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.
GENESIS MORALES
My confidence and self-esteem were shaped by several meaningful experiences and influences in my life. A significant foundation was laid by my father, who passed away a few years ago. He planted a seed of independence in me, encouraging me to be self-reliant and to believe in every step I take. Read More>>
JAHQWALE Wallace
I struggled for many years with low self-confidence, constantly comparing myself to other stylists and feeling like I wasn’t enough. But my relationship with God completely shifted my perspective. He showed me that the gift and skill I have were given by Him, and what I bring to my clients is far greater than just talent. Read More>>
Nakendra Mike
Believe it or not dance is the outlet that helped me build my confidence up. Dance was the boost to my self esteem that I needed as a teenager and still now as an adult. Read More>>
Tiago Santos
My confidence and self-esteem didn’t come all at once, they’ve been built slowly through experience, failure, and a lot of self-reflection. Working in theater has been a huge part of that. As an actor, you’re constantly asked to be vulnerable in front of others, to take risks, and to handle rejection with grace. Read More>>
Jackie Hunter
I’ve developed confidence throughout my career by forcing myself to take on tasks I wasn’t sure I could do, and volunteering for responsibilities I wasn’t totally comfortable doing. My very first job was teaching English in France, and before I took on that role I had only left the country once before. Read More>>
Kelly Wong
My confidence and self-esteem comes from my past and current experiences and proving to those who have wronged me that no matter what they toss at me to try to bring me down, it won’t happen. Read More>>
Ruby Sussex
I’ve developed my confidence and self-esteem by pushing myself to say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible, even when they scare me. I believe growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone, so I try to get involved in anything that helps me learn, connect with others, and develop new skills. Read More>>
Lucky G
I was always a shy kid but it was something about movies that took all that shyness away and I always acted and wanted to be like one of the characters. Since I started acting in 2021 I could use that craft to get out of my shell. Because I am not myself anymore, I become that character and everything he embodies. Read More>>
Bradley Pluth
Confidence comes from knowing what to do. That simple truth has shaped my journey as a coach, a player, and a person. Early on, I realized that confidence doesn’t magically appear—it’s built through preparation, clarity, and consistent action. Read More>>
Aza Goodwin
I didn’t always walk in confidence. In fact, for a long time, I struggled with it. Growing up, I experienced bullying about my weight and my hair. two things that felt so tied to who I was. It’s hard to explain the way those words stick with you, how they quietly plant seeds of doubt that you carry for years. Read More>>
J. B. Velasquez
The truth is, I’m not very confident. Some people think I am, but they can’t see what I feel, only what I do. You don’t have to have confidence to do a thing. If it’s something that you care about, you can’t wait around to feel confident about it before you do it. That’s where a lot of people get stuck. Read More>>
Mariah Swigart
For me, confidence and self-esteem have been built through experience. I’ve always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the phrase “fake it till you make it.” In the beginning, I think there’s value in putting yourself out there before you feel fully ready. It allows you to grow through action and learn from those around you. Read More>>
JImmy Matlosz
Confidence is a tricky friend, to me it is a confidant born from failure and nourished by success. Read More>>
Lindsay Neely
As an ex introvert, the confidence did not come easy. It developed slowly over time, gaining a little more each step of this business journey. I remember my first event, when Pink Fern was just a side gig, was just a small maker’s market around the Fayetteville square and I was so anxious about it I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. Read More>>
Nadiya Khan
I developed my confidence by keeping promises to myself. By doing things that scared me and proving I wouldn’t abandon myself. Every time I walked into a room alone, moved to a new country, started a business with no roadmap, stood up for myself, or chose peace over approval, my self-esteem grew. Confidence didn’t come from people clapping for me. Read More>>
Zoe Burgess
I learned to stop chasing other peoples ideas of art and what makes a ‘sellable’ piece of work. I’ve had a tough upbringing that left scars, helicopter parent, abuse and tearing away of my confidence and sense of worth, knowing I wasn’t going to be good enough, chasing that maternal love and trying to be normal and hating it. Read More>>
Jason Hickey
I believe confidence and self-esteem are a by product of a daily non-negotiable routine. I have been an athlete since I was 3 or 4 years old and I learned at a pretty young age that I would have to out work of kids to get where I wanted to go athletically. Read More>>
Rosemary Feit Covey
Confidence for many of us, certainly for me, was something I earned. It was not a sense of worth I carried from a happy childhood. My childhood was filled with discord and every family member suffered to varying degrees from my mothers borderline personality disorder and her inability to regulate her emotions. I had undiagnosed dyslexia. Read More>>
Jorah Saint James
Growing up and into my early adulthood I had very low self-esteem. I was so concerned about what other people thought of me, I was less of a coherent person with a realized sense of self, and more so the flimsy amalgam of qualities and aesthetics precariously purloined from just about every person I’ve ever met. Read More>>
