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.
Athena Fisher
Growing up my mother always encouraged that my brother and l develop positive self-esteem and confidence. My mom would always tell me that I was pretty and that I should never forget it, this was my mothers way of building me up. Building and instilling positive image about yourself is so important. Of course, we at one time or another lose our selves, whether it be our confidence or how we perceive ourselves. It helps to have your own personal cheerleaders, whether it be your family, your children or friends.. Read more>>
Rey Sunshine
Growing up in the industry at a young age you always have to work 2x as hard to show that you’re worth it, sometimes they don’t want to take a child seriously because then again we’re only children. So I demanded my attention, I had to breath in confidence and exhale anxiety if I wanted anyone to see my worth, and from there it’s been a build up. Every year I get more and more confident because if you don’t love yourself 100% who else will? Read more>>
Luciph
By going through darkness and being very insecure and having no confidence or “Rizz” growing up. I’ve still been single my entire 30 years of being. At first it was due to me only shooting for the stars yet I had nothing going for me so I was just trapped in my mind and could never be confident and put myself out there. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Dear
My family has deeply supported and nurtured my creativity and my unique perspective. As a professional artist and creative imposter syndrome and self-confidence is very much a struggle. I don’t think anyone in this line of work could escape that. However, building self-esteem and confidence is a skill on its own. I am grateful that when I’m feeling low I can look to my roots and know that I am supported. Read more>>
Jayla Smalls
I had to really do some self-work to develop my confidence and self-esteem. In today’s age we as girls regardless of skin color, ethnicity, etc. get lost in the looks of what we see on TV or what our male friends and counterparts drool over. You have to love yourself first. So what I’ve been doing every morning is giving myself affirmations in the mirror before I start my day and stating 5 things I love about myself. Read more>>
Cassandra Doxa
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through affirmations. I learned this method through my Dad. I’ve always dealt with lack of self-confidence and it took a long time for me to look past certain life circumstances and build my overall confidence. Speaking positive affirmations over my life on a daily basis helped me overcome doubt, fear and depression. Read more>>
Kennan Buckner
I think from an early age, I knew that I wanted to do something creative with my life. I didn’t think of “business owner” as a job, but I was always writing, journaling, crafting or making things. I think that sort of self expression from childhood led into expressing myself through what I was creating. Being confident that I was on the right path and doing something that I enjoyed gave me the courage to keep pressing into those skills and desires. I believe God orchestrates our path and our lives, and I know that even seasons of my life that were difficult have given me things that I needed for where we are today. Read more>>
Tessa Karrys
Developing confidence and self-esteem feels like lifelong work, but it’s work that I am incredibly grateful to have done (and continue to do). After experiencing abuse as a child, confidence and self-esteem did not come naturally for me. My lack of confidence, self-esteem, and a deep need to be seen and heard played a role in me choosing a path as a songwriter and performer. This path is what has brought me the most growth and healing in these areas as well. Read more>>
SIE
Confidence and self-esteem is built. Growing up I was bullied for my physical appearance and the trauma from it deteriorated my perception of myself. Between bullying and not having a stable support system for my mental health I was becoming drained and mentally unstable. The road to emotional stability and prioritizing my mental health was a tedious journey of self discipline and love. Read more>>
Jesse Shirts
I gained my confidence by simply putting in the work. The more you work on your craft and stack wins the more confident you become. Once you have results that you are proud of, you start to actually believe in yourself and what you do. And the more you belive in yourself the more you can accomplish and the better you can get. But for me it all starts with discipline. Putting in the work every day. Read more>>
Jessica Small
I developed my confidence and self-esteem from my mom. She has always been an encourager for my brothers and I since we were little kids. I do believe that parents play such a critical role in our lives. I honestly can say I rarely lack confidence in myself and I owe it all to my mom and the people in my life. I also believe when you know your worth then you simply know who you are. Read more>>
Dejon Brooks
ne of the most attractive things anyone can develop is self-confidence. This advice is valuable not only for the business world but also in your dating and personal life. There are two ways to develop your self-confidence. These two ways are external and internal Read more>>
Dr. Shekina Farr
I champion confidence today but I haven’t always been confident. I remember reading through my primary school report cards–back when the teacher wrote their commentary by hand–and the remarks were all about my shyness and lack of confidence. I wouldn’t talk in groups or read aloud when called upon even though I learned to read at the age of 4. I wanted no attention and shunned the spotlight. Read more>>
Jane Bishop
This is a great question and the key word for me is “develop.” Confidence and self-esteem are like physical muscles and must be developed and exercised. To strengthen my physical muscles I create an exercise plan of pacing, repetition and weight that overloads the muscles. I don’t always achieve the desired strength level with each exercise so I adjust the exercise plan and try again. Read more>>
Brenda Hernandez Santos
My confidence and self-esteem have grown over time through a combination of experience, feedback, and self-reflection. As I have accomplished tasks and achieved goals, it has reinforced my belief in my abilities and competence. Receiving positive feedback from others, especially for work done well, has helped boost my confidence over time. Read more>>
Elizabeth Saydah
For me, confidence has been borne out of experience. Period. I just do better “on the job” having to figure it out and feeling that real time, game day pressure. When you can get through that? Possibilities suddenly seem endless. Education is absolutely essential, but for me, that’s just the foundation. I can’t apply those learned skills without knowing I can absolutely use them. Read more>>
Byron Ford
Both of these are developed through the knowledge of who I am and what has been done for me. All of my confidence comes from competence in Christ and my self-esteem comes from my identity which I have as a result of His death and resurrection. Repetitiveness also helps with both of these because doing something over and over makes you realize how natural it has always been Read more>>
