If you are going through a difficult time in your life, it may not be easy to feel confident in yourself or your future. The good news is that you can regain the confidence you have lost. If you feel you never had enough confidence to begin with, be assured good self-esteem can be an acquired trait. Here are just a few things you can try.

Take A Good Look At Yourself. Get to know who you are and what goals you have set in your life. Feel free to explore all of your options and face some of your fears. Find out what really interests you by trying things you never thought of doing before. Try not to get distracted by others who think they know what you want. Becoming your own person will be empowering! When you know who you are and where your heart is leading you, you will have more confidence in yourself and what you can do.

Dress Your Best. Always dress in clothes that make you feel good about yourself. When you look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. First, look at the clothes you already own and consider what you already have that makes you feel good about yourself. If you have clothing that doesn’t fit right or doesn’t make you feel especially confident, consider eliminating it from your wardrobe. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to look your best. You can find good-quality, gently-used clothing at thrift and consignment shops.

Compliment Others. If you are having a hard time thinking positively about yourself, take time to make others feel better. Complimenting those around you can indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

Don’t Be Afraid To Fail. Try to face your fears. If you do fall short, don’t give up. Consider failure as something necessary for the growth of your self confidence and overall growth as a person. Learn from your mistakes and become stronger so that you can try again and succeed the second, or third, time around!

Increase Your Knowledge. If you don’t feel you have enough confidence, build more of it by learning from every situation. Read, listen, observe, stay informed and try to be as educated as possible on subjects you are interested in. If you know you are insecure in specific situations, such as public speaking, learning how to project yourself well can help your confidence grow. It may take time to gain the confidence you need, but if you keep trying the tips above and other techniques, you will begin feeling more positive about yourself and your situation.

"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love." - Brene Brown