The Reset & Reclaim Podcast

5 Confidence Habits Every Empowered Woman Practices

• Nardin Johnson • Episode 10

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Have you ever accomplished something impressive, only to feel that familiar emptiness soon after? That's because achievement and worth are entirely different foundations for confidence.

In this transformative episode, we unravel the crucial distinction between self-esteem and self-worth. While self-esteem measures your abilities and accomplishments, self-worth runs deeper—it's the unshakable belief that you are valuable simply because you exist, regardless of performance or perfection.

We dive into five powerful habits that build authentic confidence from within. Learn to own your self-talk by replacing harsh criticism with empowering truth. Discover how setting boundaries teaches others (and yourself) that your needs matter. Experience how presence grounds you in the moment, interrupting spirals of self-doubt. See how celebrating small wins rewires your brain to recognize growth, and how taking bold, aligned action creates confidence through concrete evidence of your courage.

The most surprising insight? Confidence doesn't come before action—it grows because you acted. Each time you take a small bold step, you gather evidence that you can handle challenges, fueling a sustainable cycle of authentic confidence.

This conversation will resonate if you've ever felt the hollow victory of achievement without fulfillment or wondered why external success doesn't translate to inner peace. You'll walk away with practical tools to separate your inherent worth from your productivity, appearance, or others' approval—unlocking a freedom that transforms how you move through the world.

Ready to build confidence that doesn't depend on perfect performance? This episode offers both the mindset shift and practical steps to get you there. Your worth isn't something you earn through achievement—it's something you already possess.

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Welcome back to the Reset and Reclaim podcast. Real Steps, real Growth, real you. This is episode 11, the Difference Between Self-Esteem and Self-Worth. Today, we're exploring two words that often get used interchangeably but actually mean very different things self-esteem and self-worth. Self-esteem is how you measure your abilities, your skills and the things you accomplish. Self-worth runs deeper it's the unshakable belief that you are valuable simply because you exist, no matter what you achieve or how perfectly you perform. When these two get tangled, it's easy to tie your value to your productivity, your appearance or the approval of others, but when you learn how to separate them, you unlock a new kind of freedom. You begin to move through life with more peace, more confidence and more authenticity. In this episode, we'll break down the difference between self-esteem and self-worth, why both matter and how to start building a healthier relationship with yourself right now. So if you've ever wondered why your achievements don't always make you feel fulfilled, or if you're ready to root your confidence in something deeper than external success, this conversation is for you. Let's get into it.

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The Truth About Confidence. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt your shoulders tighten, your voice shrink and your mind start racing with questions like Do I even belong here? What if I mess up? What if they notice how nervous I am? If you have you're not alone that flutter of self-doubt, that quiet inner critic, is something every single one of us wrestles with. Yes, even the people who look like they have it all together. Confidence isn't about never doubting yourself. It's about building a steady inner foundation you can lean on even when your nerves are loud.

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In today's episode of Reset Reclaim, we're diving into five confidence habits every empowered woman practices. These are not quick fixes or overnight tricks. They're small, intentional shifts you can weave into your daily life, habits that, over time, help you feel stronger, more grounded and more authentically yourself. And here's the good news you don't have to be born with confidence. You practice it, you grow it, you embody it, and each of these five habits will give you practical ways to do just that. So let's start with the very first and perhaps the most important habit the way you talk to yourself.

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Habit 1. Owning your self-talk. Think about the last time you caught yourself saying something like I'm terrible at this, a I'll never be good enough. Who am I to even try? Now pause. Would you ever say those same words to your best friend, to your child, to someone you deeply respect? Probably not Yet for so many of us, those harsh critical statements have become the soundtrack of our inner world. And here's the truth the way you speak to yourself directly impacts the way you show up in the world.

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Confidence isn't just about the outside, it's about the inside. If your inner dialogue is filled with criticism, fear and doubt, you'll carry that energy into your posture, your voice and your decisions. But when you intentionally shift your self-talk, you begin to shift how you feel and act. Why self-talk matters? There's neuroscience behind this. The brain listens to the language we repeat most often. If you constantly tell yourself I can't do this, your brain will treat that as fact and limit the way you try new things. But when you practice speaking with encouragement, your brain builds new pathways, ones that support courage, action and yes, confidence. I'll give you an example.

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I once worked with a client who was brilliant at her job but constantly undermined herself with thoughts like I'm not as good as my colleagues or I'll probably fail if I speak up. We worked together to create new intentional affirmations. Instead of I'm not good enough, she began to say I bring value and perspective. No one else can. At first she felt silly saying it, but over time those words became a steady foundation. She started speaking up more in meetings asking for projects she wanted and even advocating for a promotion. That's the power of owning your self-talk. It reshapes your inner story so you can live a bolder outer story.

