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.
Jeremy Martinez
Overcoming rejection, whether in relationships or social standing, is never easy, but it’s often a powerful catalyst for self-growth. Looking back, it’s clear that the journey toward developing confidence and self-esteem wasn’t about a single breakthrough moment, but rather a series of steps—each one contributing to a deeper sense of self-worth and a more grounded sense of identity. Read more>>
Rakhi Gupta
The confidence came from within as parents were always motivating and supportive.Unconditional love from parents developed a sense of care and respect.
Working on my inner self Thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and actions developed a sense of confidence and self-esteem.
Deciplne and continious actions towards my project work with personal values and sustainable self-esteem boosted my confidence. Read more>>
Katherine Dubois Reed
I find it an interesting paradox that playing a character onstage (pretending to be someone you’re not) makes you more comfortable being yourself. I’ve seen it in myself; I’ve seen it in my children; and I’ve seen it in actors of all ages that I’ve worked with. It’s not universally true, of course, but so many times I’ve seen theatre experience make people more confident and less self-conscious. And I think it’s the experience itself, the community that’s created, the skills that are honed, that builds this confidence; and not success as measured by money, fame, or leading roles. I have been paid small stipends at times for acting or directing, I have been paid royalties for productions of my plays, I have actually had strangers stop me in public to say they enjoyed my performance in a show; but that’s not where the confidence comes from. It comes from getting involved with other theatre artists and creating something that only exists in the moment that it’s created, and that contains its own unity and energy. Read more>>
Kiya Kim
It is deeply tied to the life I have lived, a reflection of the inner density and self-reflection I have cultivated as both a human being and an artist. Particularly from an artist’s perspective, it is the accumulation of time spent refining myself, stripping away excess, and replenishing with richness each day. This process becomes who I am and the essence of my art. It forms a steadfast root and a solid framework for my life. What could inspire greater confidence than this? It is a truth as natural as it is profound. The density that has been endured and forged in unseen places does not easily waver—just as the sea is never soaked by rain. Read more>>
John “zagi” Jones
My confidence as a licensed drone pilot and instructor is deeply rooted in a lifelong passion for remote-controlled (RC) flight. This passion began with model airplanes, where the delicate balance of aerodynamics taught me precision and patience. Over the years, this hobby evolved to include flying helicopters and quadcopters, each new craft presenting unique challenges and learning opportunities. The countless hours spent fine-tuning controls and navigating through various flight conditions have honed my skills and fostered a deep understanding of flight dynamics. This extensive hands-on experience not only equipped me with technical expertise but also instilled a sense of confidence that I carry into every project, ensuring that I approach each task with a well-informed and practiced hand. Read more>>
Julianne Wolfe
I’d say the most significant realization to building my confidence came when I accepted that my version of success is the only one that matters in life. This applied both professionally and personally. So long I had tied my self-worth and my self esteem to success stories that others or society had painted for me. I finally recognized after a troubling period in my life that what truly was making me frustrated and unhappy was the version of success I was trying to attain. I did much self-reflection during this time, identified my personal values, and grew resolve around defining and educating those around me about what success looks like to me. I have goals and aspirations, but they are now mine and achieving them gives me the ultimate motivation to succeed. Read more>>
Ellen Dundon
Confidence and self esteem is something I have always struggled with. Now at 25, I am only just starting to truly be my own self and to trust myself and know I am worthy of good things. Confidence comes with time and having faith in yourself, plus a certain element of fake It until you make it! Surrounding yourself with people that boost your confidence is a huge factor. People who want to see you do well and who support and encourage you to reach you goals big or small. Read more>>
Sean Keane
