How to Create a Self-Confidence Action Plan

While it is necessary to possess self-confidence, is it possible to have too much?

Indeed!

Even as most people lack confidence or have a negative self-image, some overestimate their capabilities, take on too much risk, and end up crashing and burning.

To build genuine self-confidence, your self-image must be grounded in reality. You must know who you are, have a realistic assessment of your abilities, and commit to continued self-improvement. In addition, learning to maintain focus, motivation, and persistence will pave the way!

A good approach to building and maintaining your self-confidence is to devise an action plan. Here is an outline that you can customize to your needs or make up your own.

Self-Confidence Action Plan

Assess who you are and what you want. As has been said so many times, "If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?" Take the time to identify your strengths, aptitudes, and capabilities, and how you can best use them to achieve personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Draw up a chart or excel spreadsheet outlining your strengths, what you enjoy doing, and establish corresponding goals.

As an example, some possible goals based on your talents and capabilities could be:

• Stay physically fit by joining a local basketball league

• Teach guitar lessons at the local YMCA/YWCA

• Start a blog (on one of your interests) to improve writing skills

• Join the Toastmasters network and develop speaking skills

If you don't take action by setting goals and proceed without purpose and focus, it won't be long before you become disillusioned and hopeless. Those who are self-confident know what they want and work to get it.

Motivate Yourself. Self-confidence also comes from learning to motivate yourself to achieve your goals. Indeed, it's easier to procrastinate and find excuses for not putting in the effort to accomplish something. Unfortunately, this too leads to inertia, disillusionment, and falling into a rut. One way you can stay on track is to set up a chart of must-do activities that include:

• 30-40 minutes of daily aerobic or resistance exercises

• Practice guitar for 30 minutes, 3 times a week

• Write one blog article per week

• Read a variety of articles for ideas and to sharpen language skills

Take care of yourself. Even though relying on your physical appearance and good looks as a basis for self-confidence is not a good idea, it is important to look and feel your best.

This means staying healthy and fit, maintaining good grooming habits, and making the most of what you have. Do some research on the best styles and colors for your body type. If you need help, there are many men's and women's fashion magazines that offer great ideas. The Internet is also a helpful resource for finding the latest trends and styles.

Pay attention also to your attitude. How you walk, talk, and conduct yourself significantly reflects how you feel about yourself.

A good personality, a neat and stylish appearance, and a smile can help you succeed in your career, relationships, and personal accomplishments.

Develop Your Mind. And then keep developing it! Not only will people find you interesting as someone who contributes to their knowledge and awareness, but it will also keep your brain sharp and active.

Those who become mentally lazy and stop challenging themselves are more prone to developing dementia, Alzheimer's, or other degenerative brain diseases as they age. Self-confidence will plummet!

Make it a point to do such things as:

• reading

• brain puzzles

• playing games, e.g., chess

• staying informed of current events

• learning about global issues

• journaling

• memorizing people's names

• improving your vocabulary

Stay Informed and on top of things. Continue to assess and monitor yourself. If you stop growing and improving, you will begin to feel uninspired and less confident. Even the most successful people in the world do not rest on their laurels because personal growth is an ongoing process. However, do not go to extremes or put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Gauge and balance yourself, striving to reach your goals with fun and recreation.

As you can see, self-confidence is not only achievable when you set it up as a workable Action Plan, but it can also be fun and gratifying.

Tailor it to your specific needs and goals. Decide which characteristics you want to develop, work on, or accentuate. Make a game of it.

The process alone will stimulate your creativity, and who knows what great things can happen!

Enjoy the ride as you become a more self-confident individual willing to take control of his/her own destiny.