How you can build unshakeable confidence. Lessons from the greatest of all time, Mohammed Ali.

Do you sometimes suffer from a lack of confidence?

When I need a confidence shot, I look to one of my boyhood heroes, someone with the most self-belief I have ever seen.

𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗶.

All English children are taught that modesty is a virtue. It is “simply not done” to talk about your achievements. Seeing this handsome black American on TV exuding self-belief and confidence was an eye-opener for me as a weedy white kid from London.

His poster went up on my wall, and his quotes went into my head—countering my poor self-esteem.

Here are three quotes you too can use to build confidence:

1. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸

“𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻.”

Muhammad Ali claimed he was the greatest long before he proved it. He said it to himself daily before telling it to the world.

Tell yourself you are a winner, and you increase your chances of becoming one.

𝟮. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁

Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."

Ali didn’t win all of his fights in the ring. He didn’t always win outside of it, either. He used defeats as a learning experience and fuel for the next challenge.

Picking yourself up and learning from defeat is how confidence is built.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 (𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿)

“𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗽.”

If you have done well, why shouldn’t you say it? One thing is being cocky; another is being overly modest.

Ali wasn’t afraid of letting people know what he had achieved.

You shouldn’t be, either.

What about you? Do you prefer to be modest?

Or show your self-belief to the world, Ali style?

Let me know in the comments below!