Everyone expects men to be confident, yet polls suggest that as many as 77% of men deal or have dealt with anxiety or depression, which is a startling statistic when you consider arguably outdated ideas about masculinity. The fact is that many men believe they have to put on an aura of confidence even if they do not feel great about themselves all the time.
And this may hit close to home for you. It might be that you have also suffered with your body image, concerns about your career, or your success in other aspects of your life. The good news is that you can improve your confidence regardless of where or why you don’t feel good enough.
Consider What Affects Your Confidence
Sometimes, you may not even realize what affects your confidence, so it’s worth taking the time to sit down, have a word with yourself, and discover what makes you feel like you don’t have what others do.
For men, it is often an issue of masculinity. Take a full head of hair as an example. Men who experience hair loss, especially in their 20s or 30s, can feel old before their time. You can take steps to overcome this by improving your diet or even seeking out assistance from the Barber Surgeons Guild to reverse hair loss problems. This is just one example, of course, and there may be other issues that impact your confidence.
Look After Yourself
Failing to look after yourself is one of the biggest problems when it comes to lacking confidence. If you find yourself intimidated by others no matter where you go, consider why. A lot of the time, men don’t feel confident in what they are wearing or how their hair is styled. There is always someone else who seems to have it all together.
You can overcome this by simply taking better care of your appearance. The best grooming products will make it easier to improve your hair, beard, and skin, so even if you don’t feel confident yet, you can at least feel like you look good enough to step outside.
Set Some Goals
If you feel rudderless, it might seem like everyone else is moving forward in your life whereas you are still stuck in the same position you were in five years ago. This issue can make you feel like a failure. Even if this is far from the truth, because people mostly focus on their flaws rather than their good qualities, it can hinder your confidence.
Men who are tired of being stagnant or directionless can set goals and work towards them. These goals can be whatever you want. It could be to get that promotion by applying yourself more at work. However, this can take time, so focusing on smaller goals, ideally, ones that can push you towards a more significant goal will give you purpose.
Do Things For You
A lot of guys get stuck in a cycle of worrying about other people before putting themselves first. There’s nothing wrong with this, and many would consider it a hugely admirable trait. Still, it means that you never give yourself the time to focus on who you are and what you want.
If you feel you’re missing out on experiences that you want to do, take the leap and actually do them. Do you want to travel? Do you want to work on a novel or learn an instrument? Stop putting these activities to the side in favor of doing things for others and put yourself first. You can still do things for others, but you should remember who is number one.
Get Off the Sofa
Good health and fitness can do wonders for mental well-being and confidence, but you may feel like you can’t do it. You are worried about the journey towards fitness, and you are intimidated by those who already have a head start.
Getting into better shape can be scary, but everyone needs to start somewhere. If you feel you’re getting a bit of a gut, the Couch to 5K program can get you off the sofa and provide an easy-to-manage improvement. It’s a fantastic place to start and it can inspire you to do more and show you how capable you are.
Spend Time With Your Friends
You have as much time to spend with friends as you get older. Everyone grows up and moves on. They have kids, buy houses, and some even move across the country. But, your bromances are still an important part of your life, and you should do everything you can to maintain them as much as possible.
Spending time with your friends is a great way to blow off steam and give you a break from the stress of work, relationships, or worries about the future. Your friends give you the chance to be yourself and reconnect with who you are. If you don’t have the chance to see friends due to geographical issues, online gaming can put you back together and it can even conjure memories of those days when you spent your weekends shooting the breeze while headshotting noobs on Halo.
Get Out of Your Rut
It’s easy to fall into a routine as you get older and you might feel like you’re not the same guy you were five years ago. If all you do is work, eat and sleep, you need to find a way to get out of your rut and do something different.
You needn’t make drastic changes, but do something that will get you away from the stagnant daily routine. You can look for local clubs to explore new things and meet new people, which could be the kick in the pants you need to feel better about yourself. Volunteering is another great option, or you could think about where you are in your career and whether it’s where you want to be. If you wake up every day dreading going to the office, a new career could be the answer, but be careful not to make impulsive decisions that could affect you financially.
Find a Creative Outlet
Everyone has something creative inside of them but most will not take the time to discover where their creativity lies. A creative outlet is so crucial for building confidence, even if it isn’t one of the more traditional outlets.
There is bound to be something you’ve always wanted to try, whether it’s playing an instrument or designing an app. Nothing is holding you back from attempting this, especially considering how easy it is to find free lessons online. It will take time to become competent, but that’s all part of the process. There will also be times when you feel like giving up, but you must fight this temptation at all times.
Even something as simple as journaling is an excellent way to indulge in your creativity. You don’t need to be Jonathan Franzen to journal about your thoughts, feelings, or even what you did that day. Building a journaling habit can also help you overcome mental distress as it makes it easier to work through problems and could highlight what you can do to make effective lifestyle changes.
Confidence, Man
Confidence may be lying dormant in every guy, yet even those who talk a big game may struggle with feeling like they are good enough for other people and the world at large. While you may not find confidence overnight (at least not genuine confidence), these confidence-boosting tips can help you grow and find acceptance in yourself, which is the first and arguably most powerful step forward.
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