Think of your favorite sports star, idol or personal mentor.

Chances are one of the reasons why they earn your admiration is simply because they have the confidence or high self-esteem.

A person with high self-esteem isn’t egotistical or a braggart. They simply seem to have the ability to have faith in themselves and their accomplishments.

And as a result, can aim higher and achieve more in all aspects of life. It’s an enviable trait to be sure, but it can also be one of the more difficult characteristics to obtain.

After all, it’s easy to focus on our mistakes, or put ourselves down, and inherently diminish our self-esteem in the process.

However, there are key characteristics you can emulate to place you on the path to self-esteem.

These qualities are inherent in people with natural confidence, and with practice, you can easily integrate them into your own sense of self.

Understanding the Difference Between Past and Present

The past doesn’t make us who we are, but the present always offers an exceptional opportunity to move forward.

People with high self-esteem don’t dwell on what came before, and hold onto mistakes or outside factors that may have slowed them down in the past.

Instead, they look to the future and seize the moment to uncover what actions they can take right now to make their life better.

A Sense of Accountability

Accountability and self-esteem go hand-in-hand, both internally, and in how other perceive you.

By making a promise or commitment and continually following through, not only do you bolster your reputation in other people’s eyes, but you also garner a sense of accomplishment with every promise kept.

Refusing to Follow

Remember when your mother said, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?” She knew what she was talking about.

A person with solid self-esteem doesn’t follow what everyone else is doing because this makes it impossible to blaze your own trail.

Set out on your own path and you’ll gain confidence simply by recognizing that you’re an individual, and your courses of action are valid and work best for you.

Speaking the Truth and Embracing Honesty

So often we opt for the dishonest or at least sugar-coated response because we don’t want people to reject us.

For example, if a co-worker asks you for a huge favor, and you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you may just say yes. You don’t want to come across as mean or unlikeable.

But the actual truth has so much more value. Simply saying “No, I’m afraid I can’t do that” without excuses will reinforce the idea that your time and opinions are sound and valid.

Separating Emotions From Messages

We all get bad news at some point in our lives. Whether it’s losing a promotion to a competitor, or not being invited to a party, it’s hard not to take the perceived slights personally.

But when you start to internalize these events, you start to question your own value.

So instead, just shrug, accept what it is, and if it’s applicable, find out how to change the situation, so it doesn’t happen again.

Just because something goes wrong doesn’t mean it’s because of you, and separating your emotions from an unpleasant message allows the message to fade away as new opportunities arise.

Above all else, try, try and try some more. Mistakes are inevitable.

But lifting yourself up and refusing to give up will always boost your self-esteem, as well as your chances for coming out a victor in the end.

Are you struggling to gain self-esteem? The WINology Performance Group can help! We will teach you how to be more confident. Contact us today to learn more or visit us online!

How have you gained more confidence in the past? Let us know in the comments section below!