Simple Practices: 6 Tips to Get Comfortable in Your Own Skin

You know those people who seem to radiate confidence from every pore in their body? You might not be surprised to hear that they’re also the most productive. Confidence works wonders for your energy levels, after all. The good news is that you can be one of those people. Ask any of them about their secret, and chances are it’ll boil down to one (or more) of six simple practices they do every day.

They Play to Their Strengths

Confident people do things that they’re naturally good at and make them feel good. They know their strengths don’t have to be as grand as the ability to draw lifelike portraits or swim 50 meters in 20 minutes. As long as their strengths better the world around them in any way, and they’re happy about the fact, that’s enough for them.

How You Can Do This: List the things you can do well and feel good about, regardless of what other people say. Ask yourself which ones you’d like to develop further, and find ways to do just that.

They Accept Their Limitations

Confident people acknowledge that weaknesses are as much as part of them as their strengths. At the same time, they don’t have a “woe is me” attitude towards the former. When the situation calls for it, they always find ways to act in spite of their limitations.

How You Can Do This: List your weaknesses. Divide them into “Things You Can Do Something About” and “Things You Can Do Nothing About.” Give yourself time to accept the latter, and find out how you can work on the former.

They Don’t See the World as “Black” or “White”

Confident people are neither naïve nor cynical. They try to see the good in others, but they’re also unafraid to acknowledge that everyone — including themselves — is capable of evil, given the right conditions. As a result, they make great leaders, and can be trusted to do the right thing no matter what kind of people they’re dealing with.

How You Can Do This: Be consciously open-minded about the people you interact with. Are they really as good or bad as they seem? You might be surprised at the answer.

They Take Responsibility for Their Actions

Because confident people have a healthy view about themselves, they find it easy to own up to their mistakes. They view mistakes not as things to be ashamed of, but as events they can learn from. They go through the necessary steps to make amends, and move on.

How You Can Do This: Make a sincere apology for your mistake. Offer a concrete solution for it, and follow through.

They Make the Most of the Present

Confident people don’t brood about the past or the future. Instead, they always ask themselves “What’s the best thing I can do right now?” They know that there’s nothing they can do about yesterday, and that tomorrow can only be as good as they make it today.

How You Can Do This: Do things one at a time. Pay close attention to each of those things as you do them. Don’t be afraid to set a few minutes aside every day for doing nothing.

They’re Unafraid to Ask for Help

Since they’re aware of their limits, confident people know they can’t — and don’t have to — do everything alone. They delegate what must be delegated, and they’re not threatened by the idea that anyone can be better than them in any way. Once everything is said and done, they remember to thank the people who helped them and give credit where credit is due.

How You Can Do This: Think of at least one person to whom you can say the following: “Hey there. I know you’re busy and all, but can you help me out with this? I’m a little lost on what to do.”

Over to You, Try These Simple Practices

Being comfortable in your own skin isn’t rocket science. It’s a compilation of simple practices. If you can be honest with yourself about who you are and what you’re capable of, you’ve already taken that first step towards becoming a more self-confident person. Try the above mentioned practices one day at a time, and see if they won’t change you for the better.