Confidence Level: Strutting Like I Didn’t Just Trip Over My Own Self-Doubt

Confidence isn’t about never messing up - it’s about owning your power while tripping over your own insecurities and STILL walking it out like a runway queen. High heels wobbling, lipstick smudged, inner critic screaming… and still, we strut. We must strut on!

Let’s get one thing straight: confidence is not a magical trait reserved for the people who always say the right thing, glide through social situations, or seem to have their sh*t together on Instagram (spoiler: they don’t).

Confidence is having the nerve and audacity to show up - messy, uncertain, a probably a bit sweaty. You belong in any room you decide you want to be in. Confidence is walking in to that room and not looking back! Confident people still get as nervous as you do - they just strut on regardless and still do what they need to.

In this post, we’re diving into how to boost your self-belief, even when your inner critic is throwing a full-on strop. Think of it as your personal pep talk with a side of strategy and a splash of sass.

Confidence Myth #1: “When I’m confident, I’ll never feel doubt again.”

Ah. The myth of the mythical day when the clouds part, the sun shines down, and suddenly you wake up as Taylor Swift. Here’s the truth - I will bet you anything that Taylor Swift has bad days and bouts of self-doubt too!

Confidence isn’t the absence of doubt - it’s the decision to move through doubt.

As Aristotle wisely said,

“Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”

Confidence is courage in action. It’s choosing to believe in yourself when your brain is whispering, “Stop - are we sure we can do this?” and you whisper straight back, “Hold my drink.”

Let’s Talk Inner Critic: That Pesky Little Gremlin in Your Brain

You know that voice. The one that says things like:

• “You’re not ready just yet.”

• “You’re not good enough.”

• “Someone else has already done this better.”

• “Seriously - you’re wearing that?!”

Your inner critic thinks it’s being helpful. Really, it’s just afraid. Its job is to keep you safe in your comfort zone, wrapped in a blanket burrito of self-doubt. But guess what? Growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. Growth happens when you take a deep breath, roll your eyes at your gremlins, and do the thing anyway. Your comfort zone is not your friend! You seriously need to break up!

Here’s a mindset shift:

Your inner critic is just scared. You’re not underqualified, you’re evolving.

The “Trip and Strut” Method of Building Confidence

Let’s break down the strut-worthy, stumble-friendly confidence formula that actually works in real life (yes, even if you still triple-check your emails before hitting send):

1. Embrace Imperfect Action

Confidence doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from momentum. Remember that done is better than perfect.

You build self-trust when you do something, not when you wait for something to happen for you. Every tiny step, every awkward start, every cringey first attempt? That’s you rewiring your brain to believe in your capabilities. When you push on regardless, your brain will stop trying to hold you back because it knows that you can do it.

“Start before you’re ready. Don’t prepare, begin.” —Mel Robbins

Your future self is already cheering you on from the finish line.

2. Rewrite the Narrative

Your brain subconsciously believes what you (and other people) repeatedly tell it. So if you’re constantly living your life like, “I’m such a mess, I have no idea what I'm doing,” don’t be surprised when you act like a mess who has no idea what you're doing.

Try this instead:

• “I may not know everything, but I'll figure it as I go.”

• “I’m learning as I grow—and growing as I learn.”

• “My little mistakes are learning curves - I only fail when I stop trying.”

• “I’ve survived 100% of my worst days. I can handle this.”

Create a mantra that resonates and boosts you - and then repeat it like your life depends on it. Because in many ways, your confidence does.

3. Use Evidence, Not Emotions

Your subconscious mind will constantly throw emotions and feelings at you. When this happens and doubt creeps in, you may start to tell yourself things like:

• “I always fail.”

• “I'm not the type of person who can do this.”

So let’s clap back with actual facts and make these emotions and feelings of doubt go away. Ask yourself:

• When have I done something scary and I didn't actually die?

• What skills, strengths, or qualities have helped me in the past? (Because you actually have lots of these)!

• What would I tell my best friend if she were in my shoes?

Confidence builds when you collect evidence of your capability and stop making your self-worth depend on your feelings that day.

(Remember: Your feelings are valid. They’re just not always telling the truth. We need to learn why they are popping up and address that).

The Real Glow-Up: Future Self Confidence

Now to the juicy part. Do you want to boost your confidence dramatically? Yes? Good.

You need to start showing up as your future self—the version of you who already has the self-belief, the peace, the boss, the goals, and the glow-up.

Visualise yourself:

• What do you think about yourself?

• How do you handle setbacks?

• What decisions do you make?

• What boundaries have you set?

Then begin making small moves today that align with your future-self. That’s transformational growth. That’s confidence in action. And that’s when your strut becomes unstoppable.

“You’re not faking it till you make it—you’re practicing until you embody it.”

Did you know that your resilience can boost your confidence? Read our post here on how to bounce back like a superball!

Confidence Toolkit: Quick Wins for Low Days

When your subconscious and inner critic is screaming louder than a toddler that has just been told 'no', here are a few quick confidence boosts:

✅ Power pose: Stand like a superhero for 2 minutes (yes, really). It shifts your physiology and tells your brain you’re in control. This is so much fun to do, especially in front of a mirror where you will make yourself laugh at first!

✅ Gratitude blast: Write down 3 things you’re proud of from the last week, no matter how small. Proof of progress is confidence fuel. This will also help to rewire your subconscious to a more positive mindset.

✅ Create a “Hype File”: Keep screenshots of compliments, kind words, wins, and encouragement in one folder. On low days, scroll through and remind yourself—you’ve got this. Another slant on this is to write down every little accomplishment and habit change, put the paper in a jar and read it when you feel down to see how far you have come. We all have something we can put in a jar!

✅ Celebrate out loud: Don’t wait until the big goal is achieved to cheer. Celebrate showing up. Celebrate sending the email. Celebrate choosing the salad. Every small win counts.

Confidence Isn’t Loud. It’s Steady. It Builds!

Stop thinking confidence looks like walking into a room like you own it (though that’s fun too). Sometimes, confidence is:

• Saying no when it’s easier to say yes.

• Asking for help.

• Starting again after a setback.

• Doing something when you are afraid.

• Not justifying yourself to others.

• Showing up with shaky hands and a brave heart.

“Confidence isn’t thinking you’re better than everyone else - it’s knowing you have nothing to prove.” - Unknown

Confidence is a quiet, solid trust in your ability to handle what life throws at you - even if you trip occasionally over your own feet whilst you are stood still (yep, hands up, this is me). Especially then.

Get Started Today - Your Homework (But Make It Fun)

Confidence is a practice, not a destination. So here’s what to do next:

🎯 Pick one area of your life where doubt has been running the show.
Write down 3 things your future self would do differently - and do one of them this week.

🎤 Talk to your inner critic like you’re the boss.
Name it. Laugh at it. Love it for trying to protect you. Then remind it who’s in charge (pro tip: it’s you).

🪞 Practice confident energy daily.
Posture, tone, thoughts, choices. Not perfect - just intentional.

Final Strut-Worthy Words

Confidence is a relationship that you have with yourself. Like any relationship, it takes time, care, and patience. You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. You’re not here to be flawless - you’re here to be fearless-ish.

So the next time you feel doubt creeping in, trip over your own thoughts, or mess up something you thought you had handled, just remember: Strut. Laugh. Try again. Because that’s what confidence really looks like.

And if all else fails… throw on your sassiest playlist and walk it out like you’re on a runway made of your own resilience. 💁‍♀️✨ You’ve got this.

Why not take a look at our coaching membership, Future Self Transformation Lounge? Join a community of like-minded individuals and get this confidence malarkey sorted once and for all!