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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 156 (from laksa121)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa156.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/26/build-self-confidence-5strategies/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/26/build-self-confidence-5strategies/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/","crawl_time":1776095639,"first_indexed_time":1488320580,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,forbes!www,\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/ s443","src_root_hash":"7074450602188365556","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Use It Or Lose It: The Science Behind Self-Confidence","meta_descriptions":["Without confidence, we can do little in life. With it, we can change the world. While science now proves we can build it at any age, self-confidence is also something we can lose if we don't continually stretch ourselves and act with the confidence we aspire to have."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"“Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.”\nThis observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence. \nWithout it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything!\nBut what is confidence, anyway?\nOften people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your\nactual\nability to succeed at a task but your\nbelief\nin your ability to succeed. For instance:\nYour\nbelief\nin your ability to speak in front of an audience\nYour\nbelief\nin your ability to learn a new technology\nYour\nbelief\nin your ability to lead a team\nYour\nbelief\nin your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict\nYour\nbelief\nin your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business.\nIt’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.”\nWith consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence\n, and with it, our capacity to build more of it!\nOf course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question:\nHow do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed?\nBelow are five strategies, all backed by hard science,  to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all.\nAct As If...\nJust as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to\nact as if\nyou already possess the confidence you aspire to have.\nSpeak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone!\nWhile there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk.\nAlex Malley,\nbestselling author of\nThe Naked CEO\nshared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can\ndo\nmore than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can\nhandle\nmore than you think. Either way, you’re better off.”\nAs CEO of\nCPA Australia\n, a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else.\nI’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing...\nGrowing our knowledge and skills.\nGrowing our value.\nGrowing our competence.\nGrowing resilience.\nGrowing our influence.\nGrowing self-efficacy.\nGrowing confidence in our ability to make things happen!\nRather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have (\nwhich I’ve written about previously.)\n Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way.\n“Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.”  It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and \"have a go\" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it!\nFind Your Power Pose\nRight now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found, \nputting ourselves in a \"Power Pose\" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery.\nChannel Your Heroes\nThink of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in\nFind Your Courage\n, I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.)\nFocus On What You Want\nWhat you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen,\nfocus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction.\n As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says:\n“Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.”\nMentally Rehearse\nVisualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference.\nLike all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego.  As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in  \nThe Confidence Code\n, “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.”\nMargie Warrell\n \nis a \nkeynote speaker \n&\n bestselling author of \nStop Playing Safe\n \nand \nFind Your Courage\n. \n Connect on \nFacebook\n and \nTwitter\n.","attrs_markdown":"[Sign Up For Newsletters](https:\/\/account.forbes.com\/newsletters\/)[Games](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/games)[Share a News Tip](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesstaff\/article\/tips-and-confidential-sources\/)\n\n- Featured\n  Featured\n  \n  - [Breaking News](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/news\/)\n  - [White House Watch](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/trump\/)\n  - [Daily Cover Stories](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/daily-cover-stories\/)\n  - [Why These Leaders Raised Thousands For Blood Cancer — And How You Can, Too \\| Paid Program](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/bloodcancerunited\/2026\/04\/10\/why-these-leaders-raised-thousands-for-blood-cancer---and-how-you-can-too\/)\n  - [2026 America's Top Wealth Advisors List](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/lists\/top-wealth-advisors\/)\n  - 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All Rights Reserved.