It takes confidence to communicate assertively. When you’re confident, it helps you be credible and make a strong first impression. Like being assertive, having self-confidence does not always come naturally.
Being
self-confident means that you believe in yourself. It means that you trust your own ability to meet life’s challenges and succeed. 1 |
For many people, this may be easier said than done. If you have faced ableism and discrimination, you might struggle with feeling confident.
Here are some tips for boosting your self-confidence so you can be an assertive advocate:
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Challenging negative self-talk: Most of us have an inner critic. That’s the voice inside our heads that tells us we’re not good enough, or that we’ll fail. The inner critic is trying to protect you from getting hurt, but instead it holds you back by feeding you false information. By paying attention to the messages you’re telling yourself and challenging them, you can slowly change the negative thought patterns that undermine your confidence.
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Positive affirmations: Another way to challenge negative thought patterns is to start to build more positive ones. In response to the negative thoughts that pop up in your head, try writing some positive affirmations. Affirmations should be short, memorable statements about how capable you are. Repeat these to yourself regularly.
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Exposure: Armed with more affirming thoughts, you can slowly and gradually start doing the things you have been avoiding. By getting more exposure to the things that makes you feel nervous and less confident, over time, you’ll build up confidence because you’ll see you can cope when you’re in the situation.2