Candenetra Moore
I spent most of my adolescence with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. I was bullied relentlessly about my size in grade school so I was self-conscious about my weight. These feelings lingered, even into young adulthood but I found a way to soothe myself by burying my head into books and being an exceptional student. Read more>>
Dana Lyons
Developing confidence and self-esteem doesn’t just happen. It takes time, experience, and belief one step and experience at a time. I was a very shy, insecure, and sensitive child. I had more going on in my head than whatever shared. My parents divorced when I was about 5 years old. Who to trust, where I belonged, and if I was special filled my head and heart for years until one day Jesus asked me a question that changed my life forever. Read more>>
Jon Savitt
As far as confidence, my relationship with comedy and writing definitely started while attending summer camp as a kid (the same camp Bob Dylan attended!). I’m such a big advocate for camp. I felt like it was an environment that really rewarded you for being yourself when no other place would — and a place where you could take big swings in a controlled environment. Read more>>
Shariee Jones
According to my mom, I have always been strong willed. Being a singer songwriter at an early age, I’ve had to deal with a lot of rejection from record labels. It helped me build resilience. Also, having a spiritual path with God helps as well. Read more>>
Jennifer Anderson
“Would you like to try out for the speech team?” Read more>>
Chyl Music
Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a journey of self-discovery and personal growth for me. It’s been about embracing who I am and finding my own voice. Along the way, I’ve learned a few key things that have helped boost my confidence. Read more>>
Vanessa Charlot
Growing up as the child of immigrants, I knew early on that I did not fit into any box that was constructed for me. Being a Black woman from Miami, I leaned heavily on the fact that my family came from Haiti. An island maligned with poverty and strife but was the first model of freedom and independence in the West. My parents recalled this history to me often. This instilled in me, an unwavering faith in my ability to carve out my own destiny and play an active role in my future. Read more>>
Beverly Johnson
It was a gradual process. The first thing I had to do was unlearn everything I’d been taught about myself. Growing up, I was often made to feel that wasn’t pretty or that something was wrong with my features. So I grew up feeling as if I wasn’t enough. And that feeling impacted how I showed up in the world and the decisions I made. I eventually became my own worst critic. Read more>>
Saraphina Violin
I think getting into modelling and pageants helped me to raise my self-esteem and confidence on stage. Beginning modelling classes around age 16 helped me to learn better how to walk on the runway, and inspired me to have more confidence. While I was in university I competed in Miss Universe (Canada), Miss World (Canada), and Miss Canada, which really taught me to have more presence on stage which I apply to my performances to this day. For these pageants I also had to answer questions on stage, which taught me to be better at public speaking (although I still have a long way to go!) Read more>>
Rico Boone
To be honest, I always haven’t been the social type. I don’t really talk about it as much, but I have always struggled with social anxiety mostly during my younger years. In a way, it has always affected my confidence and my ability to be my true self as I would have very little to say or seem disengaging in social situations. I have always spent so much time worrying about the quality of the things that I wanted to say. Read more>>
Erika Meremy
My confidence and self esteem comes from the place within. I believe when we seek validation from the external- money, status, career it’s a false sense of confidence as what happens when it goes away? Our confidence goes with it. After doing much of the “inner work” I learned to cultivate my sense confidence and self esteem from have a defined and polished knowing of who I am at the core. Read more>>
Duncan Campbell
Such a great question! Professionally, my confidence is tied closely to my work ethic and to the years of practice I’ve put into becoming a great caricature artist. That confidence is confirmed when I see the reactions of my clients. which range from “I LOVE it!” to silent, convulsing laughter. I’ve done it so much now, that in the 7 seconds it takes a person sits down, I’m 60% done in my head. Read more>>
Jaime Pallotolo
It’s important to remember that confidence is not a destination but a transformative journey that interconnects with the ever-evolving duality of our lives. As we navigate the roller-coaster of existence, we inevitably encounter moments that offer opportunities for profound self-reflection, personal growth and inevitable success & fulfillment. Read more>>
Natalia Barlow
There is a common thread of self that ties the causes and effects of our lives together because of who we are at our core. Getting in tune with that thread was crucial in my development of confidence and self-esteem authentically. Read more>>
Alie Davis
I think I developed my confidence and self-esteem in modeling simply through the “fake it till you make it”motto. Modeling doesn’t have a guidebook and the best thing that I could do on a job is walk in with confidence knowing that I’m going to get the client whatever it is that they need that day. I basically faked it on every single set until I became comfortable in different areas of modeling and acting and to this day it’s worked out quite well. As long as you’re open and receptive to learning, and confident in your abilities and skills, the confidence and self esteem in the career continue to grow Read more>>
Dr. Kimberly Atkins
I remembered when I was in a very low place in life, I had just lost my job, I was going through a divorce, and my child was having complications associated with Sickle Cell Disease. I was driving a used car, wore clothes from a discounted department store, and my hair was in a roller wrap. I was told I was not a hair person. I was told that I could not be a mental health therapist because my life was not perfect. Read more>>
Joshua Neumann
I am currently in the process of developing more confidence and self-esteem. During covid, I had a significant life moment. I was in my bathroom and washing my hands and couldn’t look up at myself in the mirror. I knew this was a consistent issue for me and for some reason that time was different and knew I needed to change how I felt about myself. Kind Lips was designed so that each tube of lip balm serves as a reminder to be kind to other people. Read more>>
Curt Wiser
It started, as many things do, when I was a teenager. At five-foot six, weighing 230 pounds, I was obese all through middle school and high school. I was lost in a vicious spiral of depression and terrible eating habits which only kept me in this unhealthy, depressed state. Read more>>
