Remembering Who You Are


What to Do When You Need a Confidence Boost

Hi Reader,

Author’s Note:
There are moments when even the most capable women forget who they are. This is a story about losing confidence, rediscovering it, and remembering my own worth.

There was a period of time when I felt lost. My confidence was at an all-time low. Everything around me seemed to reinforce the idea that I wasn’t being valued. Opportunities weren’t panning out the way I hoped. The world felt loud, critical, and quick to remind me where I fell short.

At the time, I thought the answer was to find a new job. I figured that a new challenge might bring back the spark I’d lost. So I hired someone to help me update my résumé. I expected a quick transaction, send over my old file, get back a cleaner version, and move on.

But she didn’t just ask for my résumé. She asked to talk. For an hour, she walked me through my experiences, asking about the projects I’d led, the problems I’d solved, and the things I was most proud of. She wanted to understand not just what I had done but what it meant.

When she finished with my résumé, she sent it to me, and my entire lack of confidence changed. Seeing my career through someone else’s eyes reminded me of everything I had forgotten, the challenges I’d faced, the progress I’d made, and the skills I had quietly built along the way. Reading my résumé, I felt very proud of all the things I had accomplished.

That experience reminded me how easy it is to lose sight of who we are when life doesn’t go according to plan. We start measuring ourselves by what hasn’t worked out instead of everything we’ve already overcome. But sometimes, all it takes to find your footing again is a fresh perspective and a gentle reminder of your own worth.

If you need a boost of confidence, here are a few things I recommend:

  1. Revisit your wins. Look back through your résumé, portfolio, or even your LinkedIn profile. Update it. Sometimes, seeing your work from a little distance helps you remember just how far you’ve come. We all need reminders of what we’ve accomplished, especially when we start doubting ourselves.
  2. Keep a notebook of small accomplishments. I keep a small journal for the everyday wins that don’t make it onto a résumé. Maybe it’s a kind message from a client, a problem solved, or a moment when I pushed through fear. These quiet victories matter just as much as the big ones. Keep the notes and letters of appreciation in a box to look over when you think no one has noticed you.
  3. Take one small step. When confidence fades, even small actions can help you feel grounded again. Send the email, make the call, or organize your workspace. Each little step is proof that you’re still showing up for yourself.
  4. Borrow perspective. Talk to someone who knows your strengths and values your work. When your confidence feels low, hearing how others see you can help you remember your own strengths.
  5. Remember that confidence is a practice. It comes and goes for everyone. Losing it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. Be kind to yourself. Confidence grows when you give yourself the same encouragement you’d offer a friend.

Confidence doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It grows when you stop chasing perfection and start recognizing the person you’ve already become and what you’ve accomplished.


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