Self-confidence is your foundation, your sense of steadfastness. Characteristics of self-confidence are:
- You know what you have in terms of qualities, skills, and capabilities.
- You mainly focus on your capabilities and less on your limitations.
- You trust that you are able to contribute, that you matter, and that you feel equal to others.
- You can appreciate and compliment yourself.
Assertiveness involves translating your sense of self-confidence into your actions in dealing with others. Characteristics of assertiveness are:
- You can take up your own space in a conversation.
- You are not afraid to set your limits and to say no.
- You are not afraid to express your opinion.
- You are not afraid to enter into a disagreement, discussion, or conflict.
- You feel free to be yourself while interacting with others.
Some people have lacked self-confidence since childhood, whereas some lose it as a result of one or several events, and others only have low self-confidence in certain situations or with certain people. Characteristics of insufficient self-confidence and assertiveness are:
- You find it hard to assert your limits and say no.
- You take up too little space in a conversation or in a group.
- You doubt yourself a lot.
- You are very concerned with what others think of you.
- You often think negatively about yourself and your own actions.
- You find it difficult to receive criticism.
- You avoid disagreements, tensions, and conflicts.
- You feel small compared to others.
- You feel that there is more to you than what actually comes out and that you are letting opportunities pass you by.