Samantha Carroll
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have been able to lean into my strengths and passions – communication and collaboration. Read More>>
aisha makara
I was connecting with nature. and nature teach me the way I get to be, just be me and exrpess my needs and wants and wishes clear and intentional. I grow faster by being me and select right people for me where i can continie to be me. Read More>>
Corinne Ladymusicc
I tell people it started with a haircut. My mom finally let me get the haircut of my dreams for my 21st birthday. Most people wanted to go do shots. I was chopping off my hair and laughing hysterically while it happened. I believe some trauma was being released, I just didn’t know it at the time. I thought I was so happy. Read More>>
Alessandra Bosco
My confidence and self -esteem are a mixture of trial and errors, personal experiences, struggles. Feedback from others helped showed me what I have been doing well and where I could improve. It’s about knowing what I can handle and that I am capable of improving. Read More>>
Michelle Gravallese
I come from a unique family — not just one, but two sets of twins! I have a twin sister and twin brothers, only two years apart. Growing up as a twin often came with constant comparisons, which at times led to struggles with self-esteem and confidence. What always made me feel beautiful and empowered, though, was receiving beauty services. Read More>>
Bombshell Salon And Spa
We’ve built our team’s confidence and self-esteem through our Bridal Expert Apprenticeship. Every bridal expert goes through this program, which includes working on models for both hair and makeup to practice and refine their skills. They are required to meet specific criteria and milestones along the way, ensuring steady growth in both skill and professionalism. Read More>>
Zishi Liu
As a jazz musician, I found my confidence and self-esteem through the freedom of improvisation. There’s no judgment in that space—just honesty and expression. Listeners can feel it when you’re being real. I put in the work, practiced hard, and did my homework. So when I step on stage, I’m not trying to impress anyone—I’m just being myself. That mindset changed everything for me. Read More>>
Lucy Wayne
By staying active. I’ve always walked everywhere since I don’t drive, and about ten years ago I started reformer Pilates, which I’ve practiced consistently ever since. Being involved in community groups such as Team Murph in Bondi and The 440 in Bronte has also played a big role — being part of a supportive community is incredibly fulfilling, and we all encourage one another. Read More>>
Jessica Lynch
Confidence and self-esteem haven’t always come easily to me. For most of my life, I was able to hide my lack of confidence by sticking to things that felt comfortable. But as most of us know, there’s not much growth in the familiar. Becoming an entrepreneur has pushed me far outside my comfort zone and taught me that lesson firsthand. Read More>>
Jessica Anderson
Confidence is built by trying something new, even when it feels uncomfortable. Life is continually presenting us with opportunities for different experiences. The repeated practice of feeling uncertain and going ahead anyway has helped me develop my own confidence. One of my earliest memories is sitting at the kitchen counter with my mom and my sister. Read More>>
Daniel Corbin
I built my confidence and self-esteem mostly by being thrown into situations where I didn’t know what to do. Early on as a nurse, I made mistakes and faced moments where I had to make tough calls without a clear answer. Those experiences were uncomfortable, but over time my instincts improved with experience, and I learned to trust my judgment more. Read More>>
Renae Williams
Developing my confidence and self-esteem didn’t happen overnight—it evolved as I began embracing my natural hair and, in many ways, embracing myself. For years, I struggled with the idea that beauty had to look a certain way. Like so many women, I internalized the belief that straight, sleek hair was more “acceptable,” and that led to a lot of self-doubt. Read More>>
Schiniqua Brown-Rodriguez
My journey to developing confidence and self-esteem wasn’t an overnight success, but more of a gradual climb. It started with small victories – like graduating from college with two small children, and obtaining a 501 C3 for the non-profit I founded and making a difference. Read More>>
Raul Stefano
This was developed from years of rehearsal’s , it was important to get my 10,000 hours in the studio. It took deep and painfull sacrifice , but was worth it in the end. Read More>>
Teresa Robinson
I developed my confidence and self-esteem over time by realizing that we’re all just people doing our best, and that looks different for everyone. Once I stopped comparing myself to others and started focusing on being better than I was yesterday, I felt a real shift. Read More>>
Kelly Angelovic
I work as a painter and a coach for creatives, and one of the biggest challenges about being an artist is that the process, if you spend any time with it at all, brings you head-to-head with what I call ‘opportunities for growth and healing,’ aka your own BS. Read More>>
Alma Mirela
My confidence comes from both my businesses and my fitness journey. Opening Rival Esthetics in 2022 and Rival Studios in 2024, showed me that I can create something from the ground up and overcome challenges along the way. Read More>>
Toska Smith Washington
My confidence and self-esteem were built through experience. I’ve been through a lot in life—challenges, setbacks, and situations that tested me. But each obstacle taught me something valuable and pushed me to grow stronger. Over time, I learned to trust myself and my ability to overcome whatever came my way. Read More>>