\n\n- [Advertise with Forbes](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/connect\/)\n- [Forbes Licensing & Syndication](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/connect\/content-partnerships\/)\n- [Report a Security Issue](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/contact\/)\n- [Editorial Values and Standards](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesstaff\/article\/forbes-editorial-values-and-standards)\n- [Site Feedback](mailto:feedback@forbes.com)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/contact\/)\n- [Careers at Forbes](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/careers-at-forbes\/)\n- [Tips](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/tips\/)\n- [Corrections](<mailto:corrections@forbes.com?subject=Report Correction: Margie Warrell, Ph.D&body=Reporting Correction for: %0A %0A Title: Use It Or Lose It: The Science Behind Self-Confidence %0A Author: Margie Warrell, Ph.D %0A URL: https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/%0A %0A - %0A %0A Your Name: %0A Correction Request: %0A %0A - %0A %0A Thank you for reporting a correction. Forbes Staff will review your concern shortly.>)\n- [Privacy Statement](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/fdc\/privacy.html)\n- [Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/consent\/editprivacy\/?consent_do_not_sell=true)\n- [Cookie Preferences](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/)\n- [Terms of Service](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/terms\/)\n- [AdChoices](https:\/\/youradchoices.com\/control)\n- [Reprints & Permissions](https:\/\/www.parsintl.com\/publication\/forbes\/)\n\n[Leadership](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/leadership\/)\n\n[Careers](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/careers\/)\n# Use It Or Lose It: The Science Behind Self-Confidence\nBy[Margie Warrell, Ph.D](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/ \"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/\"),\n\nContributor.\n\nForbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.\n\nLeadership Advisor. Speaker. Bestselling Author. Courage Catalyst.\n\nFollow Author\n\nFeb 26, 2015, 06:32pm EST\n\nAug 26, 2015, 09:04am EDT\n\nThis article is more than 10 years old.\n\n*“Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.”*\n\nThis observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence.  [Without it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything\\!](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Without%20confidence%20you%20can%20do%20little.%20With%20it%2C%20can%20do%20anything%21%20Build%20it%20by%20acting%20as%20though%20you%20had%20it%20%40margiewarrell)\n\nBut what is confidence, anyway?\n\nOften people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your *actual* ability to succeed at a task but your *belief* in your ability to succeed. For instance:\n\n- Your *belief* in your ability to speak in front of an audience\n- Your *belief* in your ability to learn a new technology\n- Your *belief* in your ability to lead a team\n- Your *belief* in your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict\n- Your *belief* in your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business.\n\nIt’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.”  [With consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=With%20consistent%20effort%2C%20%26%20the%20courage%20to%20take%20a%20risk%2C%20we%20can%20gradually%20build%20self-confidence.%20%23ActAsIf%20%40margiewarrell) , and with it, our capacity to build more of it\\!\n\nOf course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question:\n\n*How do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed?*\n\n![confidence1](https:\/\/blogs-images.forbes.com\/margiewarrell\/files\/2015\/02\/confidence1.jpg)Below are five strategies, all backed by hard science, to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all.\n\n**Act As If...**\n\nJust as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to *act as if* you already possess the confidence you aspire to have. *Speak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone\\!* While there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk.\n\n[Alex Malley,](http:\/\/www.cpaaustralia.com.au\/about-us\/our...\/our-chief-executive) bestselling author of [The Naked CEO](http:\/\/www.thenakedceo.com\/) shared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can *do* more than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can *handle* more than you think. Either way, you’re better off.”\n\nAs CEO of [CPA Australia](http:\/\/www.cpaaustralia.com.au\/), a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else.\n\nI’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing...\n\n- Growing our knowledge and skills.\n- Growing our value.\n- Growing our competence.\n- Growing resilience.\n- Growing our influence.\n- Growing self-efficacy.\n- Growing confidence in our ability to make things happen\\!\n\nRather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have ([which I’ve written about previously.)](http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2014\/07\/13\/world-cup-wisdom-play-to-win-not-to-lose\/) Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way.\n\n“Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.” It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and \"have a go\" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it\\!\n\n**Find Your Power Pose**\n\nRight now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found,  [putting ourselves in a \"Power Pose\" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery.](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Putting%20yourself%20in%20a%20%22Power%20Pose%22%C2%A0shifts%20ur%20mental%2C%20emotional%20%26%20emotional%20state%20%26%20fuels%20confidence%20%26%20courage.%20Try%20it%21)\n\n**Channel Your Heroes**\n\nThink of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in [Find Your Courage](http:\/\/amzn.to\/bJjO5qo), I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.)