Confidence is key. Confidence is attractive. Confidence is essential.

Confidence, by definition, is the state of being certain in a course of action or a prediction. Self-confidence isn't a demand for respect from others, but instead, it's believing in yourself even when people don’t respect it. Not only does confidence require courage, but once obtained, confidence becomes extremely contagious when spread.

True self-confidence can become the single most important element to living a happy and fulfilled life. Confidence is the key to feeling certain about yourself and unlocking your true potential. Everyone struggles with confidence. Until confidence is found, you will never know how powerful you can really become. The moment you gain their inner self-confidence, you can attain the seemingly unreachable, accomplish the unspeakable and achieve the unthinkable.

People believe confidence can’t be taught. I think otherwise. Friends, mentors and parents have influenced me to trust in not only in my own abilities but to believe in God’s faithful guidance. I can definitely say one can learn confidence!

The first step to inner confidence is to look within yourself. When taking a course of action or when you feel secure about yourself, you must take a hard look at yourself to understand who you are as a person. Think about the ambitions, goals and dreams you would like to see accomplished in the future.

“Don’t compare yourself to others, compare yourself to where you want to be.”

Until you understand who you are, you can never move forward. However, once grasped, the rest is developing a physical and external confidence. Physique, dieting, grooming, all of these are ways to work on the outside so it can transcend to the inside. If you look better, you will, in turn, feel better. "Dress for success" is not a vague statement. Take for example, when going to give a formal business presentation in a suit, it's much easier than presenting in your everyday clothes. This is because clothes set a natural mindset of identity.

When projecting confidence to others, it's important to act and communicate confidently. Letting others know through your actions that you're comfortable in your own skin, and that you aren’t afraid of being yourself is a surefire way to develop inner security. There's nothing boring about being yourself and being the man or woman God made you to be. Where one finds a true connection to himself, he finds happiness and control. No one else is able to lead you out of your own insecurity.

1 John 5:14 says that God gives us whenever we ask, according to His will. Sometimes I struggle and can’t find the confidence I need, because I'm following what society expects from me. When we ask God for confidence, we develop a mindset that leads to a life of true intimacy, wisdom and happiness.

You must actively and continually pursue your confidence levels. Confidence isn't a destination--it's a journey.