Self-trust is the cornerstone of self-confidence, growth, and personal freedom. Without it, we find ourselves stuck—doubting our decisions, overanalyzing everything, and seeking approval from others just to feel secure. But here’s the truth: trusting yourself is not a magical trait you’re either born with or without. It’s a skill. One that can be cultivated with conscious effort and patience.
I know this personally. For years, I second-guessed everything—my decisions, instincts, even my talents. I sought validation from people who had no idea what I truly wanted. But something had to change. So I decided to rebuild that trust within myself—brick by brick.
In this article, you’ll learn 10 grounded, practical ways to start trusting yourself more. Whether you’re rebuilding from scratch or simply reinforcing your foundation, these steps are your tools.
1. Listen to Your Intuition: Your Inner GPS
Intuition is that soft whisper before the noise of doubt takes over. It’s that feeling you get when something feels right—or wrong—before you can even explain why. Many of us have been conditioned to ignore it, especially if we’ve made past decisions that didn’t go well. But here’s the truth: your intuition is a mix of subconscious wisdom, lived experiences, emotional memory, and natural perception. It deserves your attention.
How to practice:
• Take five quiet minutes each day to sit with yourself. No phone, no music—just breathe and listen.
• Start asking yourself questions: “What do I really want right now?” or “What decision would feel aligned, even if it’s scary?”
• Journal your instincts and revisit them later to see how they played out. Over time, you’ll start recognizing that your gut was often right—and that’s how trust is rebuilt.
You don’t need your intuition to be loud. You just need to make space to hear it.
2. Stop Outsourcing Your Confidence
It’s easy to get caught up in constantly checking with others: “Do you think this is okay?” or “Should I go for it?” But every time you hand over your power to someone else, you chip away at your own self-trust. Confidence doesn’t come from hearing yes from others—it comes from saying yes to yourself and backing it up with action.
Real talk: The people you often seek approval from aren’t necessarily more qualified than you—they’re just more decisive about their lives.
Try this:
• For a whole day, try not asking anyone for advice on any decision, big or small. Even if it’s just deciding what to post online, or how to spend your free time.
• Make the choice. Stick with it. And reflect on how that felt.
• Over time, you’ll find strength in owning your choices—even the imperfect ones.
Building self-trust means acknowledging that your voice matters, and learning to act on it without needing applause.
3. Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself
Ever told yourself you’d wake up early, eat healthier, or finally start that business idea—only to keep putting it off? Most of us have. But here’s the twist: when we repeatedly break our own promises, our brain starts keeping score. It quietly builds a belief that we can’t be trusted to follow through.
The fix isn’t perfection—it’s consistency.
Start here:
• Set one small, non-negotiable commitment each day. Something realistic like “I’ll drink 2 liters of water today” or “I’ll read 5 pages tonight.”
• Track it. Celebrate it. Let your brain see that when you say something—you mean it.
• Don’t overcommit. It’s better to build trust with small wins than to break it with big, unsustainable goals.
Every time you honor a commitment to yourself, you signal that your word is gold. And that’s where true self-trust begins.
4. Redefine Mistakes: From Shame to Growth
Trust issues often begin with one bad decision—or many. And when things don’t work out, we can become our harshest critics: “You knew better. You messed up. You can’t be trusted.” That inner voice, left unchecked, grows into self-doubt and paralyzing fear.
But what if you reframed mistakes as feedback instead of failure?
Here’s the mindset shift:
• Mistakes don’t define your worth. They refine your wisdom.
• Trusting yourself doesn’t mean you always get it right—it means you believe in your ability to learn, adjust, and bounce back when you don’t.
What to do:
• When something doesn’t go as planned, ask: “What did this teach me about myself?” or “What would I do differently next time?”
• Write it down. Reflect. Then let it go.
Growth doesn’t happen from avoiding mistakes. It comes from meeting them with grace, learning, and moving forward with deeper wisdom.
5. Be Kind to Yourself—You’re Listening
Think of someone you trust deeply. Chances are, they don’t belittle you, shame you, or guilt-trip you. Instead, they support you, forgive you, and remind you of your potential—even when you mess up. So, ask yourself: do you speak to yourself that way?
Self-trust flourishes in environments of kindness—not constant criticism.
Try this approach:
• Pay attention to your self-talk. If you catch yourself saying, “I’m so stupid” or “I can’t do anything right,” pause and reframe. Try: “I made a mistake, and that’s okay. I’m learning.”
• Write daily affirmations like: “I am learning to trust myself more each day” or “I give myself permission to grow without shame.”
• Treat yourself how you would treat a close friend going through the same thing.
When you start creating a safe, encouraging inner environment, your self-trust will stop hiding and start blooming.
