There’s a common misconception that men are naturally confident. But the truth is that few men are born with unshakable certainty. For most guys, it’s an acquired trait that requires intentional preparation and precise execution.
The What and Why of Confidence
According to Psychology Today, “Confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction that one has the ability to meet life’s challenges and to succeed—and the willingness to act accordingly. Being confident requires a realistic sense of one’s capabilities and feeling secure in that knowledge.”
When you project confidence, you actually gain credibility. Confidence is closely correlated with strong first impressions, the ability to deal with pressure, and having a knack for handling both personal and professional challenges with ease. It’s an attractive trait for romantic partners and tends to lend itself well to socialization.
And as much as it may seem, confidence is not an innate characteristic. It rises and falls based on experiences, circumstances, and situational factors.
5 Ways Men Can Boost Confidence
If you find yourself lacking in confidence, there are some tried and true ways you can boost belief in yourself and feel more secure in your identity. Here are some suggestions:
1 – Exercise More Often
Few things boost confidence more than regular exercise. The benefits are two-fold:
- First off, exercise increases blood flow and releases a carefully blended concoction of feel-good hormones into the body. This makes you happier, healthier, and more mentally stable.
- Secondly, exercise helps you lose weight, build muscle, and stay in shape. This makes you more physically attractive and helps to enhance first impressions (which further bolsters self-confidence).
Quantity of exercise isn’t nearly as important as quality. Do your best to get at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise every day. If you do this consistently, you’ll notice positive results in a matter of weeks.
2 – Learn a New Skill
There’s something about learning that improves confidence and makes a man feel more certain of himself. If you want to boost your confidence, you should try acquiring a new skill. Good options include martial arts, woodworking, writing, or golf. Even something practical like learning how to work on cars can give you the confidence you need to pursue other things head-on without worry, fear, or doubt.
3 – Surround Yourself With Positive People
You are the combination of the four or five people you spend the most time with. Thus, if you’re surrounded by people who are negative and/or have low self-esteem, you’re probably going to embody these same traits. On the flip side, surrounding yourself with positive people will increase feelings of confidence.
You obviously don’t want to kill a friendship just because the person isn’t confident, but it’s smart to rethink how you spend your time. If you know you’ll be giving a presentation at work on Monday morning, don’t spend Sunday evening hanging out with someone who is known for having low self-esteem. Instead, hang out with someone who is encouraging and has a lot of self-belief. Optimism and assurance are contagious.
4 – Address Premature Hair Loss
The majority of men will begin thinning or losing hair by the time they reach the age of 35. And by the age of 50, 85 percent of men will have significantly thinning hair. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean men fully embrace it.
There’s a noticeable correlation between hair loss and lack of confidence. As men lose their hair, they tend to feel less sure of themselves. They feel like part of their strength is disappearing and/or that potential partners will no longer find them as attractive as other (younger) men.
The good news is that hair loss can be treated. In addition to correcting an unbalanced diet, you should try low-level light therapy (LLLT), which can be administered at home using a laser cap. LLLT works by improving cellular respiration and stimulating hair follicles using safe lasers that produce thicker and healthier hair. Results can typically be seen within a matter of months.
5 – Refresh Your Wardrobe
Still wearing jeans from 10 years ago? Have you purchased a new suit in the past five years? Are your shoes from Kmart? A quick wardrobe refresh will have you looking and feeling years younger. And as you get compliments from others, confidence will follow.
Rediscover Your Confidence
Whether you’ve always had low self-esteem and a lack of personal conviction, or it’s lowered somewhere along the way, there is hope. By paying attention to your needs, you can boost your confidence and enjoy the benefits that come from feeling sure of yourself.
Implement some of the tips outlined in this article and see where they take you.
