Confidence holding you back?

This was me last year. Ten years working for myself from home, a year of illness, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get back into full time work. Half of me just wanted to retreat, the other half felt like I was not finished yet but how was I going to muster up the confidence to get back out there.

Here are five strategies to help you boost your confidence and break free from its grip:

• Challenge Your Inner Critic: That negative inner voice can be harsher than any external critic. Start paying attention to it, and when it starts to berate you, challenge those thoughts. Are they really true? Most likely, they're exaggerations or outright lies. And make sure your Inner Mentor has a louder voice.

• Celebrate Small Wins: Don't wait, baby steps are all it takes to make you feel more confident. Celebrate the small victories along the way. Did you contact an old friend for advice or a chat about how you feel? Great! That's a step forward. Acknowledge it.

• Continuous Learning: Confidence often comes from competence. When you feel like you know what you're doing, you're more likely to feel confident. There are so many brilliant online courses, many that are free

• Visualization: Picture yourself succeeding. It might sound cheesy, but it works. Olympic athletes use this technique all the time. Imagine yourself confidently starting a new career.

• Seek Support: Sometimes, we need a little help from our friends. Talk to people you trust about your lack of confidence. But also think about joining a new community of people in the same boat. They can provide valuable perspective and encouragement.

• At Beyondable, we get it. Confidence can be a major stumbling block, especially when you're trying to make a big change in your life or career. That's why we're here to help you with tools you need to reach your goals.