Learning English Podcast | How To Build Confidence | Learn English Leap Podcast | Ep. 24

Summary

In this episode of the *English Leap Podcast*, the hosts dive into habits that subtly undermine our confidence, such as worrying about others' opinions, negative thinking, and social media comparisons. They offer actionable advice to break these patterns, like focusing on personal values, replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations, and practicing self-compassion. The episode also highlights the importance of setting realistic, challenging goals, avoiding self-deprecating talk, and taking responsibility for personal growth. Along with practical tips, the hosts emphasize the role of language in building confidence, offering key vocabulary to help listeners strengthen their self-assurance and English skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Worrying about others' opinions can undermine your confidence. Focus on your own values instead of seeking approval from others.
• 😀 Negative thinking, like believing you're not good enough, can hold you back. Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations to improve your mindset.
• 😀 Social media comparisons often present an unrealistic version of life. Avoid comparing yourself to others and celebrate your own achievements.
• 😀 Rumination, or dwelling on past mistakes, can prevent growth. Learn from your mistakes, practice self-compassion, and focus on solutions.
• 😀 Self-deprecating talk, even in a joking manner, can reinforce negative beliefs about yourself. Be mindful of how you speak about yourself.
• 😀 Blaming others for setbacks prevents you from taking responsibility. Reflect on your role in situations to empower yourself and boost confidence.
• 😀 Setting low expectations out of fear of failure limits your potential. Set realistic, challenging goals that push you to grow and celebrate progress.
• 😀 Confidence is built through small, consistent actions that align with your values and beliefs. Live authentically to feel more confident.
• 😀 Positive affirmations can change your internal dialogue. Replace “I can’t do this” with “I can improve with practice” to build self-belief.
• 😀 Focusing on personal growth, rather than external approval, helps you become your best self. Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Q & A

Why do habits that undermine confidence often go unnoticed?

These habits often affect us subtly and gradually, like erosion. The effects build up over time, so we don't realize they're impacting our confidence until we notice a change in how we feel about ourselves.

How does worrying about others' opinions hurt our confidence?

Constantly seeking approval from others creates self-doubt and leads us to make decisions based on external validation rather than our own beliefs and desires, which can result in feeling less authentic and more unsure of ourselves.

What can we do to stop worrying about what others think?

We can start by focusing on our own values and beliefs. Writing down what's important to us and reminding ourselves that we can't please everyone helps shift our focus away from external opinions.

Why is negative thinking such a powerful force against confidence?

Negative thinking, such as telling ourselves we aren't good enough, can limit our potential and stop us from taking action. Over time, these negative thoughts can become ingrained and affect our self-esteem.

What is the role of positive affirmations in overcoming negative thinking?

Positive affirmations help reprogram our minds by replacing negative thoughts with empowering statements. Over time, this shift in thinking can improve our self-esteem and motivate us to take action.

How can social media comparisons damage our confidence?

When we compare ourselves to the seemingly perfect lives others share on social media, we forget that these are just highlights, not the full picture. This can make us feel inadequate and diminish our self-worth.

What is a good way to manage social media use to protect our confidence?

Limiting our time on social media, setting a timer, and focusing on our own achievements rather than comparing them to others can help protect our confidence and maintain a healthy perspective.

How can rumination on past mistakes affect our confidence?

Rumination involves replaying past mistakes in our minds, which can prevent us from moving forward. This can cause us to doubt ourselves and avoid trying new things for fear of repeating the mistake.

What strategies can help us overcome rumination?

To overcome rumination, we can focus on learning from our mistakes, practice self-compassion, and set new goals. Shifting the focus from the past to the future helps build resilience and confidence.

What is self-deprecating talk, and how does it impact confidence?

Self-deprecating talk involves speaking negatively about ourselves, often as a joke. While it may seem harmless, it reinforces negative beliefs and can cause others to perceive us as lacking confidence.

How can we avoid self-deprecating talk and build a more positive self-image?

We can start by being mindful of how we speak about ourselves. Instead of downplaying our abilities, we should frame our language in a way that emphasizes growth, such as saying, 'I'm working on improving,' rather than 'I'm terrible at this.'

What is the 'blame game,' and why does it hurt our confidence?

The 'blame game' is when we shift responsibility for our setbacks onto others. By avoiding personal responsibility, we deny ourselves the power to learn from mistakes and improve, which ultimately weakens our confidence.

How can we stop playing the blame game and take more responsibility for our actions?

To stop playing the blame game, we can reflect on our own role in a situation and ask ourselves what we could have done differently. This empowers us to learn from our experiences and make positive changes.

What are the dangers of setting low expectations for ourselves?

Setting low expectations out of fear of failure limits our growth and potential. By aiming too low, we prevent ourselves from striving for excellence and achieving greater success.

How can we set better, more empowering goals?

We can set realistic yet challenging goals that push us to improve and grow. By celebrating small milestones along the way, we reinforce our progress and build confidence in our abilities.

How does practicing self-compassion help us build confidence?

Self-compassion involves treating ourselves with kindness, especially when we make mistakes. This helps reduce stress and anxiety, allowing us to bounce back from setbacks with a positive mindset and greater confidence.