Confidence and self-esteem come with experience. Experience comes from time and dedication. “We are what we repeatedly do, therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit” – Aristotle. My confidence and self-esteem is based on 31 years of experience in the US Army Special Operations/Special Forces. My 31 years of service, the selections, training and work, put me in some of the most austere situations and environments around the world. When you have lived the life I lived, there is no situation you can’t figure out. Read more>>
Nicole Hoschouer
Confidence and self-esteem have always been challenges for me—and honestly, they still are. But starting this business has pushed me to step outside my comfort zone in ways I never imagined. What boosts my confidence the most is hearing positive feedback from my clients. That’s why I focus so much on delivering exceptional work and creating a seamless, enjoyable client experience. Every time I see a happy client, it reinforces my belief in what I do and my confidence grows. I’ve also learned the importance of giving myself grace as I navigate the ups and downs of running a business. Growth isn’t always linear, but each step forward, no matter how small, makes a difference. Of course, I still have moments of self-doubt, but I’ve realized that real growth happens when you’re willing to put yourself out there and keep learning along the way. Read more>>
Sarah Fargo O’brien
Well, this is really an ongoing process; an ongoing effort. My confidence and self-esteem don’t remain at the same level all of the time. It ebbs and flows, like most things in life. There have been times when I have felt very confident and self-assured. And other times when I have had low self-esteem and negative views about my skills and abilities. I find that ongoing mindfulness, self-reflection, and self-awareness are integral to my levels of confidence and self-esteem. Reviewing progress and achievements, reminding myself of things I do know and have accomplished already is helpful. Recognizing that I’m a person, a human, and, therefore, will make mistakes and will not get things right eases the blow to my self-esteem when something doesn’t go well, or when I don’t perform well. And, maybe most importantly, I have to spend time with myself, without outside noise or opinion, to get in touch with who I am, what I know, and find rest in those truths. Developing self-confidence and self-esteem takes practice; it’s about accepting yourself, all parts, with compassion, and then owning it out there in the world. Read more>>
Brett Miller
What a tough question! So many things all happening at once to lead me or anyone to where they stand today. I always like to acknowledge that we all are truly products of our influences growing up, and even as working adults. We are so much a reflection of the people, places, activities, events, etc. that make up our lives. So much of self-esteem and confidence, in fact, starts with the encouragement and general support that may or may not be around you. I, for one, owe a lot to my upbringing for bestowing a strong sense of self and understanding of my desires and mission. That is exactly who I am today. My parents and environment helped me flourish in ways I could only hope to emulate for my kids. Of course, that’s not everything. There are plenty of people coming from good homes and neighborhoods that are lost as adults, as well conversely people with tougher upbringings propelling themselves beyond anyone’s expectations. Read more>>
Dionne Sin City Medium
Whew! I feel like I was forced into developing my confidence and self esteem. I was always complemented on my confidence through the years. However, I knew often times that the outwardly appearance of confidence didn’t match what I was feeling inside. This was in majority due to the fact I was living inauthentically to who I really was. Of course thirty years ago Psychic Mediums were not as accepted, so I did my best to suppress this part of me. Throughout my career, I was known to be the “therapist” as everyone wanted to come sit in my office and chat or ask for advice. Funny thing is, most of the guidance I gave was spiritual, utilizing my psychic gifts. I would use my abilities to streamline processes and create solutions. But even retiring from the military, and having all these accolades, I still didn’t have the confidence to identify as a Psychic Medium. Instead, I got my Masters in Psychology thinking I would have the perfect cover. Read more>>
Haley Guilfoile
It’s definitely been a journey! I’m well aware that I’m a little bit of an odd one. I don’t think I felt very “accepted” growing up, and certainly never felt comfortable or beautiful in my own skin. The first time I really remember thinking “wow- I can be myself here!” was in San Francisco after starting art school there.
I think being surrounded by a more diverse bunch of weird art kids made me realize I wasn’t so alone.