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Practical shifts you can make today. So how do you start shifting your self-talk? Here are three practical ways Catch and replace. The first step is awareness. Notice when a negative thought pops up. Pause and then replace it with something truer and more empowering. Instead of I'll never figure this out, try I'm learning and every step gets me closer. Instead of I always mess things up. Try I'm growing and the stakes are part of the process. Create anchor statements. Write down three confidence statements you can come back to whenever doubt creeps in, for example. For example, I am resourceful, my presence has value, I am becoming more confident each day. Keep these on your phone, sticky notes or even as reminders on your calendar.

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Practice out loud. Confidence grows when your body hears your voice. Try saying your affirmations out loud in the mirror. At first it may feel awkward, but that's okay. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Mini guided exercise let's try something right now, together, take a deep breath, place your feet on the ground and repeat after me out loud, if you can I am capable, I am allowed to take up space, I am worthy of being heard. Notice how your body feels as you say those words. Maybe your shoulders lift a little, maybe your breath deepens. This is the beginning of rewiring your inner soundtrack, one word, one phrase at a time, closing habit one owning yourself.

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Talk is not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything is perfect. It's about choosing to be your own ally, not your own enemy. When you shift the way you speak to yourself, you create the inner environment where confidence can grow. And that's just the first step, because once your inner voice begins to change, your outer actions naturally follow. Which brings us to our second confidence habit, one that can feel uncomfortable at first but is absolutely essential to living empowered Setting and holding boundaries.

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Let's move on to habit two. Habit two setting and holding boundaries. Why boundaries build confidence? Here's something I want you to remember. Confidence isn't only about how you feel about yourself. It's about how you allow others to treat you. Think about it. If you constantly say yes when you really want to say no, if you overextend yourself because you're afraid of disappointing people, or if you shrink your needs to keep the peace, your confidence will always feel shaky. Why? Because you've trained yourself to put everyone else's comfort above your own truth. Empowered women practice confidence by practicing boundaries. They understand that no is not rejection, it's redirection, it's protecting their time, their energy and their self-respect. And here's the key. Boundaries are not walls, they're doors. Doors that you get to open or close based on what feels aligned and healthy for you the cost of not having boundaries.

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I worked with a client we'll call her Maya who was brilliant at her job but burned out all the time she would take on every project her boss handed her agree to every family request and volunteer for things she didn't even enjoy. She told me I don't want people to think I'm selfish, but here's the truth. By never saying no, maya was teaching others that her needs didn't matter. Over time, resentment grew, exhaustion piled up and her confidence plummeted. She didn't trust herself to speak up. She didn't believe her voice was worth hearing. The turning point came when she set one small boundary leaving work on time twice a week. She felt terrified the first time. She closed her laptop and walked out at 5 pm. But you know what happened. Nobody got mad. In fact, people respected her more and she realized holding a boundary is an act of self-respect, not selfishness.

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How boundaries strengthen your confidence. When you practice setting and holding boundaries, three powerful things happen. You teach people how to treat you. Every time you speak up about your needs, you send a clear message about what you will and won't accept. That clarity earns respect. You build inner trust. Boundaries aren't just about others. They're about you keeping promises to yourself. Each time you say no when you need to, you reinforce the belief that you can trust yourself to stand up for you. You free your energy. Without boundaries, your energy leaks everywhere. With boundaries, your energy is focused on what actually matters to you. With boundaries, your energy is focused on what actually matters to you, and nothing builds confidence faster than showing up fully present for the things you truly value.

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Scripts for saying no without guilt. A lot of people struggle with boundaries because they don't know what to say, so here are some simple confidence-building scripts. You can use the simple no Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm not available. The redirect I can't help with that, but here's someone who might be a good fit. The do-ay I'll need to check my schedule and get back to you. This gives you space to decide instead of saying yes out of pressure. The firm but kind no. I value our relationship and that's why I want to be honest. I can't take this on right now. Practice these out loud. The first few times you'll feel a little shaky, and that's okay. Confidence grows with practice, not perfection.

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Boundary myths we need to break what's bust. A few common myths that keep people from setting boundaries. Myth 1. If I say no, people won't like me. Truth People who truly respect you will actually rah, appreciate your clarity. And the people who only like you when you say yes, they're not your people. Myth 2. Bound boundaries make me selfish. Truth boundaries allow you to show up as your best self. Without them, you run on empty and no one benefits from that. Myth three I have to explain my no Truth. You don't owe anyone a long explanation. A short, polite statement is enough.

