The very significance of self-confidence is essentially tied with making ourselves feel comfortable, as well as self-assured in our own skin. The doorway to our greatest accomplishments and realisations is more often than not held steadily by confidence itself. Exercising self-confidence is one of the best practices you could do for yourself. A very simple and easy trick to practice being confident is to rub shoulders with those who already are.

Spending time and surrounding yourself with such self-assured people can make it easier to pick up on a few specific personality traits and characteristic patterns. These patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings seem to be quite consistent amongst seemingly confident people. Catching on to these traits, and being able to effectively apply them to yourself can really help to stack the cards in your favour.

In the same instance, there are also a few traits that are best to be wary of — characteristics that can in fact lead to having entirely adverse effects on the circumstances and situations at hand.

Traits that confident people often possess are usually found to be the following —

They tend to derive their sense of contentment and pleasure from their own recognition of their accomplishments and efforts, rather than make attempts to acquire validation from others. Confidence comes with the joy of being proud of the person you chose to be.

Confidence also goes hand in hand with self-assertiveness. Problems related to workplaces, schools, and other social gatherings are often related to confidence, or rather the lack thereof. Speaking with assertiveness to people means communicating with others in a direct and open manner without intentionally upsetting anyone in the room.

To be confident is to also open your mind to constructive criticism — having confidence does not take away one's shortcomings, rather it helps you to take feedback as an opportunity to improve and make greater progress.

In addition to these, there are a few certain mannerisms and habits that are rather best to steer clear of —

A lack of accountability only establishes and reinforces a culture of blame. Accountability avoidance may seem like the easier option, but it often exudes from a place of self-doubt and insecurity. The best choice to make is to avoid being defensive when your shortcomings are brought to light.

Carrying a negative outlook on life and its aspects is another example of the kind of behaviour that is best avoided. Indulging oneself in negative thoughts gradually forms into unfavourable habits and actions, that later turns into a lifestyle. Spreading negative energy is quite perpetuating, as it will only carry on to breed more negativity. Confident people do not feel the need to project their negative sentiments on others.

Highly confident people also tend to ignore comfort zones. Comfort zones have a bad habit of turning people complacent. It also hinges on depriving you of opportunities of growth. Without taking the ownership of a challenge, a setback or even a failure, there will be no place for self-improvement. Seldom does one gain progress from inside one's zone of comfort, as most accomplishments are obtained outside of it.