\n\n**Focus On What You Want**\n\nWhat you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen,  [focus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction.](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Focus%20on%20what%20inspires%20you%2C%20not%20scares%20you%20%26%20never%20discount%20the%20cost%20of%20timid%20inaction.%20%23LiveBravely%20%40margiewarrell) As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says: [“Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.”](http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/04\/layne-beachley-focus-on-what-you-want-not-on-what-you-dont\/)\n\n**Mentally Rehearse**\n\nVisualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference.\n\nLike all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego. As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in [The Confidence Code](http:\/\/theconfidencecode.com\/), “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.”  \n  \n*[**Margie Warrell**](http:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/) is a [keynote speaker](http:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/eventplanners\/) &* *bestselling author of [*Stop Playing Safe*](http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/WileyCDA\/WileyTitle\/productCd-1118505581.html)* *and* *[Find Your Courage](http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Find-Your-Courage-Becoming-Fearless\/dp\/0071605371\/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362428923&sr=1-3&keywords=margie+warrell).*  Connect on [Facebook](http:\/\/facebook.com\/margiewarrell) and [Twitter](http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/margiewarrell).\n\n[Editorial Standards](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesstaff\/article\/forbes-editorial-values-and-standards\/)[Reprints & Permissions](https:\/\/www.parsintl.com\/publications\/forbes\/)\n\nLOADING VIDEO PLAYER...\n\nFORBES’ FEATURED Video\n\n© 2026 Forbes Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\n- [AdChoices](https:\/\/youradchoices.com\/control)\n- [Privacy Statement](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/fdc\/privacy.html)\n- [Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/)\n- [Cookie Preferences](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/26\/build-self-confidence-5strategies\/)\n- [Digital Terms of Sale](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/digital-terms-of-sale)\n- [Terms of Service](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/terms\/)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/fdc\/contact.html)\n- [Send Us Feedback](mailto:feedback@forbes.com)\n- [Report a Security Issue](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/contact\/)\n- [Jobs At Forbes](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/careers-at-forbes\/)\n- [Reprints & Permissions](http:\/\/forbesreprints.magreprints.com\/)\n- [Forbes Press Room](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbespr\/)\n- [Advertise](http:\/\/www.forbesmedia.com\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"*“Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.”*\n\nThis observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence.  [Without it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything\\!](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Without%20confidence%20you%20can%20do%20little.%20With%20it%2C%20can%20do%20anything%21%20Build%20it%20by%20acting%20as%20though%20you%20had%20it%20%40margiewarrell)\n\nBut what is confidence, anyway?\n\nOften people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your *actual* ability to succeed at a task but your *belief* in your ability to succeed. For instance:\n\n- Your *belief* in your ability to speak in front of an audience\n- Your *belief* in your ability to learn a new technology\n- Your *belief* in your ability to lead a team\n- Your *belief* in your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict\n- Your *belief* in your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business.\n\nIt’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.”  [With consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=With%20consistent%20effort%2C%20%26%20the%20courage%20to%20take%20a%20risk%2C%20we%20can%20gradually%20build%20self-confidence.%20%23ActAsIf%20%40margiewarrell) , and with it, our capacity to build more of it\\!\n\nOf course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question:\n\n*How do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed?*\n\n![confidence1](https:\/\/blogs-images.forbes.com\/margiewarrell\/files\/2015\/02\/confidence1.jpg)Below are five strategies, all backed by hard science, to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all.\n\n**Act As If...**\n\nJust as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to *act as if* you already possess the confidence you aspire to have. *Speak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone\\!* While there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk.\n\n[Alex Malley,](http:\/\/www.cpaaustralia.com.au\/about-us\/our...\/our-chief-executive) bestselling author of [The Naked CEO](http:\/\/www.thenakedceo.com\/) shared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can *do* more than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can *handle* more than you think. Either way, you’re better off.”\n\nAs CEO of [CPA Australia](http:\/\/www.cpaaustralia.com.au\/), a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else.\n\nI’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing...\n\n- Growing our knowledge and skills.\n- Growing our value.\n- Growing our competence.\n- Growing resilience.\n- Growing our influence.\n- Growing self-efficacy.