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Practical ways to build your boundary muscle if boundaries feel hard for you. Start small. Here are three practice steps. Check in daily, each morning. Ask yourself what do I need today to feel respected and supported? Write down one boundary you can hold, even if it's tiny, like taking your lunch, pope Great, without answering emails. Use a confidence anchor. Before you say no, take one deep breath and repeat an anchor phrase like my needs matter too. This helps you steady your voice and energy. Track your wins at the end of the week. Write down every moment you honored a boundary, even if it was small. Celebrate it. Confidence compounds when you acknowledge your progress.

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Mini reflection exercise if you're listening right now, I want you to pause and think of one area where you've been saying yes when you really want to say no. Maybe it's a work project, a family request or even a social invitation. Take a breath and imagine yourself, kindly but firmly, setting a boundary. Visualize how it would feel to stand in your truth and still hold compassion for the other person. Would feel to stand in your truth and still hold compassion for the other person. Now ask yourself what is one boundary I can practice this week that will honor my energy and build my confidence? Write it down, keep it visible and commit to practicing it. Closing habit two remember this boundaries are not about pushing people away. They are about showing up more authentically, with clarity and respect for yourself and for others. When you set and hold boundaries, you stop abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable, and that shift builds unshakable confidence. Which brings us to the next habit, one that connects confidence not just to how you interact with people, but how you interact with the present moment itself practicing daily presence. Habit, decision 3. Practicing Daily Presence the Confidence-Presence Connection.

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When people talk about confidence, they often picture bold gestures, walking tall into a room, delivering a flawless speech or making a big. But here's something most people overlook Confidence is also about presence. Confidence is also about presence when you're present, fully grounded in the here and now. You project calm, clarity and authenticity. People sense it, they lean in, they trust. You Think about someone you admire who radiates confidence. Chances are it's not just what they say or do, it's the way they make you feel seen when you're with them. That kind of presence comes from learning how to anchor yourself in the moment instead of spinning in self-doubt, overthinking or worrying about what others think. Why presence builds confidence. Let's get practical. Presence calms your nervous system. Confidence let's get practical Presence calms your nervous system. When you bring awareness back to your body and breath, you reduce stress hormones and create space for clarity. Presence interrupts negative spirals Instead of letting one doubtful thought snowball into a full inner storm. Presence helps you pause and reset. Presence makes you more authentic. When you're here in the moment, you stop rehearsing how you should act and start showing up as your true self. Confidence is less about performing and more about being. Presence teaches you how to be A story of rediscovering presence.

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One of my clients let's call her Sophia struggled with constant anxiety at work. Before every meeting, she would rehearse every possible way. Things could go wrong. By the time the meeting started she was already exhausted and withdrawn. When we worked together, I introduced her to a simple presence practice taking three slow breaths before speaking. At first she resisted. It felt too simple, but she committed to trying it and slowly she noticed a shift. Instead of racing through her words, she began to pause, breathe and then speak with more clarity. Her colleagues even commented you sound so calm when you share your ideas. That was the turning point. Sophia realized she didn't need to fake confidence. She needed to practice presence. Practical Exhale Presence for six you can try. Here are three daily practices you can start using right away.

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The breath reset anytime you feel nerves rising. Pause and breathe in for a count of four, hold for four and Do this for three cycles. This simple pattern signals safety to your nervous system and brings you back to center, grounding with your senses. Pick one sense and focus fully on it for 30 seconds. For example, feel the texture of your chair, notice the details of a plant on your desk, or listen closely to the hum of your environment. This small act pulls you back into the present moment. The one thing rule. When your mind is juggling a million worries, ask what's the one thing I can do right now. Confidence grows when you shrink the overwhelm into one clear action Journaling prompt for presence. At the end of your day, ask yourself when did I feel most present today? When did I feel distracted or disconnected? What can I do tomorrow to create more of those present moments? Writing this down helps you notice patterns and make small adjustments that add up over time. This down helps you notice patterns and make small adjustments that add up over time.

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Mini guided exercise the power pose plus breath. Let's do a quick reset together. Sit or stand tall, roll your shoulders back, place your feet firmly on the ground. Take a slow inhale through your nose, hold and release through your mouth with a sigh. Now imagine a thread gently lifting the crown of your head toward the ceiling, place your hands on your hips or stretch your arms upward whatever feels powerful for you. Stay here for 20 seconds, breathing deeply, notice how your body shifts. Even just 20 seconds of presence in your body can create a ripple of confidence in your mind. Why this matters beyond you.