6. Reflect on Your Wins—Big and Small
When we don’t trust ourselves, we tend to forget just how much we’ve already overcome. We downplay our wins and magnify our mistakes. But if you pause and look back, you’ll realize: you’ve made good decisions before. You’ve handled tough seasons. You’ve figured things out when it mattered most.
Why this matters: Self-trust is built on evidence. The more you remind yourself of what you’ve already done, the more you believe you can keep showing up for yourself.
What to do:
• Create a “proof list” of past wins—decisions you made that turned out well, risks you took, things you accomplished even when you were scared.
• Review this list weekly, especially when doubt creeps in.
• Add to it regularly. Let it be a living reminder that you’ve got what it takes.
Your past success stories aren’t just memories—they’re receipts of your capability.
7. Allow Yourself to Change Your Mind
One of the sneakiest ways we lose trust in ourselves is by holding ourselves hostage to old decisions. You may think, “But I already committed to this path. I can’t back out now.” But real self-trust includes trusting your current self—even when your choices evolve.
Changing your mind isn’t flaky. It’s human. It means you’re listening to yourself now—not just following an outdated version of who you used to be.
Practical way to own this:
• When you feel resistance to a choice, ask yourself: “Is this still aligned with who I am and where I want to go?”
• If it’s not, give yourself permission to pivot—with grace, not guilt.
• Journal your thought process. This builds trust that your changes aren’t impulsive—they’re thoughtful.
Self-trust means knowing you’re allowed to evolve—and trusting yourself to navigate change honestly.
8. Stop Comparing Your Journey
Comparison is a fast track to self-doubt. When you constantly measure your progress against someone else’s timeline, lifestyle, or highlight reel, you lose sight of your own path. It’s hard to trust your pace when you’re obsessed with someone else’s.
Here’s the thing: You don’t see the full story. You see their best moments—not their doubts, setbacks, or behind-the-scenes battles. And even if you did see it, it still wouldn’t make your journey any less valid.
Build trust in your path:
• Unfollow or mute accounts that trigger feelings of inadequacy.
• Set screen time limits and spend more time creating than consuming.
• Each night, write down three things you did that moved you forward—no matter how small.
Your journey is unique for a reason. Trust the timing, trust the process, and most importantly—trust yourself along the way.
9. Practice Decision-Making Daily
Every time you make a decision—big or small—you’re strengthening your decision-making muscle. It’s like working out: the more reps you do, the stronger you get. Self-trust doesn’t come from avoiding decisions. It comes from making them, owning them, and learning from the outcomes.
Try this mini-challenge:
• Set a goal to make 3 intentional decisions each day. Things like:
o Choosing what to eat without asking others
o Deciding how to spend your break
o Saying “yes” or “no” without over-explaining
• Afterward, reflect on how it felt. Were you nervous? Relieved? Proud?
This daily practice rewires your brain to believe: “I can make choices. I can handle the outcomes. I trust myself to figure it out.”
10. Trust Takes Time—Give Yourself Grace
Here’s the truth most people don’t tell you: self-trust isn’t built overnight. It’s not a switch you flip—it’s a relationship you build. And like all relationships, it requires patience, grace, forgiveness, and time.
There will be days you doubt yourself. Days when fear speaks louder than courage. That’s okay. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up for yourself, even in the small ways.
Encouragement for the journey:
• When you mess up, say: “This is part of the process. I’m learning to trust myself.”
• When you get it right, say: “That was me—I did that.”
• Celebrate every step. Even the shaky ones.
Self-trust isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing you’ll keep walking—even when you don’t.
How to Have More Trust in Yourself
Building self-trust takes time, but the more you practice, the stronger it becomes. Start by acknowledging your doubts and actively working to change negative thought patterns. Small, consistent actions will help you develop confidence in your abilities and decisions.
How Do You Build Your Trust?
Trusting yourself is a continuous journey. The key lies in staying committed to your personal growth, making choices aligned with your values, and believing in your ability to learn and adapt. By incorporating these habits, you will develop unwavering self-trust and a deep sense of confidence in yourself.
Conclusion
You already have what it takes to trust yourself more deeply. It’s not about becoming someone else—it’s about reconnecting with who you already are beneath the noise, fear, and past letdowns. Step by step, choice by choice, you’re learning to come home to yourself. Start today. Make one small promise. Keep it. Then watch yourself rise.
Trusting yourself is essential for a fulfilling and confident life. By listening to your intuition, keeping promises to yourself, embracing mistakes, and practicing self-compassion, you can strengthen your self-trust. How to trust yourself more is not about being perfect—it’s about believing in your ability to grow, learn, and navigate life’s challenges. Start today, and with each small step, you’ll build the self-trust needed to create the life you desire.