You second-guess yourself. You keep your head down when you walk. You hesitate to speak in meetings. It takes you awhile to make a decision. Perhaps your self-confidence needs a boost. Here are some tips to build a more confident you!

• Always show real appreciation for a gift or compliment. Don’t downplay or sidestep expressions of affection or honor from others. The ability to accept or receive is a universal mark of an individual with solid self-esteem, says Denis Waitley, personal-growth expert and author of many books, including The Psychology of Winning.
• Dial down the nagging, critical voice. Imagine a volume control and lower the volume, suggests peak-performance expert Dorothy M. Neddermeyer. Or tune in to the Disney Channel. Could you be so serious if it were Donald Duck criticizing you?
• Don’t brag. It’s almost a paradox that genuine modesty is actually part of the capacity to gracefully receive compliments, Waitley says. People who brag about their own exploits or demand special attention are simply trying to build themselves up in the eyes of others—and that’s because they don’t perceive themselves as already worthy of respect.
• When doing something for the first time, imagine you have already done it. Your mind doesn’t know the difference between vividly imagined and real, Neddermeyer says. Involve all five senses.
• Greet others with a smile and look them directly in the eye. A smile and direct eye contact convey confidence born of self-respect, Waitley says.
• Find someone already confident in the area of expertise you need and watch how they do it, Neddermeyer suggests. Model their behaviors and attitudes.
• Act as if you already have the habit or behavior you desire. If you were confident, how would you be feeling? What would you be thinking? With practice, your behavior becomes habit, Neddermeyer says.