Perhaps one of the most underdiscussed topics in the world of health and well-being is the mental state and ability to believe that oneself is not only capable of achieving their goals, but also willing to mentally push themselves into situations that although may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable, will guide them to accomplishment and overall satisfaction. Though confidence and/or motivation may sometimes be naturally present in individuals from a young age, there are some methods we can utilize to positively influence children around us to be more confident and believe in themselves. The younger the individuals begin to acknowledge the importance of such skills, the quicker they will develop maturity and be prepared to one day be independent.
What are some things I can do to help my child be more confident?
- Be a role model – from a young age, children are heavily influenced by those around them. They often pick up habits, mannerisms, and imitate the people who raise them. Exemplifying the self-belief and motivation you want to see your children grow up with might be the single most effective manner to influence them into a similar mentality, especially in the face of anxious situations.
- Constantly encourage children – Without being too repetitive, it is important to reassure children that they are capable of doing so much more than they might think. At times where children may begin to feel pressure and anxiety over a situation in their life, encouragement and a bit of “everything is going to be alright” can go a long way.
- We must fail in order to succeed – Teach children that failure is inevitable at points in life. Nobody is perfect, and in the face of failure we all must acknowledge how failure presents us the opportunity to learn and come back stronger than ever.
There are very few people in the world who’s opinions should be of priority
As children develop and move into more social settings such as school, it is very common that they begin to give high importance to social status and peer recognition as they are finding their own social circles. Naturally, the amount of importance given to status can lead to anxiety, lowered self-esteem, and even feelings of jealousy. Children and teens look to impress those they give value to, even if their value isn’t returned. Situations like these can go hand in hand with the often referred to as “Spotlight effect”. The Spotlight effect is a state of mind in which individuals are led by themselves to believe they are noticed more than they actually are. To build and/or restore self-confidence in children and teens, overcoming the Spotlight effect is essential. Inform them that the opinions of the masses are not and should not be important to them, and that the only opinions that should be given such priority should be that of loved ones. An escape from the idea that they are in the spotlight and everyone is watching them can lead to children and teens overall being much less anxious about things and even do wonders for them, as they may impress and inspire others to take on a similar mentality!
The ability to believe in yourself and be pushed out of your comfort zone to meet your goals is a superpower. We are all capable of doing so much more in our lives than we might think.
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