\n- Growing confidence in our ability to make things happen\\!\n\nRather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have ([which I’ve written about previously.)](http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2014\/07\/13\/world-cup-wisdom-play-to-win-not-to-lose\/) Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way.\n\n“Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.” It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and \"have a go\" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it\\!\n\n**Find Your Power Pose**\n\nRight now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found,  [putting ourselves in a \"Power Pose\" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery.](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Putting%20yourself%20in%20a%20%22Power%20Pose%22%C2%A0shifts%20ur%20mental%2C%20emotional%20%26%20emotional%20state%20%26%20fuels%20confidence%20%26%20courage.%20Try%20it%21)\n\n**Channel Your Heroes**\n\nThink of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in [Find Your Courage](http:\/\/amzn.to\/bJjO5qo), I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.)\n\n**Focus On What You Want**\n\nWhat you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen,  [focus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction.](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Focus%20on%20what%20inspires%20you%2C%20not%20scares%20you%20%26%20never%20discount%20the%20cost%20of%20timid%20inaction.%20%23LiveBravely%20%40margiewarrell) As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says: [“Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.”](http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/margiewarrell\/2015\/02\/04\/layne-beachley-focus-on-what-you-want-not-on-what-you-dont\/)\n\n**Mentally Rehearse**\n\nVisualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference.\n\nLike all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego. As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in [The Confidence Code](http:\/\/theconfidencecode.com\/), “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.”\n\n*[**Margie Warrell**](http:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/) is a [keynote speaker](http:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/eventplanners\/) &* *bestselling author of [*Stop Playing Safe*](http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/WileyCDA\/WileyTitle\/productCd-1118505581.html)* *and* *[Find Your Courage](http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Find-Your-Courage-Becoming-Fearless\/dp\/0071605371\/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362428923&sr=1-3&keywords=margie+warrell).*  Connect on [Facebook](http:\/\/facebook.com\/margiewarrell) and [Twitter](http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/margiewarrell).","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/26/build-self-confidence-5strategies/
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Meta Title	Use It Or Lose It: The Science Behind Self-Confidence
Meta Description	Without confidence, we can do little in life. With it, we can change the world. While science now proves we can build it at any age, self-confidence is also something we can lose if we don't continually stretch ourselves and act with the confidence we aspire to have.
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Boilerpipe Text	“Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.” This observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence. Without it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything! But what is confidence, anyway? Often people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your actual ability to succeed at a task but your belief in your ability to succeed. For instance: Your belief in your ability to speak in front of an audience Your belief in your ability to learn a new technology Your belief in your ability to lead a team Your belief in your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict Your belief in your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business. It’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.” With consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence , and with it, our capacity to build more of it! Of course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question: How do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed? Below are five strategies, all backed by hard science, to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all. Act As If... Just as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to act as if you already possess the confidence you aspire to have. Speak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone! While there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk. Alex Malley, bestselling author of The Naked CEO shared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can do more than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can handle more than you think. Either way, you’re better off.” As CEO of CPA Australia , a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else. I’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing... Growing our knowledge and skills. Growing our value. Growing our competence. Growing resilience. Growing our influence. Growing self-efficacy. Growing confidence in our ability to make things happen! Rather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have ( which I’ve written about previously.) Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way. “Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.” It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and "have a go" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it! Find Your Power Pose Right now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found, putting ourselves in a "Power Pose" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery. Channel Your Heroes Think of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in Find Your Courage , I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.) Focus On What You Want What you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen, focus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction. As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says: “Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.” Mentally Rehearse Visualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference. Like all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego. As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in The Confidence Code , “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.” Margie Warrell is a keynote speaker & bestselling author of Stop Playing Safe and Find Your Courage . Connect on Facebook and Twitter .
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Forbes Staff will review your concern shortly.>) - [Privacy Statement](https://www.forbes.com/fdc/privacy.html) - [Your Privacy Choices](https://www.forbes.com/consent/editprivacy/?consent_do_not_sell=true) - [Cookie Preferences](https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/26/build-self-confidence-5strategies/) - [Terms of Service](https://www.forbes.com/terms/) - [AdChoices](https://youradchoices.com/control) - [Reprints & Permissions](https://www.parsintl.com/publication/forbes/) [Leadership](https://www.forbes.com/leadership/) [Careers](https://www.forbes.com/careers/) # Use It Or Lose It: The Science Behind Self-Confidence By[Margie Warrell, Ph.D](https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/ "https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/"), Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Leadership Advisor. Speaker. Bestselling Author. Courage Catalyst. Follow Author Feb 26, 2015, 06:32pm EST Aug 26, 2015, 09:04am EDT This article is more than 10 years old. “Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.” This observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence. [Without it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything\!](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Without%20confidence%20you%20can%20do%20little.%20With%20it%2C%20can%20do%20anything%21%20Build%20it%20by%20acting%20as%20though%20you%20had%20it%20%40margiewarrell) But what is confidence, anyway? Often people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your actual ability to succeed at a task but your belief in your ability to succeed. For instance: - Your belief in your ability to speak in front of an audience - Your belief in your ability to learn a new technology - Your belief in your ability to lead a team - Your belief in your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict - Your belief in your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business. It’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.” [With consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=With%20consistent%20effort%2C%20%26%20the%20courage%20to%20take%20a%20risk%2C%20we%20can%20gradually%20build%20self-confidence.%20%23ActAsIf%20%40margiewarrell) , and with it, our capacity to build more of it\! Of course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question: How do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed? ![confidence1](https://blogs-images.forbes.com/margiewarrell/files/2015/02/confidence1.jpg)Below are five strategies, all backed by hard science, to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all. Act As If... Just as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to act as if you already possess the confidence you aspire to have. Speak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone\! While there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk. [Alex Malley,](http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/about-us/our.../our-chief-executive) bestselling author of [The Naked CEO](http://www.thenakedceo.com/) shared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can do more than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can handle more than you think. Either way, you’re better off.” As CEO of [CPA Australia](http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/), a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else. I’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing... - Growing our knowledge and skills. - Growing our value. - Growing our competence. - Growing resilience. - Growing our influence. - Growing self-efficacy. - Growing confidence in our ability to make things happen\! Rather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have ([which I’ve written about previously.)](http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2014/07/13/world-cup-wisdom-play-to-win-not-to-lose/) Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way. “Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.” It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and "have a go" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it\! Find Your Power Pose Right now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found, [putting ourselves in a "Power Pose" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery.](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Putting%20yourself%20in%20a%20%22Power%20Pose%22%C2%A0shifts%20ur%20mental%2C%20emotional%20%26%20emotional%20state%20%26%20fuels%20confidence%20%26%20courage.%20Try%20it%21) Channel Your Heroes Think of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in [Find Your Courage](http://amzn.to/bJjO5qo), I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.) Focus On What You Want What you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen, [focus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction.](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Focus%20on%20what%20inspires%20you%2C%20not%20scares%20you%20%26%20never%20discount%20the%20cost%20of%20timid%20inaction.