💪 How to Be Confident

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Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If you’re new around here, welcome! 👋 You can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: It’s all about confidence — why “faking it til you make it” is flawed advice, and what you should do instead. Our final edition of the year before we all tackle big things in 2025 🥳 Let’s dive in!

🎭 First, About “Faking It Til You Make It”

This saying is common advice for boosting your confidence, but there’s a catch:

“Faking it til you make it” works best for interactions with others — don’t “fake it” to yourself, or the people closest to you.

Ever tried to reverse a tricky emotion by bottling it up, trying to run from it, or pretending everything’s fine?

If so, you know it usually backfires, and often makes things worse.

Always be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling — but know that you don’t have to communicate all those feelings to others.

A good example of “faking it til you make it” is standing tall and poised when you’re really rattling with anxiety on the inside.

Also, “faking it” is acceptable only up to a point. Lying about your work experience in a job interview might make you appear more confident in that moment, but it’s also a huge risk that could cost you a good opportunity.

With this in mind, let’s dig in to 4 ways you can cultivate genuine confidence!

🤨 4 Ways to Cultivate Confidence

Whether you’re nervous about public speaking or just want to be more self-assured in your day-to-day life, here are a few small, realistic ways to nurture your confidence.

💆 1. Visualize your most confident self

What does your most confident self look like? How do they dress, talk, and carry themselves? Think back to a time when you felt really confident, if it helps.

Once you’ve got your answers, start adding more of these things into your daily routines and work sessions. You might be surprised at how effective a simple outfit change can be!

💪 2. Hype yourself up

Hyping yourself up when you don’t feel confident is what “faking it til you make it” really means for self-confidence.

What are your favorite ways to lift yourself up when you’re feeling low? Here are a few of our faves:

• Listen to a playlist of uplifting tunes

• Reflect on things you’re most proud of about yourself

• Trust yourself to make small decisions

📣 3. Make a “brag sheet” and read it often

A “brag sheet” is a place that’s filled with nice things other people have said about you.

It’s especially helpful for people who struggle to uplift themselves due to self-loathing, low self-esteem, or mental health difficulties.

Reading over positive things others have said about you can help you feel affirmed, validated, and confident.

🤯 4. Imagine the most realistic worst-case scenario

This tip might not apply to every situation, but knowing the worst thing that could possibly happen can boost your confidence.

Let’s say you’re giving a presentation. There are tons of potential worst-case scenarios, but which of those are most likely to happen?

Some potentialities include tripping up over your words, forgetting to include part of the presentation, or having technical difficulties.

From here, you can figure out how to prevent these from happening, and how you’ll address them if they do.

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🪅 Flocus Picks

A curated list of things worth sharing.

• Confidence Boost (Playlist) — These pop hits are perfect for giving yourself a dose of main-character energy!

• How to Romanticize Your Life (The Flow Archives) — A fun exercise for boosting your confidence by making life more fun and whimsical!

• The Surprising Secret to Speaking With Confidence (Video) — This TEDx talk includes more brilliant tips for nurturing your confidence, particularly for public speaking

✨ Flocus: Your Personal Productivity Dashboard

Kick off 2025 with tools that support your goals and your confidence.

Flocus makes it easy to stay on track with a customizable timer, reorderable task lists, and serene themes.

Plus, our built-in uplifting playlists and soundscapes are perfect for hyping yourself up or winding down after a long day.

Our last tip for cultivating confidence? Remember, we’re all human here. Every human on this planet has felt insecure, incapable, and self-doubtful. You’re not alone!

What did you think about our confidence issue? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the polls and replies!

Until next Sunday,

Flocus Team