A lot of that confidence blossomed when I realized I was one of the only students that already had a client base – the fact that I had a ton of experience selling my artwork at a younger age was something that I didn’t realize was abnormal. All of a sudden, colleagues and classmates were asking MY advice, and really wanted to hear what I had to say. That was a big paradigm shift for me. Read more>>
The Real Chelzzz
Getting clean and working the 12 steps has boosted my confidence and self esteem immensely. Before working the steps, I was broken and confused. I was doing well and my music had really taken off but I only was experiencing my self esteem through others that were praising and elevating me. Although that can help, it clouded my vision as to who I really am and I needed to take a step back and do some self discovery so I could feel all these positive vibes and accept them as my truth. Through working the steps, I was able to write a book and unpack my baggage I carried for so many years. By connecting with God and with myself, I developed real self esteem and self confidence that shined through even on my dark hours. Read more>>
Emily Palacios
This is a really interesting question to answer because I don’t think I took any deliberate steps on my journey to confidence. However, if I think back to my childhood I can probably say it all started when I was developing friendships. My dad was incredibly protective of me and my mental health, so when I would have a playdate with a new friend, he would sit there and watch how we interacted, if he saw that person was taking advantage of me, after the playdate he would tell me I was not allowed to see them again. So, from a very young age I was incredibly aware of my relationship to other people and their relationship to me. As I grew up, I was bullied mercilessly for my hair, my nose, and my person. I was very different than other kids my age because of my relationship to my siblings. I have two older brothers and they are 8 and 10 years older than me, and I was lucky enough that they wanted to include me in their life. Read more>>
Bahby
My confidence and self-esteem developed through my experiences as a college athlete and baseball player, and these lessons continue to shape my work as an engineer, producer, and drummer. Baseball taught me resilience — the ability to fail, learn, and keep going. This mindset directly translates to my approach in engineering and music production, where challenges are constant, and persistence is key. Read more>>
Lost Ravens
I grew up with crippling social anxiety that affected my performance in everything I did. As I grew up and wanted to work in music, I realised that I won’t get anywhere unless I conquer my social anxiety and then began my long and arduous journey of conquering this mountain by networking with music business professionals, developing my music production skills and growing up to be a more confident version of myself. Read more>>
Aisha Makara
When I was a child I like to go to explore. And i went a lot alone to see new places around my village where i grow up. And many times other kids wanted to go with me on discovery and i was the boss of them. I used to say to them if you are going to cry i will leave alone here and nobody will come to save you. Or I said i will not take you next time with me. Because many times kids cried. They needed to eat and they felt scared and i needed to calm them down. Since then I learned I am confident and i have a great self-esteem. At school i was a leader of the class for many years in the road. I had a lot of responsibilities and I was leader of Volleyball team and my tourist adventure team leader. I had confident not take this roles and lead them. And i had always ideas to create different ways to make things happen. Read more>>
Starrla Noble
This is a journey of self-acceptance, confidence, and resilience in the face of numerous challenges. It starts with childhood bullying related to my body and appearance, where I would hide my curves with oversized clothes to avoid attention. As I got older, I began to embrace my femininity during my senior year of high school, I started to dress in clothes that fit my body, wear makeup, and style my hair, inspired in part by my friends. Read more>>
Amanda Deltuvia
I think that allowing myself to know that no matter where I go, I belong. When you learn to embody that you belong anywhere, because you are kind to yourself and embody your purpose – it makes navigating spaces and triggers that may come up way more manageable. It is easier said than done! When you are aligned with your soul calling and know who you are in that very moment (flaws and all) it helps curb the fears of judgement from others. Know that your purpose and power conquers any false pain of not belonging. You are here and you belong! Creating your own communities and safe spaces helps too. Read more>>
V Wescott
The consistent amount of support I’ve gotten doing music this whole time makes me certain I’m going to make it. The first song I recorded when I was 17 had my high school friends going crazy ( I did not even think that it was that good myself). This was at a point in time where everybody decided to make music (the Soundcloud rapper era) so seeing that many people unironically love all my songs was a great motivator. At this point in my career, I don’t got over a week or 2 without getting a message from somebody telling me how much they love my song and to keep going. I rarely get any hate comments either: I know it’ll come at one point but a lot of my friends in music get them right now. All this consistent belief in my craft keeps me pushing. Read more>>
Gabriela Mafra
I’m always thinking that if I don’t trust myself or prioritize myself nobody else will. I’m responsible for what people will think about me and how they will see me, so if I’m not confident about who I am how can I show the world how good I can be? Being self-confident makes life smoother because we can do everything if we believe it. I try to reach my best version everyday so I’m proud of myself when I look at the mirror. In that way the people I love will be proud too. Read more>>
Wiseonearjay
“Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a journey of self-discovery and growth. I’ve learned to embrace my unique voice and talents, understanding that my path is meant to be different from anyone else’s. Faith plays a huge role in my life—knowing that God has a purpose for me gives me the strength to push through challenges. Read more>>
