Building Confidence By Doing Less

Feeling confident can be tricky when your brain processes information differently. If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing your choices or feeling like you can’t quite trust your own instincts, you’re in good company. In the latest episode, we dive into a simple experiment I’ve been running on myself to boost certainty and see what genuinely works.

The episode explores the ups and downs of this experiment and offers personal insights on shifting your mindset. Sometimes we have to try little tweaks before we see big change. Here’s a quick look at what I discovered.

Why We Lose Confidence

Dyslexia doesn’t just affect reading or writing. It can also chip away at our self-belief when we feel misunderstood or judged. We might worry that our thoughts or ideas aren’t valid, especially in fast-moving conversations.

For many of us, this can turn into a cycle of self-doubt. We keep waiting for the “perfect moment” to feel sure, which never comes. Instead, it’s easy to step back and not share our views at all.

Trying a New Experiment

I decided to test a simple approach: daily micro-challenges. These are tiny actions, like asking a question I’d usually shy away from or speaking up when I spot a funny idea in a meeting.

It might sound small, but every seemingly insignificant step can have a ripple effect on how you see yourself. The point isn't to win big immediately. It's to train your brain to notice the great stuff you bring to the table.

“It’s all about trying new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. But the key is to keep going.”

What Worked and What Didn’t

We often assume we’ll either succeed or fail in one big go. But my experiment taught me that success is layered. Some things worked better than others:

• Leaving my comfort zone in small talk helped me feel more assured in group gatherings.
• Writing down a quick “win list” at the end of the day was motivating.
• Trying to transform each negative thought into a positive one felt forced, so I stopped doing that.
• Getting supportive feedback from friends helped me see progress I hadn’t noticed.

Still, not everything went smoothly. A few days, life got hectic. I forgot about the experiment and fell back into old routines. It happens. The main thing is to keep returning to the plan and noticing the small gains.

Building Certainty Your Own Way

You might wonder how to design an experiment that fits your style. The good news is there’s no single set of rules. You can try:

1. Setting one mini-challenge each morning, like sharing a personal insight at work.
2. Tracking moments you spoke or acted with confidence, even if it felt scary.
3. Reviewing what you learned over a week and picking one area to tweak.

The key is to keep adjusting. If something feels too big, make it smaller. If it’s too repetitive, mix it up. Confidence grows from consistent baby steps that feel honest to who you are.

There might be days when you ask, “Is this even making a difference?” That question is normal. Belief in ourselves isn’t built overnight. It’s like strengthening a muscle through frequent, gentle workouts.

Moving Forward with Self-Belief

This episode made me realise we don’t need an all-or-nothing mindset. We can build our certainty piece by piece. Whether it’s speaking your truth in a meeting or sending an email you’ve been avoiding, every small act adds up.

Even if you hit a bump, that hiccup is part of growth. Embrace your missteps as lessons. Sooner or later, you’ll look back and realise your sense of certainty is stronger than it used to be.

• Small steps matter: One tiny push each day goes a long way.
• Personalise your plan: Copying others blindly rarely works.
• Track your wins: A quick note can spark motivation.
• Accept setbacks: They’re just part of the process.

Ready to hear the full story? The podcast player at the top of this page has the complete episode waiting for you. Give it a listen to learn more about my experiment and how you can create your own path to greater confidence.