%20%23LiveBravely%20%40margiewarrell) As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says: [“Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.”](http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/04/layne-beachley-focus-on-what-you-want-not-on-what-you-dont/) Mentally Rehearse Visualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference. Like all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego. As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in [The Confidence Code](http://theconfidencecode.com/), “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.” [Margie Warrell](http://margiewarrell.com/) is a [keynote speaker](http://margiewarrell.com/eventplanners/) & bestselling author of [Stop Playing Safe](http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118505581.html) and [Find Your Courage](http://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Courage-Becoming-Fearless/dp/0071605371/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362428923&sr=1-3&keywords=margie+warrell). Connect on [Facebook](http://facebook.com/margiewarrell) and [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/margiewarrell). [Editorial Standards](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesstaff/article/forbes-editorial-values-and-standards/)[Reprints & Permissions](https://www.parsintl.com/publications/forbes/) LOADING VIDEO PLAYER... FORBES’ FEATURED Video © 2026 Forbes Media LLC. 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Readable Markdown	“Most people live in a restricted circle of potential.” This observation by William James holds no less truth today than when he made it over a century ago. The reason that so many people never fulfill their potential is not a lack of intelligence, opportunity or resources, but a lack of belief in themselves. Or put another way, too little self-confidence. [Without it, you can do little, with it, you can do anything\!](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Without%20confidence%20you%20can%20do%20little.%20With%20it%2C%20can%20do%20anything%21%20Build%20it%20by%20acting%20as%20though%20you%20had%20it%20%40margiewarrell) But what is confidence, anyway? Often people think of confidence as something that the lucky few are born with and the rest are left wishing for. Not true. Confidence is not a fixed attribute; it’s the outcome of the thoughts we think and the actions we take. No more; no less. It is not based on your actual ability to succeed at a task but your belief in your ability to succeed. For instance: - Your belief in your ability to speak in front of an audience - Your belief in your ability to learn a new technology - Your belief in your ability to lead a team - Your belief in your ability to handle confrontation or manage conflict - Your belief in your ability to change job or career, exit a relationship, or start a business. It’s been long established that the beliefs we hold – true or otherwise - direct our actions and shape our lives. The good news is that new research into neural plasticity reveals that we can literally rewire our brains in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior at any age. Which means that no matter how timid or doubt-laden you’ve been up to now, building self-confidence is largely what psychologists called volitional. Or to use layman language: “By choice.” [With consistent effort, and the courage to take a risk, we can gradually expand our confidence](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=With%20consistent%20effort%2C%20%26%20the%20courage%20to%20take%20a%20risk%2C%20we%20can%20gradually%20build%20self-confidence.%20%23ActAsIf%20%40margiewarrell) , and with it, our capacity to build more of it\! Of course, confidence can wax and wane throughout our lives. It’s boosted when we experience a win or receive praise. It takes a hit when our efforts fall short of the mark, we're criticized, rejected or simply feel a lack of external recognition. We’re only human after all. It’s therefore vital not to become overly reliant on external affirmation to prop up our self-worth, but to take ownership for taking the worthwhile actions needed to sustain it. Which begs the question: How do you build the confidence needed to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals, particularly when you don’t first succeed? ![confidence1](https://blogs-images.forbes.com/margiewarrell/files/2015/02/confidence1.jpg)Below are five strategies, all backed by hard science, to help you on your way, beginning with the most powerful of them all. Act As If... Just as the simplest recipes turn out the best dishes, so too the simplest advice can produce the strongest results. The single most powerful way to build confidence is to act with the confidence you aspire to have. That is, to act as if you already possess the confidence you aspire to have. Speak up. Reach out. Stretch yourself. Exit your comfort zone\! While there are reams of research on building a robust sense of self-confidence -- and banishing the self-doubt that can undermine it - it basically boils down the decision you take to back yourself and take a risk. [Alex Malley,](http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/about-us/our.../our-chief-executive) bestselling author of [The Naked CEO](http://www.thenakedceo.com/) shared with me, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up or embarrassment. If things work out, then you now know you can do more than you think. If things don’t work out, you now know that you can handle more than you think. Either way, you’re better off.” As CEO of [CPA Australia](http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/), a