town of Santa Cruz, and then a financial and creative disaster in LA, only to be revisioned and rewritten and produced once again to great success two years later in New York City. Read More>>

Skye Fassett

I decided when I was just starting out in my photography journey that I would surround myself with people who were better than me. Learning skills they knew, and asking lots of questions. I kept practicing and participating in Print competitions in my state organization and with the Professional Photographers of America. Being around these mentors and friends taught me a lot about photography, and they boosted my self-esteem by having my own tribe that believes in me. Read More>>

Lynn Welles

That is an ongoing process for me. I’ve been an introvert for all my life. I prefer to stay in the background and go unnoticed in most situations. However as I grow older, I’ve learned that it could be beneficial to speak up and stop hiding.

Years ago I walked into a situation where I knew no one there. As I approached a small group of women, one stepped out and said to me, “Hi, my name is Carla. I don’t believe we’ve met.” And she reached out to shake my hand. That single moment was life changing for me. The feeling that I received when she took it upon herself to welcome me became a huge impact on how I behaved moving forward.  Read More>>

Nicole Teitler

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through movement. From a very early age, I would dance or play sports as an outlet for my hyperactivity and insecurities. The more I moved the less time I spent in my head. And the better I became at each physical activity the more my confidence grew. Read More>>

Hina Shahid

My confidence has been built over time, shaped by both my professional path and my personal approach to growth. With 20 years of experience in design—spanning interior design, user experience, and research for Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses—I’ve learned that confidence isn’t a single milestone. It’s a mindset that develops through practice, resilience, and self-awareness. Read More>>

Midas Black

My confidence and self-esteem came from being around myself more. I would meditate, go to the gym, be outside as much as I could, and from doing all of that, I could see the value in myself and the value I add when I’m in the room. That attracted people/artists who feel the same about themselves (whether they’re cognizant of it or not), and my confidence and self-esteem were strengthened because of it. Read More>>

Shaidy Gomez

My confidence didn’t come overnight. It came through prayer, healing, and learning to fully accept the woman God created me to be. There was a time I questioned my worth, my voice, and even my calling. But the more I poured into others—through my work and my service—the more I realized how much power there is in just showing up as yourself. I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t mean being loud or perfect—it means walking in purpose and grace, even when you feel unqualified. Read More>>

Tyler Crosby

That’s a helluva question for an artist – because for most of us, that’s an ever-evolving thing. It’s a lot easier to have confidence when you have the juice – when you just came off a killer leading role and it feels like you’re in demand. External validation can be addicting, and there’s nothing wrong with letting it motivate you to put in the work to perform.  Read More>>

Violet Prince

Confidence and self-esteem didn’t just show up one day — I built them, piece by piece. I started by showing up for myself consistently, speaking kindly to myself and keeping promises I made to me. I stopped basing my worth on perfection and started celebrating my body and myself as I am. I learned to quiet the inner critic and turn up the volume on self-compassion. I’ve also been intentional on the people I surround myself with, making sure that they uplift me, setting boundaries when needed and doing the inner work (even when it’s hard). Read More>>

Nikki-Sara Mitchell

I had developed a full blown earring disorder by the time I was 11. Much much later diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. For 33 years I struggled with this but never associated that it was a problem. I wanted that control. As a child growing up in England I did have a few good friends but I was bullied being called Chinese eyes a lot and I didn’t understand why.  Read More>>

Elaine Li-Reyes

Developing confidence and self-esteem came over time. I started teaching private glassblowing lessons at Franklin Park Conservatory, which naturally led to conversations with students about my journey. Sharing how I got into glassblowing made me reflect on the major milestones in my life-things I didn’t think were impressive until I saw how others reacted. Read More>>

Berliann Gomez

My confidence and self-esteem have been shaped by continuously stepping into new roles, industries, and challenges—often before I felt fully ready. Each experience, from my early jobs in administration to building my own business in energy healing, has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and proven that I am capable of adapting, learning, and thriving. Read More>>

Jeff

I love this question, because as a coach, the ability to develop confidence in our athletes is paramount. Having just completed my first year as a college coach on the Whittier College Swim and Dive staff, I was searching for ways to add to the team and have the most impact while doing work that was authentic to my identity that I had built over more than 15 years in the world of strength coaching, and then strength and swim training with professional and youth athletes. Read More>>

Jacob Griffith

My confidence and self-esteem were largely shaped by my background in competitive baton twirling. I was a member of Wheaton Dance Twirl Teams, based in Maryland, and had the incredible opportunity to compete across the globe under the guidance of my coaches Annie Kennedy and Dale White. Traveling internationally, performing on large stages, and representing my country pushed me out of my comfort zone at a young age. Read More>>

Ryan Dennis

I was actually thinking about this earlier today. Certainly I was not super confident in my style or creative abilities during my teenage years and probably most of my twenties. That being said, I have always had a strong desire to express myself. But as the years passed by and I flexed those muscles more and more, my confidence grew. Ten years ago I started working for myself and by myself in a creative business. Read More>>

Caroline Leary

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through a journey of transformation and self-discovery that challenged me both personally and professionally. Early in my career, I faced a significant turning point. In medical sales, despite being successful and driven, I found myself struggling with depression and the overwhelming demands of being a new mother.  Read More>>

Andeana Stewart

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a journey. As an author, I learned to embrace feedback and use it to improve my writing. Being a business owner pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I had to believe in my vision to succeed. Teaching dance and mentoring others has also boosted my confidence, as I get to inspire and uplift those around me. Surrounding myself with supportive people and celebrating small victories along the way has really helped me grow. It’s all about believing in yourself and continuously learning! Read More>>

James Meade

What’s interesting to me about this question is that my relationship with my confidence and self-esteem has changed so much from childhood, to early adulthood, and now as an established creative. As a young boy, through early adulthood, I held very low and fragile image of myself. These days I feel very grateful to have a completely different relationship with myself. Read More>>

Roxy Blazey Summers

I keep getting met with surprise and a bizarrely high amount of denial when I open up about struggling with both elements of confidence and self esteem, especially growing up and not being nurtured in that department. Setting aside the way it can manifest as what we medically define as anxiety- which often needs oversight from professional medical support, I have faced a lot of limiting beliefs due to these issues that have either frozen my ability to progress of to compensate by trying to adhere to other people’s standards. Read More>>

Hasmik Vardanyan

As both an attorney and entrepreneur, my decision-making skills were forged through a combination of legal training, business ownership, and real-world trial and error. Law school taught me how to analyze facts critically, assess risks, and anticipate consequences—skills that naturally carried over into running a business. But beyond that, growing a law firm required me to make fast, high-stakes decisions daily: hiring, client strategy, marketing, finances—all while maintaining the ethical and professional standards of the legal field. Read More>>

Azat Meirkhan

I learned decision-making through experience, trial and error, and constantly analyzing what works. Early on, I focused on small SEO wins, but I realized real success comes from long-term strategy and patience. At Mayday Air, every decision—whether it’s optimizing our website, improving local search rankings, or adjusting ad spend—is based on data and customer behavior. Over time, I’ve learned to trust the numbers, but also to stay flexible because digital marketing is always changing. The key is to keep testing, learning, and improving. Read More>>