“Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute. It’s the expectation of a positive outcome.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Do you remember swinging as a child? The giddy feeling in the pit of your stomach, the exhilarating sensation of air beneath your feet, the excited laughter that would erupt as you swung higher and higher? There were no worries about what could happen, even though the dangers of life were merely a split-second away. 

Why didn’t you worry about falling off? Dropping to the earth did not occur to you because you were confident in your ability to soar through the air on a swing. Simply by pumping your legs, you determined how high you got. You knew that the back and forth motion was completely within your control. You expected a positive outcome because you were confident.

Covid-19 has caused a seismic shift in our social and professional lives. And even as “normal” life resumes, there will be subtle changes in how we interact with one another. While it is true that neither the virus nor the outcomes are within your control, how you cope with them is. 

Just like when you excitedly jumped on the swing, coping with Covid-19 will be less stressful when you believe in your own abilities. How does confidence help you deal with stressful situations? And what can you do today, to help boost your confidence?

Confidence and stress:

When it comes to coping with stress, especially something as stressful as the current pandemic, the more confidence you have, the better you will cope. How does confidence help you deal with stressful situations?

• Confidence helps you to feel in control; you believe in your own abilities to cope with life’s trials and tribulations. You have weathered storms before, you will weather this one as well. Remember: you had control over how high you swung as a child; it did not matter how hard the wind was blowing around you.

• Confidence allows you to focus on what you are doing well, and what is good in your life.

• Confidence gives you resiliency. Even if you succumb momentarily to the anxiety of the unknown, you know that you can bounce back quickly.

• Confidence prevents you from catastrophizing. You neither inflate the situation nor expect the worst.

• Confidence enables you to keep the stress in perspective and assume a good solution exists. It helps you to realize that, although Covid-19 is a difficult time, it will not last forever. Confidence is not optimism per se, but it allows you to view things in a more positive light. Because you are confident, you expect a positive outcome.

What you can do today to boost your confidence:

Confidence is not a character trait; it is not something that you are born with. Confidence is something that you can develop using specific tools and techniques. You can also boost your self-confidence by “giving adequate attention to your physical and psychological wellness”. 

Self-care, especially during stressful situations such as the current pandemic, is extremely valuable. It not only boosts your confidence, but it also helps you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself. It reminds you, that you and your needs are important.

What can you do today to boost your confidence?

• Take time in your day to relax. Have a bubble bath, curl up with a good book, or sit down with a fun puzzle. Giving yourself permission to feel both calm, and happy, will produce positive feelings. This positive mindset will help you to manage your emotions and to feel in control.

• Be grateful. Remind yourself of the good things in your life. This can create positive feelings, and make you feel more connected with family and friends. Write daily in a “gratitude journal”. By listing everything that you appreciate, you will shift your focus to what is good in your life.

• Concentrate on your strengths. This enables you to intentionally use them in your day-to-day life. Make a list of things you admire about yourself, and why.

• Remind yourself of your successes, and what you did to achieve them. Keep a daily “success journal”; write down every achievement, both big and small. Reflect on how you felt before, during, and after each success.

• Develop a positive mindset. There are many benefits, both physical and emotional, to positive thinking. You sleep better, are more productive, experience a boost in confidence, and a reduction in stress levels.

• Take care of your body and mind. Eat wholesome food, exercise, drink plenty of water, and sleep at least 7 hours per night. Living a healthy lifestyle will help to “reduce the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels”.

• Create a schedule and stick to a routine. Get yourself up, dressed, and ready for the day. “Continuing to take steps toward your personal and career goals can help you to maintain hope”.

• Focus on what you can control. You may not be able to control the virus itself, but you can wash your hands, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. Feel confident that you are doing your part.

Confidence and stress are related; the more confidence you have, the better you can cope with stress. Covid-19 has created a stressful situation for everyone. But by boosting your confidence, you can face its challenges and view it with a positive mindset. 

Building your confidence takes effort, but by adopting a daily self-care regimen, as well as enrolling in Ultimate Academy’s® Confidence for Success™ course, you can develop self-confidence through self-discovery, and the implementation of specific tools and techniques.