Four Effective Habits to Build Your Confidence

You could see his confidence slipping away as he missed the three-foot putt, twice! His big lead had evaporated and now he trailed three other golfers. Everything had gotten exponentially more difficult. Without confidence you cannot win a PGA tour event!

In fact, without it, you cannot accomplish much in life. How do we gain it? To answer that question, we must first understand what it really is.

Seven Characteristics of Confidence

No uncertainty. When we are confident, uncertainty doesn’t even enter our minds. We simply know we can do what we set out to do. There is no second guessing and the paralysis that comes with not knowing what to do next.

Boldness. Confidence makes us bold. We become sure that we can do the next thing, however risky it may be. I love watching golf. It’s a game I played when I was younger. When a golfer has everything going for him, he takes risks and receives the rewards.

Strong assurance. We can live with the assurance that all will be well. Confidence in a game like golf is telling but confidence in life is so much more essential. Waking up in the morning with the assurance that this will be a good day is better than a morning cup of coffee!

Belief. Confidence means we have a strong belief in ourselves and in the God who leads and guides us. We know that he is there and that he is faithful.

Assertion. Is this too much like boldness? Maybe but it’s an accurate way to describe confidence. We are free to assert ourselves in life and in prayer and in service. We don’t hesitate but move forward.

Demeanor. Here’s what I mean. When we are confident it shows in the way we carry ourselves. It shows in our countenance and in our posture. We don’t come across as arrogant but as one who is good to be with, which brings us to the last of seven.

Contagion. When we are confident, it touches lives around us. It inspires confidence in others and it also feeds our own confidence!

How to Build Confidence

You may have discovered effective ways of building confidence. There will be external influences that can build it up. For example, someone may come alongside you and mentor you and encourage you. That is important. But it is essential that we find ways to build our confidence without depending on others. Here are the top three things that work for me.  

Worship. When I gather with the church in worship, it changes me. That environment fires me up and renews my confidence. It strengthens me. I will always wonder how anyone can have any spiritual vitality when they don’t gather to worship.

Reading my Bible. Knowledge is an essential component of confidence. Knowing more about God, his kingdom and purposes reinforces that knowledge and adds more. The more I read and study, the more I can be confident of where I stand and what I am to do.

Action. Using my gifts and serving the kingdom also builds me up. Here’s how that works. When we use our gifts, the Spirit empowers us, we make a difference and confidence grows. Stepping boldly into service multiplies that confidence.

That’s three – how about a fourth?

Remember. When I have done exactly what I was supposed to do, things turned out very well. I have discovered that when I follow Jesus and do what he told me to do, people were changed. I didn’t always see it immediately but it happened. That remembrance continually builds my confidence as I follow.

I would love to hear what works for you, too!

What happened to that golfer who was losing his confidence? Sometimes, he simply faded from the competition. Sometimes, leaning on his talent and training, he made a difficult shot and began to remember all the other times he was successful. Using that knowledge, he bounced back and won the tournament.

Life is not a golf tournament but you cannot live without confidence. Embrace the things that build it up. You can know for certainty that God is with you. As you follow Jesus each day, you can be sure that everything will work out perfectly.

Your Turn

So be confident today. You’ve got this. Let me know how it goes!