What is Self-Confidence? Self-confidence is about trusting your own judgement and feeling comfortable with your abilities and powers: it’s the means to realise your full potential and be the person you want to be. This trait allows you to feel secure in the world and encourages others to feel comfortable around you, as your behaviour is reliable, and they know what to expect. Self-confidence comprises various factors, including how you present yourself physically to the world and how you relate to other people. Healthy self-confidence can bring benefits to all areas of your life, but if you have low self-confidence, getting help from a top counselling psychologist in Chennai can be a big help.
How is self-confidence different from self-esteem?
Self-confidence differs from self-esteem, and although the two terms are used interchangeably, some differences can impact finding a way forward. Confidence is linked with the external world and how others see us, present ourselves, and achieve. Self-esteem, however, is more about our own relationship with ourselves and how we feel deep down about who we are.
Confident people set realistic goals, learn useful skills and undertake tasks to achieve aspirations. People with low self-esteem are often unable to set realistic goals: they’re conscious of ‘never being good enough and compare themselves unfavourably towards others.
The two traits match but not always connected. A person struggling with self-confidence and self-esteem might be particularly successful and confident at work but is acquiring these skills to compensate for a deep feeling of low self-esteem. This compensatory need drives many high achievers, but often the hoped-for sense of satisfaction for their low self-esteem evades them. This then causes them to overwork or seek refuge in some other area. So, self-confidence can evolve alongside self-esteem or independently.
We can develop self-confidence through realistic goal setting and planning. However, it’s important to note that the pressure you or others put on yourself to live up to expectations can lead to anxiety and bruised confidence: developing self-confidence at the right pace for you is key.
We hold ourselves to impossible standards. Wherever we may have got it from, the media, our parents or our peers […] “It’s our job to break the cycle.”
Visible Signs
Your self-confidence level is visible in your body language, your behaviour, how you speak, and how you react to different situations. Self-confident people are generally more positive and believe in their abilities, whereas those with low self-confidence often have negative thoughts about themselves and their abilities. This leads to a downward spiral of under-achievement and disappointment.
If you have low self-confidence, you may feel:
- you are unsuccessful
- you have no drive or direction
- shy and uneasy
- a sense of uselessness and worthlessness
- inferior to others
- bitter about work, social and family relationships
Confidence doesn’t have to be solid across all areas of your life. It’s important to assess this to understand that learning and skills are developed to bridge confidence. Maybe you’re confident with one or two close friends but not with big groups. It may be that you’re confident with animals or children, but not with adults. You may be able to cook but unable to sing. Confident people build on what they can do and confront honestly what they lack, accepting constructive criticism and support.
Causes for Low Sef Confidence
Your early environment and childhood influences often have a major effect on how your confidence has developed throughout your early life – along with your own disposition and resilience. Children who speak their mind openly usually retain that habit. Children who have been unable to make their needs understood or experience learning difficulties may feel there is no way forward or opportunities for them. A knock-back at work or a recent redundancy are common causes of low self-confidence, as your trust in your ability to perform a certain task has been rocked.
What can you do about low self-confidence?
Understanding setbacks and problems are the first steps to overcoming low self-confidence. Although the past may seem to have determined your current confidence level, confidence remains a very flexible trait. For many people, a crisis, divorce, illness or bereavement can be the surprising springboard to find an alternative route to build confidence. It’s always possible to improve your skills in this area at any time you choose.
Help for low self-confidence
Everyone has their own strengths, abilities and skills to enhance their self-confidence and become who they want to be eventually. Joining an evening class, support or interest group or undertaking training is often the first step to building confidence. Be realistic about your goals and what you want to achieve. It can help to set short-term (six weeks) goals and long-term (five-year) goals. So you can map out small steps.
Counselling, hypnotherapy and life coaching are common therapies used to help improve self-confidence. A therapist can offer a safe space to consider realistic and achievable goals and explore disappointments and setbacks. You can use various techniques to build your self-confidence. If setbacks have been impossible, exploring why with a trained counselling psychologist in Chennai may be worth exploring.
What should I be looking for in a counsellor or psychotherapist?
There aren’t any regulations regarding the level of training a counsellor treating someone with low self-confidence needs; however, there are several accredited courses, qualifications and workshops available to counsellors to improve their knowledge of a particular area. When searching for a counselling psychologist in Chennai, consider how they work and their experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You must find a therapist you resonate with – a good relationship in the therapy room is key for success.
Counselling For Self Confidence with Praveen Saanker
Counselling services provided by Mr Praveen Saanker are part of our “not-for-profit” activities. We do not charge a consulting fee for these support initiatives since they are meant to provide aid and relief for truly deserving individuals who otherwise may not have been able to afford these services.
Mr Praveen Saanker has set aside 12 hours of his professional time every week to provide coaching and counselling services. Appointments are provided basis the unique needs and circumstances of each individual. Please note that we do not have robust CRM platforms or customer support teams to provide instant answers to your queries or replies to your mails. Hence please bear with us for the time we take to get back to you.
What do we expect from you?
When you decide to get associated with us, we expect you to contribute to society in whatever capacity you can. This may mean you are undertaking voluntary work in your domain of expertise and provide empowerment and support to the needy. This can also mean you are giving help and assistance to people who desperately look forward to your aid when they have no one else who can help them. All we want you to do is give back to the universe and your fellow humans in whichever capacity you can.
We are not a registered charitable organisation, and hence we do not accept financial donations or support items in any form. You can get associated with anyone and choose the path you would like to follow in empowering your fellow human beings. But we would like to hear from you on how you intend to contribute back to society shortly when you choose to avail of our services.
How can you avail of our support?
If you believe you require Mr Praveen Saanker’s support and assistance, you can write to us at praveen@vedicology.com. Please be rest assured, we shall get back to you and be with you during your testing times in whatever capacity we can.
Mr Praveen, the founder of ‘Vedicology,’ is an internationally renowned scholar on Sanatana Dharma recognised for his knowledge and application of Indian Psychology and Spirituality. He is regarded as an expert on Indian and Western Psychology, Vedic Scriptures, Indian Rites, Rituals, Customs & Traditions, Astrology, Vastu Shastra & Numerology. Aiming to be of the utmost help, Mr Praveen Saanker looks to understand your motivations and aspirations and then provide a solution accordingly. Praveen successfully integrates the principles of Vedas with modern Psychology and Business Management. Mr Praveen Saanker works with family business entrepreneurs and next-generation leaders, advising them on the family constitution and finding a subtle balance between family and business priorities.
Praveen Saanker Profile
Counselling Areas
- Grief Counselling or Support for Bereavement
- Counselling for Stress or Support for Stress Management
- Counselling for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD
- Low Self Esteem – Counselling Support
- Self Confidence – Counselling Areas
- Infertility Counselling – Support Areas
- Counselling for HIV Patients
- Gender dysphoria or Gender Identity Disorder – Support Areas
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- Anxiety Issues Counselling Support
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- Counselling Support for Abuse Victims
- Miscarriage Induced Stress – Counselling Support
- Passive Aggressive Behaviour – Counselling Support
- Spiritual Counselling
- Counselling for Sexuality Issues
- Sexual Problems – Counselling Support
- Self Harm – Counselling Support
- Relationship Counselling
- Pregnancy Counselling
- Work Stress – Counselling Support
