As much as we wish we all were born with confidence, the truth is that it does not come naturally for all women. Yet confidence is what we all need in order to succeed in life.

Especially with the introduction and influence of social media, women are continually inundated with images and stories of women who seem to have it all. All those comparisons do not help a women’s self-confidence at all.

So what can women do to improve and build confidence?

1. Find out what you are not confident about.

To begin with, you should do some soul-searching. There is usually something that holds you back from exuding confidence, whether it is a fear of something or being uncomfortable in your own skin.

Many renowned doctors such as breast augmentation specialist Dr. Pirani, have found that many women who have breast augmentations do it in order to effectively improve their confidence.

2. Start small.

When you are exploring what it really takes to build up confidence, you should know that you are not going to walk into work and make an executive statement out of nowhere. Well, at least you wouldn’t right away. Begin by exploring your confidence in small ways.

It can be as simple as saying “no” to someone that you normally automatically say “yes” to. If your neighbour asks you to cat-sit and you are allergic? Go ahead and exercise your “no.” Remember, saying “no” to someone else is saying “yes” to yourself.

3. Turn your negatives into positives.

For some, confidence comes from positive thinking. Instead of coming down on yourself when something doesn’t go your way, try to turn it to see what was good about it. Stuck in traffic? Maybe you can finish that audio book you were listening to.

This will not work for everything, naturally, and you do not want to overdo it, but if you see everything as a negative, it definitely will bleed over into how you feel. 

4. Consider the changes that you can make.

There are many changes, both mentally and physically, that women can make to give themselves the confidence that they desire. For some, physically correcting imperfections can be the key to that confidence, whether it is a nose job or a breast augmentation.

Other times, it is seeking out help to work on your state of mind to see what changes you can make to help your outlook. In both scenarios, you need to speak with a professional to help you sort out the right path. 

5. Think about the language that you use in conversation.

There is a major difference between passive language and active language. Confident women will not use passive language. Instead they say what they want directly and as a result are more likely to get what they want. Word choice can also have a huge effect on your confidence.

Altering the simplest words can have a major effect. For example, you might usually say to a co-worker, “This needs work” when you could say, “Nice work, would you please review my changes?” Building others up instead of knocking them down will do wonders on how you feel about yourself.

When it comes to confidence, too few women have enough of it. Remember that there is no one solution or way that you can build up your own confidence. What works for you may not work for another. But stay open-minded and self-reflective and you might be able to hone in on where your confidence level could use the most help.

No one should go through life without confidence. With a little bit of work, you can become a more confident and prosperous woman in no time.