Perspectives on Developing Confidence

It’s okay to be scared, often that’s a sign that you are pushing yourself towards greatness. However, it’s equally important to build up your confidence and we hope the conversations presented below can help provide some food for thought around how you can level up your confidence and self-esteem.

Robyn Ashley

Developing confidence and self-esteem is definitely a journey, and I believe it’s something that’s always in progress. For me, it starts with self-awareness—understanding what impacts me both positive and negatively is important. I make it a point to celebrate small wins and try to find a learning each time something doesn’t go as planned. Surrounding myself with supportive people also plays a crucial role; their encouragement can make a big difference. Read more>>

Jocelyn Zheng

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through hands-on experience and a commitment to continuous learning. As I faced various challenges in the escrow process, each successful transaction helped me recognize my strengths and build my problem-solving skills. Read more>>

Talayaq Jessie

For many years, my confidence and esteem were depended upon external validation. As a little girl, I was teased about my complexion. What some may have deemed as silly jokes, I interpreted it as truth. However, I have always had a desire to be a part of the fashion industry. I would often pray and ask God why someone with so many insecurities would have such a strong desire to be a part of an industry that was so vain. It wasn’t until I experienced real healing that I recognized my beauty was within. I accepted that the external only represented what the internal possessed. Read more>>

Dakota Tracht

Confidence and self-esteem is an incredibly personal journey. When I was younger, I had a bold, blind confidence, the sort of confidence that one has when they have not yet faced significant challenges in life. I have always been incredibly driven and excited, and this is what gave me the belief that I could do anything that I wanted. It served me well at the time, because I shot for the stars from a young age. But it wasn’t until I faced true adversity that my core inner confidence began to blossom. Read more>>

Krzysztof Meisinger

In my opinion, self-confidence always follows belief in what you do and what you love. Be true to yourself and do what you love for the good of others, and you will see that self-confidence is always present. It is directly proportional to the faith and positive energy we emanate. Let’s not be afraid to look into the future, because fear always weakens us and tries to deceive us. We create the future and the more faith and confidence there is in this creation, the more beautiful it will be! Read more>>

Ninette Howell

The seeds of my confidence and self-esteem were planted early in life, nurtured by a childhood filled with love, encouragement, and faith. My father who is an entrepreneur, owns a barbershop and a few properties in Los Angeles, California. His barbershop has served the community for over 40 years. Through him, I learned resilience and found the courage to pursue my dreams. I watched firsthand how passion and perseverance created a successful business. Growing up with two loving and supportive parents developed my confidence that I can do anything I put my mindset to. Read more>>

Chris Ortiz

Wish I could say it just magically happened one day but truth be told developing my confidence has been a life long journey. By nature I am a very anxious person who rarely rolled the dice and took chances. The fear of rejection handcuffed me and in turn left me stuck on the sideline. I do believe that sports were my saving grace and the baseball diamond was the first place I felt comfortable in my own skin. Some well timed success helped me get into college with a baseball scholarship and gave me a chance at a better life.  Read more>>

Centineo Brown

I really appreciate it when people ask me about confidence and self-esteem because in today’s world, the media often makes us doubt ourselves. I’m currently working on rebuilding my own confidence and self-esteem, and it’s a journey I’m taking one step at a time. Read more>>

Yili Zou

I learned to believe in myself from believing the people around me. If I think my sister is worth loving, then I should be worth loving too. If I think my friend should have more confidence in his work than I should too. We should be able to celebrate our successes and move on from our failures. It’s not like I can go back in time and redo it.
Of course you can’t always act rational when you’re in turmoil. But you can have confidence in simply existing. I’m still living and breathing! That’s pretty amazing! Read more>>

Jarin Rafa

Growing up as the first child in a business-oriented family, I had the privilege of observing my parents navigate the intricate challenges of entrepreneurship for over 35 years. Their resilience and ability to overcome obstacles taught me a crucial lesson: no challenge is insurmountable if approached with patience and perseverance. Witnessing their unwavering determination instilled in me the belief that success is built upon continuous effort and grit. Read more>>

Bradley Looney

My journey toward developing confidence and learning to love myself hasn’t always been straightforward. There were sharp turns, obstacles, and sometimes the path led to a cliff. I don’t think this path ever truly ends. I believe it becomes smoother and calmer as we move through life, but there will always be twists and challenges to face. Read more>>

Jean Oh

I gradually developed my confidence and self-esteem by embracing successes and failures in my work. Early on, I learned that taking risks and stepping outside my comfort zone was essential for growth. Every challenge, whether exploring a new technique or pursuing an unfamiliar interest, allowed me to learn and improve. Surrounding myself with supportive mentors and peers has also been invaluable—they’ve helped me recognize my strengths, especially when I doubted myself. Read more>>

Kasey L. Martin

I’ve always had an inner knowing, from an early age, that I was different in how I thought. I never felt compelled to follow what the majority did and have always walked my own path. I realized this early on through moments of self-discovery, where I went against my instincts and followed others, only to feel out of alignment with myself. I’m a deeply feeling person, and when I ignore what’s on my heart, I feel it deeply in my body. To avoid that discomfort, I learned to stay true to myself. Read more>>

Theresa Lennahan

Growing up, I wasn’t the kid that stood out. I was quiet and content to blend in. I had good grades and loved being creative, but none of that ever felt worthy of celebration or confidence. Looking back, many things contributed to my childhood shyness and insecurity. But now, when I think of that little girl or look at my own confident 10-year-old daughter, it’s almost unimaginable that I was once a child without any self-belief. Today, I’m the co-founder of Little Sundays Studio, a creative agency led by women. Read more>>

