For many of us, confidence doesn’t always come easy. Contrary to popular belief, confidence doesn’t have to be loud, nor does it have to involve making bold moves. It’s different for everyone and can be expressed in more ways than one. That said, exuding quiet confidence is possible and sometimes, it takes finding this quiet from within. Once you begin seeing the value of finding this peace even in the most mundane of ways, you will be able to reclaim the little pieces of power lost each day. Ultimately, this brings you back to what I talked about in ‘Empowering Your Soul’ — while also boosting your confidence in the process.

After all, true confidence involves a person’s ability to believe in themselves and their strength to succeed. Here are six quiet ways to do that.

Listen before you speak

A confident person doesn’t need to be the center of attention all the time. Sometimes, there’s confidence to be found in listening to other people and taking the time to hear them out. An article on The Huffington Post notes how quietly confident people can hold onto their convictions without needing to argue that what they believe is true. Similarly, you can choose to give your opinion only when it concerns you.

Meditate daily

Previously on ‘Meditate Your Stress Away!’ I discussed the importance of meditating to release tension and clear your mind. But whether or not you are overwhelmed or caught in a wave of stress, finding the time to meditate should be part of your daily routine. Sarah Fielding of the Insider wrote about how your mental health needs to be conditioned every day to remain in tip-top shape. Meditation is a form of self-care that’s actually been proven to work while allowing you to create the life you’ve imagined for yourself. It may take some time to get used to, but its long term effects are nonetheless rewarding, especially as you learn to take control of your own thoughts.

Give praises

It’s easy to bask in the praise other people give you, but it can be harder to give out compliments yourself — whether it is due to shyness or pride. But someone who is confident doesn’t have to bring other people down. Instead, they can even uplift them and applaud their accomplishments. Medium assures that those with quiet confidence don’t need to be validated to know they’re good at what they do. The only approval you really need is that of the few people who matter in your life, including yourself.

Admit your mistakes

Nobody’s perfect, but it takes a certain confidence to admit that you’re far from perfect. It takes strength to admit you need to learn, embrace feedback, and confess your mistakes. Quietly confident people are comfortable with receiving constructive criticism and feedback. They allow their weaknesses to guide their future actions and decisions, like what to avoid doing, and how it should be done. Confidence should breed sincerity and honesty, not insecurity.

Develop your personal identity

Sometimes when we meet people, we try so hard to impress them even if it means pretending to be someone you’re not. To stay confident, it’s important to have a firm grasp on who you are so you aren’t easily swayed by bad influences. Hey, you can start by dressing up! Sometimes, we end up squeezing into high heels and tight clothes just to impress others, but you don’t have to. Verily Mag’s guide to personal style notes that you should ignore trends and what’s hot or not, and just stick to your own thing — whether that’s a loose jacket or a body-hugging tank top. Woman Within has several lightweight hooded jackets that come in different styles and colors, so you can dress according to which shades you feel most comfortable in. Determining and wearing the clothes that suit your personal style and body type should also give you an added dose of confidence. In fact, you can even wear specific colors to help attract the very things you are looking to manifest in your life — including more confidence.

Know that your only competition is yourself

Life isn’t always a competition against other people. In fact, your biggest competitor may just be yourself. When you’re quietly confident, you don’t feel the need to treat everything like a race. You understand that each person works at their own pace. Instead, channel your energy into constant self-improvement. For this reason, it’s good to track your progress. Amazon has a range of journals to choose from where you can note down how far you’ve come. It also acts as your own confidence booster, pushing you to go further. In fact, this is a gorgeous Law of Attraction Journal that I personally use. Not only is it great for capturing current goals, positive habits, and aspirations; it is beautifully constructed and helps keep you operating at a high vibe frequency.

Of course, if you don’t feel confident now, don’t worry. Like any muscle, confidence can be developed if you give it time and proper focus. Put your mind into wanting to be the best version of yourself, and you might be surprised to see what you’re capable of. The most important thing is to keep that belief that you are more than enough.  ♥