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Practicing presence doesn't just help you. It helps everyone around you. When you show up fully present in a conversation, the person across from you feels valued. When you lead a team meeting with presence, your calm energy sets the tone for everyone else. And when you practice presence with yourself during a walk, journaling or sipping your coffee, you remind yourself that you are worthy of your own attention. That is confidence in action.

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Closing Habit 3 Presence is not about perfection. It's not about silencing every thought or eliminating every distraction. It's about choosing to return again and again to this moment, and the more often you return, the more grounded, authentic and confident you become. So far we've talked about owning your self-talk and setting boundaries, and now practicing daily presence. Each of these habits reinforces the other. Together, they start to weave a strong fabric of confidence that you can carry anywhere. Next we're moving into a habit that might surprise you, a habit that feels small but makes a massive difference over time.

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Celebrating your wins Habit 4. Celebrating small wins. Why celebrating builds confidence. When you think about confidence, you might imagine the big moments landing a dream job, finishing a degree, speaking on a stage and, yes, those moments matter. But here's the thing confidence isn't built in the big wins. It's built in the small ones.

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Most of us are so focused on what's next that we forget to pause and acknowledge what we've already done. We downplay our progress. Sure, I finished that project, but it wasn't perfect. Yes, I spoke up, but I stumbled over my words. I I worked out today, but it was only 20 minutes. Every time you dismiss a win, you teach your brain that nothing you do is enough. But when you pause to celebrate even tiny progress, you train your brain to recognize growth, to see yourself as capable and to keep building momentum.

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The science of celebration. Celebration isn't just about feeling good. It's about rewiring your brain. Neuroscience tells us that when you acknowledge a win, your brain releases dopamine. The reward chemical that dopamine hit doesn't just make you feel good in the moment. It strengthens the neural pathway that says I can do this, I want to keep doing this. Think of it like training a muscle the more you celebrate small wins, the stronger your confidence muscle becomes A story of overlooking wins.

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I once worked with a client named Jasmine who constantly told me I'm not confident enough to apply for leadership roles. When I asked her what progress she had made recently, she shrugged nothing big. But when we dug deeper we uncovered plenty. She had given a presentation at work, started going to the gym twice a week and even had a tough conversation with a family member. She dismissed all of it as not enough. We started a simple practice. At the end of each day she wrote down three wins, no matter how small. Some days it was I drank enough water, other days it was I sent an email I'd been avoiding. Within a month her language shifted. Instead of saying I'm not confident, she began to say I'm getting stronger. The small celebrations created proof in her brain that she was moving forward, and that proof became the foundation of her confidence.

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Practical ways to celebrate your wins. Here are some simple ways to start celebrating your own small wins the daily win journal. At the end of each day, write down three things you did well. They don't have to be big, just honest. Over time this becomes a powerful record of your growth. Verbal acknowledgments say your wins out loud. Share them with a friend, a partner or even yourself in the mirror. Speaking them reinforces their importance. Micro-celebrations build little rituals to honor your progress. Light a candle after completing a task. Play your favorite song after sending a difficult email. Do a little victory dance after finishing a workout. These signals teach your brain. Yes, this matters. Journaling prompt for celebration tonight, before you go to bed, try this Write down one thing you're proud of from today.

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Then write down why it mattered. For example, I reached out to a colleague for help. That mattered because it showed I'm willing to ask for support instead of doing everything alone. The second step the why it mattered deepens the impact. It connects your actions to your identity and that builds long-term confidence. Mini guided exercise Naming your wins. Let's pause right now. Think of the last seven days. What's one thing you did that you haven't given yourself credit for? Maybe you made a healthy meal, maybe you asked a question in a meeting, maybe you simply got through a hard day. Take a deep breath and say out loud that was a win and I'm proud of myself. Notice how it feels to actually claim it, that little spark you feel. That's confidence growing, one win at a time. Why this matters beyond you. When you celebrate your own wins, you also give others permission to celebrate theirs. Imagine a workplace, a family or a circle of friends where people regularly acknowledge progress instead of tearing themselves down. That ripple effect creates an empowered environment where confidence thrives collectively.

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Closing Habit 4,. Celebrating your Wins isn't about arrogance, it's about alignment. It's about recognizing that progress matters, that growth counts and that you are becoming more capable every single day. Confidence doesn't appear in one giant leap. It's built in tiny steps, acknowledged and honored along the way. So this week I challenge you Keep a simple log of your wins, big or small. Write them down. At the end of the week, read them back to yourself. Let them remind you you are growing, you are capable and you are worthy of confidence.