Chufei Yang

I believe that building self-confidence and self-esteem starts with recognizing that you already possess these qualities. To me, we all have self-confidence and self-esteem, though they may manifest differently or to varying degrees. These attributes often fluctuate, but they are inherently part of us. My confidence stems partly from acknowledging my abilities and partly from tangible achievements. It’s not just about external validation or praise from others but also about measurable accomplishments, such as opportunities to exhibit in galleries both locally and internationally, awards, and recognition from industry professionals. Read more>>

Hannah Buzzo

I think building confidence and self-esteem is a lifelong journey and practice, but I do think I have come a long way in the last several years. A big thing that has helped me develop confidence and self-esteem is by taking risks, and challenging myself to be vulnerable. A big way I have done this in the last year has been launching my new mental health podcast, Are We Happy Yet? I was really scared to do this (and still am!) but putting myself out there in this vulnerable way has helped me feel more confident in myself, and the work that I do. Read more>>

Jenny Alexander

This is a large part of my story because I lacked confidence and self-esteem in my younger years. I settled when it came to friendships, dating relationships, and my first marriage. I was married to a serial adulterer who neglected me in every way. When I said finally said no to that unhealthy first marriage after almost 13 years of misery, my confidence and self-esteem began to rise. It was the first step in gaining self-respect and confidence. I said no to toxicity and yes to myself. Read more>>

Taylor Michelle Ivey

I began developing my self- esteem and confidence at a very early age and have never been afraid to go after what I want. As I grew into womanhood the more I understood my purpose and knew that doors beyond my wildest imagination would open for me. I have always been a go getter type of girl and been authentically myself. This has helped drive my passions and dreams. I’ve always been open to practicing new behaviors that help me grow and mature as an individual.  Read more>>

I had to remember that you might not be beautiful in everyone eyes. I know that we all have different looks and honestly I love the way that I look. When I was growing up I had a big insecurity problem. My face was darker than the rest of my body and I hated my nose. I hated my lips to the point I got lip fillers. I kept my nose the way it was because it makes my face. I feel like changing your nose is changing your identity in some way. Overall I had to love myself. I started doing my hair more and I started using the right skin care as I got older. I had to remember that God made me who I am and I had to love myself even if another person doesn’t. I love every part of me now and nothing can change that. Read more>>

Gregory Smith

From mother father and grandparents also can not forget about my wife and life partner for always reminding me that as long as I trust in Jehovah, that I can do anything I wanna accomplish. Read more>>

Aria Stiles

Confidence and self-esteem comes from serving others and by gaining purpose through it. You really have to put off self-centeredness when it comes to being confident. Ultimately, Jesus is my confidence. Through all of this, practice and diligence ultimately pays off. Read more>>

Gloria Walker

I found my confidence and self-esteem through a combination of personal reflection, overcoming challenges, and embracing my inner strength. Initially, I struggled with self-doubt and the weight of external expectations, but my journey has been marked by moments of resilience and growth. As I faced obstacles and learned to trust my instincts, I began to recognize my own worth. My confidence grew as I confronted my fears, took risks, and achieved personal victories. Each setback became a stepping stone, teaching me valuable lessons about perseverance and the power of self-belief. Along the way, I also learned to surround myself with supportive people who uplift and encourage me, further reinforcing my sense of self-worth.  Read more>>

Faithima Wright

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been quite the journey. I realized this year that I struggle with the fear of being perceived. After having worked in this business for the past few years, I’ve started to learn alot of things about myself. The more I learned about my strengths and weaknesses the more confident I became. With every new experience, I’m learning to accept myself. Being a creative isn’t about perfection. Trusting the process to form into a new creation takes trial and error. Being true to myself is what has created the space for me to have my career. Read more>>

Eva Benjamin

My confidence and self-esteem have grown significantly through overcoming challenges. In the past, I struggled with self-image and often feared judgment from others, which made me uncomfortable speaking in public or being the center of attention. However, about a year ago, I made the decision to compete in a pageant, stepping far outside of my comfort zone. I knew this experience would push me to grow and gain confidence in myself. Read more>>

Billy Grubbs Ii

Unveiling Strength Through Vulnerability. In the shadow of a strict upbringing, where emotions were seen as a sign of weakness, my journey towards self-discovery has been a transformative quest to redefine what it means to be strong. This chapter delves into the pivotal processes of emotional liberation, mindset change, and the crucial establishment of boundaries—each step fostering a deeper connection to my true self and leading to a life of authenticity and freedom. Read more>>

Tiara Mcgriff

Honestly, I developed my confidence and self-esteem when I decided that I want better for myself. True story, I was sitting on the sofa one morning with my feet crossed, and a thought came to me: How can I give my best if, I’m not at my best? You see, self-esteem is like an onion- you must peel back the layers in order to level up in confidence. Developing in these two areas required me to first make a conscious decision to change my course of direction. Second, I needed to align my goals with who I envisioned myself to become and where I see myself going.  Read more>>

Saika Satomi

I was born and raised in Japan, but from an early age I lacked confidence in myself and cared too much about what others thought of me, so I couldn’t really assert myself. I came to LA at the age of 20 with nothing and no English, and now I run two businesses. I’ve finally found my true self and self-esteem. It wasn’t easy getting there. Read more>>