Hypnotherapy for confidence

We all know those people who ooze confidence, flashing their smile and holding themselves with such poise. They could deliver a speech to hundreds without breaking a sweat, or hold court at a party with one hilarious story after another. They appear to breeze through big meetings at work and the concept of going on a date doesn’t ruffle any of their feathers. Of course, there are also the quieter ones, whose confidence glows from within them, reassuring everyone around them that they are sure of their situation and confident in themselves. 

For those of us that feel a little less confident with something, we can find these people intimidating or mysterious. Sometimes simply being in their company can give us greater confidence in ourselves. But how do they do it? How are they so sure of themselves? And how can we be more like them?

Well, the good news is that hypnotherapy can unlock your inner confidence. It can support you in discovering what may be blocking the belief in yourself that ultimately leads to genuine confidence. 

Whether you’re seeking to gain confidence for a specific scenario or would like help feeling more able and determined on a day-to-day basis, hypnotherapists can tailor a course of therapy to suit your needs. Perhaps you need help with giving a speech at your friend’s wedding, or maybe your confidence is holding you back from dating and meeting new people and you want to overcome that. Whatever your personal circumstances may be, hypnotherapy can be used to support you. 

[Confidence] is not something exclusively available to the bold and boisterous… It can be quiet, subtle, strong and sturdy… Whatever type of person you are, you can still be a confident one.

What is confidence?

The Oxford Dictionary defines confidence as “the feeling that you can trust, believe in and be sure about the abilities or good qualities of somebody/something”. It sounds simple right? In fact, it sounds wonderfully simple. So, is it really that unreachable? Is there some magic formula that results in some of us being more confident than others?

Picture someone you believe is a confident person and let’s dive deeper into the definition for a moment. It starts by stating: “…the feeling”, so confidence is all based on feelings? Does this mean there’s no guarantee or security that the person in question actually feels confident themselves? If we were considering a brand or product that we are confident in, what is it that makes us feel that way? What is it that makes us feel that we are purchasing quality and are reassured that this is something we can trust in?

Returning to that quote once more: It goes on to say “…you can trust, believe in and be sure about…”. Once again it is pointing out to us that confidence is something based on the intangible – feelings, beliefs and opinions. So how is it that we can alter our feelings, change our perceptions and ultimately, gain greater confidence in ourselves?

We make sense of the world around us and we use our previous experiences to inform our judgement of things, events and people. So, if ‘Sandra’ in the office is always punctual and precise in her work, we are more likely to rely on her to deliver the goods when we need them. We view Sandra in a certain light and expect certain things from her, e.g. the way she may react to a task, the quality of her work etc. Sandra has developed a reputation for herself and there is evidence to support this perception of her. We know she is diligent and accurate. She appears knowledgeable and skilled in her area. By all accounts, Sandra is confident with her work.

However, this doesn’t mean she is. For all we know, she beavers away until the small wee hours. She fusses over the contents of her reports and unbeknown to us, she may frantically await that validating email from her boss confirming that she has done a good job once again. Do you see the difference?

The difference between appearing confident and being confident

There is much written about ‘imposter syndrome’ that if this starts to ring a bell with you, I would recommend investigating some great podcasts and articles about this rapidly growing phenomenon. The crux of this concept is people perceiving us to be more capable than we really feel. It can become an unpleasant cycle to get trapped in but be assured, there is a way out.

As mentioned before, hypnotherapy can help in a number of different ways. Gaining confidence is unique to you and what you wish to achieve, so tackling it from any angle is possible, but it can help to have a little support. Here are a few examples of how hypnotherapy could be used to support you release your inner confidence. 

Preparing for a significant event that feels particularly daunting

For example, a driving test or giving a speech.

• Visualising the scenario so that you become more comfortable and less intimidated.
• Seeing yourself successfully achieving it and gaining confidence in the concept that you can do this.
• Practising and rehearsing so that you are surer of what you are doing.
• Equip you with calming strategies to help you remain focused and on task.

Putting yourself forward for a new challenge or opportunity

For example, a job opportunity, moving house or going on a date.

• Ego bolstering – reassuring you that you are as worthy as anyone else to have this opportunity and that you have the means to achieve it.
• Encourage you to focus on what qualities and skills you already possess while working on the tools you may need to face the challenge head-on.
• Help you develop reassuring strategies that ensure you keep calm but also are bold enough to face the situation.

Having confidence in ourselves is directly linked to how we feel about ourselves and whether we have faith in what we are doing. The way we think about our skillset and capabilities will have a direct effect on how we end up coming across. So, take stock for a moment and check, are you being kind to yourself? Are you bigging yourself up when you deserve it and acknowledging when you’ve done something brilliantly? Because if you aren’t, it’s unlikely the rest of the world will. The more you believe you can do something, the more able you become. 

This is why feeling confident is so much more important than appearing confident. The latter will follow on naturally once you do feel it in yourself. If you truly have conviction in yourself and your potential, then it will come across in your mannerisms and this is when those around you sense it most clearly. They can feel its sincerity, and this is considerably more powerful than those that are putting forward a false front. 

Your confidence doesn’t have to be loud and brash. That is not true confidence. It can be quiet, subtle, strong and sturdy. Being sure of yourself can be peaceful and reassuring, so whatever type of person you are, you can still be a confident one. It is not something exclusively available to the bold and boisterous. Hypnotherapy can help you find your inner confidence if it’s hiding away and holding you back, so get in touch with one of us therapists and start that journey sooner rather than later. 

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