There is a strong correlation between self-confidence and success. Healthy confidence is realistic, secure, and humble - it gives us an inner belief in our skills and our ability to achieve and succeed.

When you are confident, you are more likely to take action, stand up for what you value, seize opportunities, set boundaries, build healthy relationships, and persevere in the face of doubts and setbacks.

Unfortunately, many misconceptions about the nature of confidence prevent people from embracing this incredible quality. Here are 4 simple steps you can take to cultivate your confidence. I call these steps 'The 4Ps of Confidence'

1. Perspective. When you lack self-confidence, the perspective you have of yourself and the world around you is based on your fears and doubts. The first thing we need to do is deal with the self-judgment from your inner critic and minimize the effect it has on you.

   • "If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." - Vincent Van Gogh

2. Position. To build your confidence, you need to understand your current abilities and acknowledge the greatness that is already within you. When you focus on your strengths, you align with your authentic self, making you more effective, efficient, and fulfilled.

   • “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” –Norman Vincent Peale

3. Plan. Working on your self-confidence means you must be clear about the results you want to manifest. If you do not know what you want to achieve, you will not be confident to do what is right and stand up for what you believe in. Having clear goals and a plan to achieve them helps you stay motivated to go after them.

   • "If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else." –Lawrence J. Peter

4. Performance. To perform at your peak, you must take care of your physical and emotional state. Build healthy habits that supports and reinforces your strengths or minimizes your weaknesses. Set boundaries and reflect on your thoughts and actions so you can change them if needed.

   • “Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.” –Diane Arbus

We all have the capacity to be confident and to show the world the greatness that lies within us. Do not wait for others to validate you or to tell you what is great about you. Take control over your own emotional and physical state, minimize your inner voice, accept and showcase your strengths, set goals, and ACT!

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” –Marie Curie