leading global accounting body over 150,000 members globally, Malley has seen far too many people stay in the same role for too long because they have bought into the confidence-shrinking (and career-limiting!) belief that they can’t do anything else. I’ve seen the same myself. Someone achieves a modicum of career success only to become unwilling to do anything that might put it at risk. So they start spending more time in their comfort zone where there is minimal risk of failure and little threatens their confidence. At least in the short term! But when we stop reaching we stop learning and when we stop learning, we stop growing... - Growing our knowledge and skills. - Growing our value. - Growing our competence. - Growing resilience. - Growing our influence. - Growing self-efficacy. - Growing confidence in our ability to make things happen\! Rather than playing to win and forging new ground, people become driven by a fear of losing the ground they already have ([which I’ve written about previously.)](http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2014/07/13/world-cup-wisdom-play-to-win-not-to-lose/) Their unwillingness to lay their reputation and security on the line in the short term results in missing out bigger opportunities down the road; opportunities that go to those who’ve never stopped stretching, growing, learning and strengthening their confidence along the way. “Think of something you have always wanted to do but have avoided because you fear it could be embarrassing,” advises Malley. “Now clear your mind and give it a go.” It's not only vital to your future success, but failing to take a risk and "have a go" can ultimately put the confidence you have now at risk. That is... If you don't use it, you lose it\! Find Your Power Pose Right now I challenge you to stand up tall, shoulders back, chin up, smile confidently and move your body into the posture of someone who is highly self-assured; someone who never buys into beliefs that diminish them. Notice a difference? That's because when we shift our physical state, it shifts our mental and emotional state. Not only that, but as Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy has found, [putting ourselves in a "Power Pose" literally changes our physiology releasing a hearty dose of testosterone to fuel our bravery.](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Putting%20yourself%20in%20a%20%22Power%20Pose%22%C2%A0shifts%20ur%20mental%2C%20emotional%20%26%20emotional%20state%20%26%20fuels%20confidence%20%26%20courage.%20Try%20it%21) Channel Your Heroes Think of someone you greatly admire who radiates a quiet sense of confidence, and think about what they would do or say if they were facing your current challenges and opportunities. Channel their self-confidence, certitude and bravery. As I shared in [Find Your Courage](http://amzn.to/bJjO5qo), I once coached a female client who had been struggling to speak up at her weekly (male dominated) management meetings to imagine she had the confidence of Hilary Clinton. To her surprise, she found herself injecting her opinion into the conversation as never before and feeling all the more powerful for it. Ten years on she is now running the company. (Below is an interview I did about the confidence gap between men and women.) Focus On What You Want What you put your attention on amplifies in your reality. Focus on things that make you anxious, and you’ll become more anxious. Focus on things that inspire you, and you’ll feel more powerful. So instead of terrifying yourself by focusing on what you don’t want to happen, [focus on what you’d love to make happen and never discount the cost of inaction.](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmargiewarrell%2F2015%2F02%2F26%2Fbuild-self-confidence-5strategies%2F&text=Focus%20on%20what%20inspires%20you%2C%20not%20scares%20you%20%26%20never%20discount%20the%20cost%20of%20timid%20inaction.%20%23LiveBravely%20%40margiewarrell) As world champion surfer Layne Beachley says: [“Focus on what inspires you, not on what scares you.”](http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/04/layne-beachley-focus-on-what-you-want-not-on-what-you-dont/) Mentally Rehearse Visualization is a highly effective tool for building confidence. It can activate the same neural circuitry in the brain as doing something in reality. So to help you ACT AS IF, try imagining yourself doing (or saying) whatever it is you want to do with a quiet but unshakeable believe in your ability to do it well. If it's a conversation you need to have, practice having it a few times before hand. It will make a difference. Like all emotions, confidence breeds confidence. So whether you’re in the C-suite or a sales rep, make the conscious and courageous decision not to give self-doubt the power to keep you from pursuing a bold ambition, have a tough conversation, or lay your pride on the line for a cause bigger than your ego. As Katty Kay and Claire Shipman wrote in [The Confidence Code](http://theconfidencecode.com/), “Confidence is hard to define but easy to recognize. With it, you can take on the world; without it, you live stuck at the starting block of your potential.” [Margie Warrell](http://margiewarrell.com/) is a [keynote speaker](http://margiewarrell.com/eventplanners/) & bestselling author of [Stop Playing Safe](http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118505581.html) and [Find Your Courage](http://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Courage-Becoming-Fearless/dp/0071605371/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362428923&sr=1-3&keywords=margie+warrell). Connect on [Facebook](http://facebook.com/margiewarrell) and [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/margiewarrell).
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