Jamie Rubeis
That is a tough one. Especially for an introvert, like myself. It took a bit of practice and training. When I was first starting out in my career, there was a lot of learning that still needed to be done as with most careers. In portrait photography, it really is an ever-evolving door of learning. However, in the beginning, it was very scary for me to feel confident with knowing how to not only pose clients, but also engage with clients. I think over time, it became easier and I definitely became more confident. Read more>>
Bree Malueg
When I was younger, I cared deeply about what people thought of me. My confidence and self-esteem hinged on praise and support from my parents, teachers, and peers. My sport of choice when I was younger was ballet, and my instructors were always saying, “Do it with confidence, and no one will know if you mess up.” This concept was easy while dancing because the audience didn’t know the steps. But applying it in real life is tricky; sometimes, your audience does know the steps, and they’ll see if you mess up. This is the real key to being confident: confidence has to come from within. Relying on external sources will never provide you with real self-esteem, only temporary gratification. Read more>>
Jason Becton
I am a firm believer that each and every one of us holds a lot of insecurities and the challenge for us is to prevent those insecurities from keeping us down and defining us. I am a gay, Black biracial man who grew up in the 80s and 90s. Despite the fact that the area I grew up in was very racially diverse, I did not know really any other children who had a family structure that was similar to mine and I struggled to understand how I belonged racially. I certainly, at the time, did not know of any other kids or even adults who identified as gay or, if I did know of them, they were presented as someone I didn’t want to be. All’s to say that building confidence was off the bat going to be somewhat of a challenge. Read more>>
Jasmin Pannu
In the last few years, I’ve been able to bring a degree of confidence into my business and art that has made the whole journey more exciting and rewarding. As an artist coming into the industry with no prior experience, art school, connections or stamp of approval, I needed to use the first few years to prove it, first to myself and then to my clients. What really helped me at the beginning was that I didn’t romanticize my job as an artist, instead I approached it with the same business acumen, grit and work ethic that you would any business. When my taste and what I could imagine producing was leaps and bounds ahead of my actual competency, I didn’t take it personally, I simply continued to show up, and try my hand at it again, and again, and again. Now that I’m able to create at a level that matches my taste and preference, I feel confident in my execution- and at the same time, because I want to continue to grow, I’m deliberately widening the gap by exposing myself to new levels and calibers of artwork that I strive to achieve. Read more>>
Dani Johnson
I grew up in an extremely active family. My mom was a gifted athlete and my three brothers excelled in tennis, basketball, and football. Sport, organized or pick-up, was always a part of our lives. As the only girl, I was determined to match my brothers’ athleticism. Initially, my self-esteem was firmly rooted in my ability to perform on the field. I played soccer. When I was very young, there were no girls teams in our area. I played with the boys. I took great pride in my ability to be a top player. As I grew older, the confidence from sport parlayed into the classroom. I enjoyed learning. That quickly changed in middle school. I was bullied mercilessly. It was brutal and went on for years. The self-esteem that I had relied on earlier wavered. I struggled. I was lonely and afraid. One summer, I started playing with a new soccer team. I was pulled-up to play with the older girls. It was incredible. My wounded heart started to heal. Read more>>
Jia-En Ho
This was a struggle for me for most of my life. I would often compare myself with other artists, and while this could sometimes be inspiring, it usually made me feel demotivated about my own work. It became very easy to emphasize what I was lacking in, rather than what I did well. Over time, I found that the key to building confidence was focusing on my own journey and celebrating my accomplishments, no matter how small they are. Everyone goes through their own path to success, and to put down my achievements simply because they don’t seem as impressive compared to what others have done would be unfair to myself. I discovered it was important to look at myself holistically and take into consideration everything I’ve done up to this point. Reframing my perspective in that way helped a lot. Read more>>
Joe Parrello
Growing up my family moved several times. As a matter of fact I went to 4 different school districts by the time I was 12. Constantly being the new kid wasnt always fun but it developed certain characteristics in me that shaped who I am today. I remember one time specifically I was in 6th grade and my parents moved from NY to Florida in the middle of the school year. My first day in the cafeteria with my lunch tray in hand I looked around for kids thatI thought I could relate to and walked over to their table, introduced myself and sat down. It takes a certain level of self esteem and confidence to do that. Read more>>
Olga Shykalo
Building my confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual, transformative journey rather than an overnight success. It’s been about learning to embrace challenges, finding lessons in failures, and celebrating even the smallest victories. Early in my career, I often doubted myself, especially while leading campaigns for global giants like Dell, SAP, Google, and Intel. These high-pressure roles taught me to think strategically, trust my expertise, and remain calm when stakes were high — a skill I didn’t realize I was building at the time. Read more>>
Paige Worthy
Oh, you haven’t heard about the Confidence Pill? I took that — worked like a charm. Just kidding.
It’s work, man. I got bullied pretty hard when I was younger. One memory that really sticks out for me is early on in high school, when Baby Nerd Paige knew how to hand-code HTML and had her own little website on an Apache server in her dad’s office.