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Next up, we're moving into the final habit, the one that ties all the others together taking bold, aligned action. Habit five taking bold, aligned action. The Confidence Action Cycle. Here's the secret most people miss. Confidence doesn't come first. Action does. So many of us wait until we feel perfectly ready, perfectly qualified or perfectly fearless before taking the next step. But that day rarely comes. Confidence isn't what allows you to act. It's what grows because you acted. Think of it like this Every time you take a small bold step, you collect evidence. That evidence tells your brain I can do hard things, I can figure this out. And the more evidence you gather, the stronger your confidence becomes what bold, aligned action really means. Notice I didn't just say take bold action. I said bold aligned action. Bold means it stretches you outside your comfort zone. It feels a little scary but exciting. Outside your comfort zone, it feels a little scary but exciting. Aligned means it matches your values, your goals and the life you're trying to create. When bold and aligned come together, the step you take doesn't just build confidence, it builds momentum in the right direction.

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A story of small boldness. One of my clients let's call her Anna dreamed of starting a side business. For months she waited for the perfect a time when she had more money, more training and more certainty. The problem that time never came. So together we defined one bold, aligned step posting her first offer online. It was scary, her inner critic screamed what if nobody cares? But she pressed publish anyway. And here's what happened A friend reached out, then a stranger, then a small group of clients. That single bold action sparked the confidence she needed to keep going. Today she's running a thriving business, not because she felt ready, but because she acted before she felt ready.

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Practical, aligned with ways my values to take bold, aligned action. Here are three steps you can use this week to practice. Define your next stretch step. Ask yourself what's one action that feels a little scary but also exciting and is slash. Write it down. Shrink the step if it feels overwhelming. Cut it in half Instead of launch a website. Maybe your first step is buy a domain Instead of speak on stage. Maybe your first step is raise my hand in a meeting.

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Commit with accountability. Tell someone you trust, or even announce it publicly, that you're taking this step. Accountability transforms intention into follow-through. Journaling. Prompt for bold action. Write this down. If I wasn't afraid of failing, what's one action I'd take right now? How can I make that action smaller, doable and aligned with who I want to become? Smaller, doable and aligned with who I want to become? Mini guided exercise the 24-hour bold step. I want to leave you with a challenge Within the next 24 hours, kick one bold, aligned step. It doesn't have to be huge, it just has to be real.

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Send the email you've been avoiding. Ask for the meeting you've been putting off. Sign up for the class you've been curious about. Post the idea you've been scared to share. Then, after you take that step, celebrate it. Say out loud that was brave, that was growth. Why? Bold action changes everything. When you practice bold, aligned action, you stop waiting for confidence to magically appear. You create it. You begin to trust yourself, not because you never feel fear, but because you've proven you can move with fear. And that's the most empowering realization. Courage is not the absence of fear. It's the decision to act while fear is present.

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Closing habit five confidence habits start in your mind, but they come alive in your actions Owning your self-talk, setting boundaries, practicing presence and celebrating wins. All of it builds the foundation, but bold, aligned action is the spark that brings it all together. So ask yourself what's my next bold step? And then take it Integration plus wrap-up. Let's quickly recap the five confidence habits every empowered woman practices Owning your self-talk, becoming your own ally, setting and holding boundaries, honoring your needs and energy. Practicing daily presence. Grounding yourself in the here and now. Celebrating small wins. Training your brain to see growth. Taking bold, aligned action. Creating confidence through movement.

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Confidence isn't a one-time decision. It's a daily practice. The more you practice these habits, the more natural confidence becomes. And if you'd like support leaving these habits into your life, remember you don't have to do it alone. At Empower Life Coach, we walk alongside you with tools, coaching and encouragement to help you rise into your most empowered self. You can check the show notes for ways to connect your reminder. Confidence isn't about never feeling doubt. It's about choosing to show up anyway, to take the next aligned step and to trust that you're growing into exactly who you're meant to be. Let's wrap up. We've, bold, covered a lot aligned today.

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Action Five confidence Habits that can transform the way you show up in your life Owning your self-talk, setting and holding boundaries, practicing daily presence, celebrating small wins and taking. Remember, confidence isn't something you're be born with. It's something you practice. And the more you practice these habits, the stronger your confidence becomes. If you'd like a safe space to grow these habits, connect with others on the same journey and get real tools you can apply right away. Check out our free consultations. You'll find the link in the show notes and here's a little preview. Next time, on the Reset and Reclaim podcast, we're unpacking the difference between self-esteem and self-worth. These two words sound similar, but they shape your confidence in very different ways. We'll talk about why achievements don't always translate into feeling valuable and how to root your sense of worth in something deeper than success or approval. So make sure you're subscribed. You won't want to miss it. And, as always, this is Empower Life Coach. It's your life. Reclaim it.