Some teenagers fall victim to low confidence. They seem self-conscious, quiet, and hesitant. If you seek methods to boost your self-esteem, you’ve come to the right place. I present five methods to help you set realistic goals.

Two Faces:

Who are you when you’re alone? Who do you become when facing a large crowd? Consider the differences in your behavior between solo and group settings. Avoid masking your true self to please others. Authenticity wins hearts and minds. Prioritize your own ease of mind instead of conforming to social norms.

Public Speaking:

Learn to speak with confidence. Step 1: Practice alone. Prop up things such as pillows, stuffed animals, or action figures. Set them up in front of you and rehearse your speech to perfection. Make sure to add emotion to your voice and control your tone. Speak with strong and clear intonation.

Step 2: Now ask people you’re comfortable with to listen to you deliver the speech. Ask for feedback and improve your piece accordingly. It helps to find people with different opinions.

New Relationships:

Making new friends doesn’t come easy, especially at a new school. From first hand experience as the new kid, adapting to a different environment comes with challenges. Many of my DIS peers started their friendship years ago, and trying to fit into an already-established relationship seemed difficult. But don’t resist approaching your classmates. Your heart might beat out of your chest, but just go for it. Make plans to hang out. You might fail at first, but, as people say, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Fake It Till You Make It:

While you might not display the most confidence, you can definitely pretend. Have you heard the phrase, “fake it till you make it”? Once you act with courage, your mind and body adjust and it becomes more natural. Your feigned confidence affects your emotional experience and in turn you morph your reality.

Failure is the Mother of Success:

Feeling discouraged or losing confidence because of failure is totally normal. It happens to everyone. But remember the world won’t come to an end because of one setback. Everyone makes mistakes, but failure is the mother of success – If you keep practicing, you will succeed. Have faith in yourself.

Confidence is key. It helps us feel ready for life’s experiences. Try some of these tips to gain trust in yourself. There’s no shame in trying something new.