Are you debilitated by lack of self confidence? Do you believe that even if you possess the skills and the required knowledge to succeed in your goals, your lack of assurance becomes an obstruction to your success?

However, you should always keep in mind that while in some areas you might not be self assured, there are others where you shine as well. Getting to grips with any new set of skills require a huge amount of work. And there would be times, when you might have to struggle. But you should also remember that confidence is a learned trait and not something one is born with.

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Here are some of the ways to overcome such barrier. However, neither waving a magic wand and hoping to become confident overnight nor reading them and putting them on the back burner would help. What you need to do is practice them and with time you too can become a confident person.

Abstain from comparisons: Comparing yourself to others is toxic. It destroys your confidence and makes you feel small. Stop comparing and start focussing on your own life. Keep moving in the direction of your goals and aspirations without worrying about what others are doing. Comparisons are unhealthy and should be avoided at all costs.

Set realistic goals: Having big dreams and hoping to reach the stars is wonderful. But it is equally important to understand that having enormous goals can undermine your confidence level. It is thus important to set small and realistic goals. Achieving little milestones can boost your confidence level and gradually help you achieve big dreams as well.

Self love and not self criticism: Criticising yourself for everything, thinking negative about yourself, feeling you are not enough can lead to emotional turmoil and low self esteem. Remember to love yourself first. Practice self love, honour your needs and desires and believe in yourself. Don’t be critical of yourself. Be compassionate and forgiving to overcome the confidence barrier.

Fight your fears: Your fear is your greatest enemy. It can steal your confidence and make you helpless. It can hinder you from achieving your goals. It is thus important that you learn to face your fears and fight them. A fearless mind is a confident mind.

Savour your accomplishments: Instead of constantly bashing yourself and thinking that you are not enough, spend more time pondering over your accomplishments. There are innumerable instances where you would have achieved success. Focus on your achievements and successes and take pride in that.

Have faith in your abilities: Nothing is more important than believing in yourself. If you believe you can you definitely will?
All you need to do is put in your best and have faith in your abilities. Only a positive mindset can foster a positive outcome.
Believing in yourself not only brings you happiness but also boosts your self confidence.

Empower yourself with knowledge: Rather than ruminating over you negative qualities, do something productive. Indulge in reading and gaining knowledge. Empowering yourself with knowledge is the best strategy for building self confidence. More knowledge gives you more confidence and definitely an edge over others.

Take control of your thoughts: If you are constantly thinking negative thoughts, you will slowly become what you are preaching inside your head. It is important to take control of your thoughts. Whenever your mind is surrounded with negative ideas, switch them to positive thoughts. This will enhance your confidence and build your emotional as well as mental health.

Invest in yourself: Last but not the least, you should invest in yourself. Go the extra mile to work on your own. If you feel that you are not good at certain tasks, take out time to master them. Consider the possible setbacks that pull you from your goals or infuse negative thoughts and work on them.

The writer is director, Aakash Institute.