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šŖ How to Be Confident
How to be confident heading into the new year and beyond ā in 5 minutes.

Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If youāre new around here, welcome! š You can catch up on our previous editions right here.
This week: Itās all about confidence ā why āfaking it til you make itā is flawed advice, and what you should do instead. Our final edition of the year before we all tackle big things in 2025 š„³ Letās dive in!
š First, About āFaking It Til You Make Itā
This saying is common advice for boosting your confidence, but thereās a catch:
āFaking it til you make itā works best for interactions with others ā donāt āfake itā 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 everythingās fine?
If so, you know it usually backfires, and often makes things worse.
Always be honest with yourself about how youāre feeling ā but know that you donāt have to communicate all those feelings to others.
A good example of āfaking it til you make itā is standing tall and poised when youāre really rattling with anxiety on the inside.
Also, āfaking itā 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 itās also a huge risk that could cost you a good opportunity.
With this in mind, letās dig in to 4 ways you can cultivate genuine confidence!
𤨠4 Ways to Cultivate Confidence
Whether youāre 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.
š 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 youāve 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!
šŖ 2. Hype yourself up
Hyping yourself up when you donāt feel confident is what āfaking it til you make itā really means for self-confidence.
What are your favorite ways to lift yourself up when youāre feeling low? Here are a few of our faves:
Listen to a playlist of uplifting tunes
Reflect on things youāre most proud of about yourself
Trust yourself to make small decisions
š£ 3. Make a ābrag sheetā and read it often
A ābrag sheetā is a place thatās filled with nice things other people have said about you.
Itās 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.
𤯠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.
Letās say youāre 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 youāll address them if they do.
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šŖ Flocus Picks
A curated list of things worth sharing.
Confidence Boost (Playlist) ā These pop hits are perfect for giving yourself a dose of main-character energy!
How to Romanticize Your Life (The Flow Archives) ā A fun exercise for boosting your confidence by making life more fun and whimsical!
The Surprising Secret to Speaking With Confidence (Video) ā 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.
š³ļø POLL: Feeling confident headed into 2025?Any other thoughts? Let us know in the comments! |
Our last tip for cultivating confidence? Remember, weāre all human here. Every human on this planet has felt insecure, incapable, and self-doubtful. Youāre not alone!
What did you think about our confidence issue? Weād love to hear your thoughts in the polls and replies!
Until next Sunday,
Flocus Team