Whether you are going into an interview or trying to make a good first impression, the number one characteristic you ever can rock is your confidence. I think we can all agree that pure, “I’m the bomb.com” confidence is highly coveted but doesn’t always come easy.

In celebration of World Peace Day that just passed this Wednesday, and it being officially being Fall, get ready to fall in love with a new you and be at peace with yourself as I show you how to be (and feel) more confident in six easy steps (plus a three totally cute Desktop and iPhone wallpapers designed by me to boost your confidence every day)!

1. Smile

Simple right? Research has shown that smiling, even a forced smile, can boost and elevate your mood which will make you feel more confident in facing any tasks at hand.

Even more so, smiling makes you seem more approachable, competent and likable. You want people to approach you! Wanna make that hottie walk over? Throw him a smile and he won’t know how nervous you actually are.

Lastly, it’s contagious! Light up a room with your gorgeous smile and people won’t be able to resist smiling back.

2. Rock a power color

Colors play a powerful role in how we as consumers choose what products to buy. And as business owners, the colors used in your branding are crucial in regards to what exactly you’re trying to market. Research has shown that 90% of judgements are made about products based on color alone.

So let’s take the psychology of color and apply to our daily lives. I found that there are four psychological primary colors – red, blue, yellow and green that elicit different reactions as they relate to the body, mind and emotions. For example wearing red might make you feel bold and have others view you as fierce. I personally feel my best and in the zone when I rock the color pink (if you could not already tell).

Whether you are rocking your favorite lipstick color or  choose to feng shui your office to be decked out in white and gold, find a color (or colors) that brings light into life for an ultimate confidence boost.

3. Give a compliment 

Have you ever been in a situation where you were too afraid to initiate the conversation with another person so you end up not talking to them? What if I told you to take the leap and open up a conversation with a compliment instead?

By being able to genuinely compliment someone else, you help build your own confidence because, if you are able to clearly see the best in others, you will learn to clearly see the best in yourself.

Plus, to give is to receive.  You shouldn’t be surprised if that person you complimented gives you one right back.

4. Be your own competition

I recently came across this quote on Pinterest that resonated with me:

“The woman who does not require any validation Is the most feared individual on the planet.”

When you give up the need to seek validation from others, you gain the freedom to be your best possible self by being your own competition.

Far too often we fall into the trap of believing that our accomplishments are only “small wins” in comparison to others. However, when you’re constantly raising the bar for yourself, you’ll naturally develop a level of unwavering confidence others will want to emulate.

5. Let failure fuel you

Now I know this one is tough to swallow considering no one likes to fail.  But at the end of the day, if you are looking to feel confident and build your overall confidence, remember the wise words of Nelson Mandela:

“I never Lose, I either win or learn.”

To take failure and turn it into a learning opportunity is a sign of confidence in its own right because you are not allowing a few bumps along the road to steer you from your goals.

6. Practice positive affirmations 

While every one might not agree on the “fake it until you make it” approach to being more confident, reciting positive affirmations or having a list of them handy can easily give you a confidence boost whenever you need it, and ultimately helping you be more confident as you start to embody those affirmations.

So go head and write some of your favorite positive affirmations on a Post-It and leave one on your bathroom mirror or keep a jar filled with them for those rough days. If that’s too cheesy, just download these confidence boosting wallpapers I made just for you!

Freebies Download Links

*For the mobile wallpapers, be sure to select “move and scale” and select “still” on iPhone for the best display.

When In Doubt, Wink – Desktop version, iPhone version

Stars Can’t Shine Without Darkness – Desktop version, iPhone version

Out Dream Yourself – Desktop version, iPhone version

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! Should you use them, if you can kindly tag me on social media it would be much appreciated!

What are your best tips on feeling confident? Get at me in some comments below!