Confidence Matters - and it’s a Matter of Confidence!
Confidence opens doors that self-doubt leaves shut. We’ve all wrestled with moments of feeling insecure—it’s universal. For some, it creeps in occasionally; for others, it’s a constant battle. Confidence is a skill you can learn, a transformation to becoming the IconicMan you want to be.
What causes a lack of self-confidence? It’s shaped by experiences, thought patterns, and external influences that affect how you see yourself. When you understand what’s been holding you back, you can begin to build your confidence —no matter where you’re starting from. Recognising common confidence killers is the first step toward moving forward.
Confidence Killers
Break Free from Inner Blocks
- Constant Criticism in Childhood – Growing up with frequent criticism and lack of positive reinforcement can create deep-rooted self-doubt and insecurity.
- Comparisons – Measuring yourself against others often leads to feelings of inadequacy and the sense that you’re always falling short.
- Not Feeling Good Enough– A deep-seated belief of inadequacy, often rooted in past criticism, failures, or unmet expectations can hold you back from reaching your potential.
- Past Failures and Setbacks – Obsessing over mistakes can create hesitation and fear of trying again.
- Social and Cultural Pressures – Conforming to external expectations and pressures dictating how you 'should' act or be can suppress authenticity, making it challenging to prioritise your own needs.
- Perfectionism – Perfectionism often stems from childhood criticism or high expectations, fear of failure or rejection, low self-esteem, constant comparisons, cultural pressures, certain personality traits, or past experiences that trigger a need for control and approval.
- Fear of Judgment – Worrying about what others think can hold you back from taking action.
- Negative Self-Talk– Negative self-talk is the internal dialogue that focuses on flaws and mistakes, reinforcing doubt and limiting your ability to take action or believe in yourself.
- Lack of Assertiveness – Failing to speak up for yourself leads to resentment, weakened confidence, and compromised boundaries.
- Overthinking and Indecision – Getting stuck in analysis paralysis prevents progress, fuels anxiety, and slowly erodes confidence by creating doubt in your ability to make decisions.