Over the years as a coach, I’ve come to realize one fundamental truth: inner confidence is the key to everything. It’s the foundation upon which all personal growth is built. You can try all the strategies, mindset shifts, and behavioral changes in the world, but without confidence in who you truly are, those efforts won’t stick. Real confidence isn’t about being loud or fearless—it’s about fully embracing yourself. Here are two powerful ways to build that unshakable inner confidence.
1. Get to Know Your Values
Your values are the core of who you are, the guiding principles that shape your decisions, emotions, and sense of fulfillment. They’re the deep, unchanging parts of you that define what truly matters. Values might include things like integrity, creativity, connection, adventure, or growth.
Ever wonder why certain situations or people leave you feeling frustrated, drained, or uninspired? It’s likely because something important to you—one of your core values—is being ignored or compromised. On the other hand, those moments when you feel completely alive and in flow? That’s when your values are being honored.
When you take the time to identify and align your life with your values, confidence naturally follows. You no longer second-guess yourself because your choices come from a place of deep truth. No one can take your values away from you, and that certainty is a confidence booster in itself. So, ask yourself: What truly matters to me? What lights me up? When do I feel most like myself? The answers will point you toward your core values.
2. Exercise the Muscle
Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have—it’s a muscle that needs regular exercise. Like any muscle, if you don’t use it, it weakens. But the good news? You can build it up, one step at a time.
Think about how you strengthen your body. You don’t go from never working out to lifting the heaviest weights overnight. You start small, building strength gradually. Confidence works the same way. If you tend to stay in your comfort zone, avoiding risks because you fear failure or rejection, your confidence muscle shrinks. The less you challenge yourself, the less confident you feel.
The solution? Start stretching yourself. Take small, intentional risks—whether that’s speaking up in a meeting, trying a new hobby, or reaching out to someone new. Every time you step outside your comfort zone, you prove to yourself that you can handle more than you thought. The more you exercise that confidence muscle, the stronger it becomes.
Final Thoughts
True confidence doesn’t come from external validation—it comes from knowing and trusting yourself. By uncovering your core values and consistently pushing your boundaries, you’ll build an inner confidence that’s unshakable. It’s a journey, not a destination, but every step you take brings you closer to the fullest, most confident version of yourself. So, what’s one small risk you can take today to start flexing that confidence muscle?
