Confidence is a highly attractive trait and should not be confused with arrogance. Confident people end up achieving great things and have the ability to inspire people from afar. Although for some confidence is an inherent quality, it can, thankfully, also be learned anew. Here are 5 characteristics that confident people have in them.

Growth mindset

Confident people have a constant need to grow. They are natural learners who are not afraid to bring their most authentic selves to the table. They ask questions without worrying about whether they look stupid to people, and do not shy away from cultivating a challenging habit. They are curious and seek out things to satiate their curiosity. This could be anything, such as reading, self-care, and mind training techniques like meditation or breathing exercises, or even learning a new skill. Those with a growth mindset are supremely accountable people, accepting and rectifying mistakes where required, as opposed to adopting a rigid or defensive attitude.

Courage

All of the above-mentioned attributes require courage. Being able to ask questions, in a room full of intelligent people, calls for quite a bit of bravery, as does accepting one's shortcomings or asking for help. Confident people are well aware of their limitations and are comfortable letting people know when they need help. They are not perfectionists, because they realise that wanting to get things "just right" can hinder growth. On the contrary, confident people have no problems being vulnerable.

Shushing the inner critic

Everyone has an inner critic. Unfortunately, according to Michele Patterson Ford, Ph.D. — a psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at Dickinson College — some people have a supremely nagging, demotivating one that prevents them from taking risks. Confident people have learned to distinguish between helpful and harmful thoughts and are mindful of taking the harshest of these as simply thoughts and not truths. Ford also mentions that giving oneself grace helps build confidence. The expert feels that while knowing your value can give you high self-esteem, self-compassion can take the ego out of the emotion.

Comfort in discomfort

Going out of one's comfort zone has often been touted as a mantra for success. It takes some nerve to try something you have not done before, not knowing whether you will excel at it or fail. This element of overcoming fear and honing mental strength is what leads to achievement in the long run. Changing the doubtful, "what-if" mentality to a more self-assured, "I-will" one, goes a long way to help stabilise one's thoughts.

Speaking Up

Putting yourself out there may be the most nerve-wracking thing you do but it is so worth the inconvenience. Jonathan Alpert, author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days, mentions- "Anyone who has made a mark in this world has spoken up, presented their ideas, and taken a chance." He adds that naysayers are everywhere and facing resistance is part of pitching a new idea, but criticism can mean that you have got people thinking and that you might be pleasantly surprised by who you end up impressing with your thoughts.