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My advice is to not focus on how others will perceive you or think of you. True confidence comes from living a way that brings you peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment. If we feel at peace with our choices we will start to feel a confidence. I also think that it is easy to feel pressure to try to be something or someone that we think is desirable to others. Although we should be self aware of how our behavior impacts others, we should focus on doing and enjoying the hobbies and things that make us feel happy and content ( assuming they are not sinful practices).
I am very much a people pleaser by nature. For years, I felt pressured to prove to others that I was normal, lol. I didn't want others to think negatively of me. It wasn't until I decided to just accept and roll with whatever others thought of me that I found real confidence. It didn't happen overnight. It took awhile to feel more and more at peace with living my life how I wanted to and ignoring the critique of others. I learned that you can never have everyone's approval or good opinion anyway. The funny thing is that the more I accepted potential criticism or negative feedback and didn't try to defend or explain my lifestyle, the more respect I received. People do take note of a person who truly enjoys what they are doing and isn't afraid to be different.
I think that instead of trying to gain confidence you should spend time cultivating your interests. Someone who is very passionate about their interests and isn't seeking approval or affirmation catches the attention of others. You don't want to be in your own head all the time. If you try to become more confident you'll end up torturing yourself overthinking everything that you do and say.
I am very much a people pleaser by nature. For years, I felt pressured to prove to others that I was normal, lol. I didn't want others to think negatively of me. It wasn't until I decided to just accept and roll with whatever others thought of me that I found real confidence. It didn't happen overnight. It took awhile to feel more and more at peace with living my life how I wanted to and ignoring the critique of others. I learned that you can never have everyone's approval or good opinion anyway. The funny thing is that the more I accepted potential criticism or negative feedback and didn't try to defend or explain my lifestyle, the more respect I received. People do take note of a person who truly enjoys what they are doing and isn't afraid to be different.
I think that instead of trying to gain confidence you should spend time cultivating your interests. Someone who is very passionate about their interests and isn't seeking approval or affirmation catches the attention of others. You don't want to be in your own head all the time. If you try to become more confident you'll end up torturing yourself overthinking everything that you do and say.
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