I was finding my writing voice and trying my hand at short stories (they were objectively awful). I published a couple of them to that little website, and two boys from school found them and started sending me cruel (anonymous) emails about how terrible my writing was.
Yes, I’m still holding a grudge. Read more>>
Maria Loram
My journey toward confidence and self-esteem began a long time ago, during my time as a full-time tutor. This was my first real profession, and it took me years to feel truly comfortable and assured in my abilities. Building confidence in that role involved consistent effort, learning to communicate effectively with clients, and trusting myself to deliver great results. Over time, the amazing feedback, reviews, and outcomes I achieved reinforced my belief in my skills and allowed me to step fully into my role. Read more>>
Jennifer Crain
I’ve become more confident as I’ve aged. And part of that is that I take living and aging seriously. I’ve taken time to face myself through therapy and journaling. I allow my friendships, my relationship with my husband, and my role as a mom and a sister and a daughter to change me. I’m honest with myself in ways I never would have been 30 years ago — I’m more honest with myself today than I was even last week. I try to keep growing. Read more>>
Chloe Street
My journey to confidence was a combination of investing in my mindset, taking intentional action, and committing to self-discovery. Rather than sharing my entire life story, I’ll share some tips on how I went from insecure to confident—and how you can too. These insights not only helped me unlock my full potential, but may also serve as a compass on your path to confidence and courage. Here are transformative mindset shifts that propelled me to take action, ignited my self-discovery journey, and guided me toward confident living. Read more>>
Chris Zehnder
It’s a long story, but an interesting one. (Though sometimes, life has a funny way of testing your confidence.)
As a kid, I struggled with severe social anxiety and a lack of self-confidence. It was so intense that I would experience near-panic attacks when speaking to strangers or going through job interviews. The anxiety often compounded on itself—I became anxious about the anxiety I knew would come. This vicious cycle left me feeling paralyzed, unable to get a word out. Read more>>
Ashlee Marie
Confidence and self-esteem didn’t come to me overnight—it was a journey rooted in faith, self-discovery, and resilience. Growing up, I experienced challenges that tested my sense of worth and identity. However, these experiences became steppingstones, teaching me the power of leaning into my faith, understanding my purpose, and embracing my unique journey.
One turning point was realizing the significance, relevance, and power both of my story and in my story. Writing Blessed and Bad 2 the Bone allowed me to reflect on the valleys I’ve walked through and how those moments shaped my calling. Through my faith as a Christian, I began to see myself through God’s eyes—worthy, capable, and loved—and that truth became the foundation of my confidence. Read more>>
Adeola Adeosun
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by pushing myself out of my comfort zone, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and focusing on my strengths instead of comparing myself to others. Over time, those small steps added up and helped me believe more in my abilities. Read more>>
Kennedy Taylor
Growing up, my mother always pushed me outside of my comfort zone. She was able to see all that God had placed on the inside of me and she wasn’t willing to let me waste it. I’ll be honest, I highly disliked it at the time. However, looking back on it now, it greatly benefited me in the long run. As an adult, I am now able to do things that make me nervous, or are outside of my comfort zone, with confidence and boldness thanks to my mother’s consistency and affirmation all those years! Read more>>
Viviane Chauvet
I quickly realized that trusting my intuitive abilities helped to strengthen my self-esteem and confidence in my decisions. After I graduated from college, I managed to get an interview for one of the most prominent school boards in Montreal, Quebec. My freshly earned college degree caught the attention of the recruiters. During the interview, the interviewer asked me, “Why do you think we have selected you for a potential position with us?” I took a deep breath and responded confidently that my new skills could significantly impact their educational system and projects. I still remember how I felt when he offered me a position at their head office. It was the beginning of a 17-year career. Read more>>
Ben Eisendrath
I was not inclined to bold action, nor did I have innate confidence as a child. What I did have was a father that had both qualities, and a family environment that encouraged exploration, and rewarded the simple act of embarking on it.
A specific example of childhood exploration that built confidence was fishing. Dad introduced me to it (as many Dads do) young, at the family farm. The concrete skills it required, coupled to the quick feedback loop of failure to success, resonated with me immediately, When I’d mastered fishing from shore all I wanted to do was take Dad’s boat out fishing. Alone. I worked tirelessly to earn that right. I wanted to push my limits further, and prove to myself that I could do it all on my own. NOTHING demands more problem solving, improvisation and concentration than being on a boat solo, in pursuit of a quarry. Read more>>
