Something I’m incredibly passionate about, which I think can sometimes be overlooked in the dance community, is helping to build and cultivate a healthy sense of self-confidence in every single member of our community. Self-confidence is both a journey and a skill and it’s something we will all struggle with at some point in our lives, but the good news is there are things you can do that will help improve it. Whether it’s a particular area you want to focus on or you just generally want some tips, here are 4 ways to improve self-confidence!
Your vibe attracts your tribe, and I strongly believe that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. When we allow negative people into our lives who for whatever reason might put us down and make you question your worth, that’s when self-doubt can start to creep in. This is why it’s so important to always surround yourself with people who lift you up, believe in you and will always be the first to clap and cheer you on. This is one of the things I love the most about our Claudia Dean World Community. I love seeing the way you all interact with each other whether it’s online in our private Claudia Dean Community facebook group or IRL at our community events, it’s so inspiring and uplifting and that energy really is contagious.
It’s inevitable that we're all going to have days that are more challenging than others - we’re only human after all - and on those days it’s particularly important to give yourself some extra TLC. When you spend a bit more time doing things that make you feel good you’ll instantly start to feel more confident. A few of things I regularly do are start my day with a meditation, which helps clear my mind and block any negative thoughts that I might be feeling, sit down to a nourishing breakfast that I know will fuel my body for the day and I might also spend a little bit more time getting ready by washing my hair and putting together an outfit that makes me feel incredible. These little daily rituals might seem small, but they can end up having huge results!
I truly believe that magic is something that happens outside of your comfort zone, so I try and challenge myself everyday to do something that might initially feel a little bit uncomfortable/scary. It could be something simple like standing somewhere different in class or wearing your hair a different way or something a little bigger like enrolling in private coaching or attempting a new sequence/variation (we have so many of these available on the Claudia Dean App that you can do from the comfort of your very own home). Everytime you try something new, you gain strength, courage and confidence with every new experience + you’ll never know how truly capable and amazing you are until you try!
I’ve always said that comparison is the thief of joy, so never compare yourself, your abilities or your journey to anybody else, whether it’s something you’ve seen on social media, in a dance class or at school. We were all put on this earth for a reason, and we all have our own strengths and skills that make us unique! If you ever start to feel comparisons creep in, stop it in its tracks by writing down 3 things you love about yourself that make you uniquely you. It could be your strong legs that help give you power and precision in allegro, your kindness that makes people love to be around you or your passion, which gives you a positive outlook on life.
Remember above all else that self-confidence is a journey and it’s completely normal to have days that might feel a little more challenging than others. On those days, it can be super helpful to remind yourself of these tips, so if they resonated with you or you know someone who might benefit from them, share them!
Love CD xx
