Cultivating Confidence: Unleashing Your Inner Strength

Last week, Boushie Babes, I dove into the world of Joy, so it feels only right to turn our attention to Confidence this week. Now, let's be real—who doesn't want to look and feel confident? We all do, right? But how often do we actually feel confident? If you're anything like me, there are days when you have to dig deep and, yes, fake it till you make it. Sound familiar? I can't be the only one riding that wave!

Here's the thing: confidence isn't just a feeling; it's an attitude. The dictionary defines confidence as "a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities." It's about knowing your worth, and even more importantly, it's about showing it to the world. But let's face it—confidence can be elusive. There are times when it feels like you're wearing a mask, projecting strength you don't quite believe in yet.

Take it from me: in most of the images you see where I look strong and confident, I'm usually not feeling that way. At least, not at first. It's only after I strike a few poses or express a particular emotion that I start to embody the confidence I'm portraying. That's the magic of photography—it allows you to step into a version of yourself that you might not fully believe in just yet.

Now, you might be wondering why I have you mimic my poses in the studio, why I ask you to mirror me. It’s not just for fun, though it can be! It’s all about something called mirror neurons. Here’s a bit of science for you: mirror neurons are a group of neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action performed by someone else. These neurons are key players in how we learn through imitation and are deeply connected to the empathy we feel when we see others' emotions.

So, when I ask you to copy my movements, I'm actually helping your brain trigger the same emotional response that I'm showing. This means when you mirror my confident stance, your brain starts to fire up those confidence neurons, and before you know it, you're not just looking confident—you are confident. Pretty cool, right?

There’s a real science behind what I do, which is why it works. So, when I tell you to mirror me, trust that it's more than just play-acting. It’s about aligning your body language with your inner strength, even if it takes a few tries to get there. Thanks to my training with Denise Birdsong and the Stripped Down: The Art of Emotion course, I've got a deep understanding of the body language that screams confidence, and I can coach you into that space with ease.

And that, my friends, is why I can help you project confidence in your photos—even if you don’t feel it right away. The magic happens in that moment when you realize you’ve got it, that you are owning your space, and that the confidence is no longer just a pose—it’s you. So, whether you're stepping into my studio or just tackling your day, remember: confidence is more than a look, it's an energy. And trust me, you’ve got it in spades.

Check out these flavors of confidence below:

7 tips to boost your confidence right now

Visualize yourself as you want to be, not how you are. I know sounds easy, but takes daily practice, it gets easier as it becomes part of your routine.

Affirm yourself- I know sounds cheesy, but it works. Say nice things to yourself, about yourself, use affirmations daily, this works but over time, if you come from a more toxic or trauma background this can take years but it’s worth it and so are you!!!

Do one thing that scares you regularly work up to daily, start with monthly, then weekly, and keep working up to daily from there. Baby steps, and progress over perfection!!

Question your inner Critic, always!!! She or he may have valid points, but that doesn’t always make them right. What are other possibilities?

Set yourself up to win with small tasks that make an impact, like making your bed when you get up everyday, getting dressed, doing hair or makeup, give yourself credit for those small tasks, and those big tasks like going to work, paying off debt, baby steps here work up to the big stuff.

Help someone else, whether it’s holding a door open, helping that old lady with her groceries, or giving that vet and his pup some food and a few bucks when they needed it. Pay for the car behind yours coffee, pay it forward, somehow some way do something for some else too. The act of giving allows both the giver and receiver to gain a bit of goodness.

Last but not least, though probably the most important one of all : CARE FOR YOURSELF!! Just like on a plane if you don’t have your oxygen mask on you can’t really help others for too long, so make sure to take the time you need, the space you need, and give your body, mind and soul some really amazing care as well, whatever that looks like for you. Do you!!!