There are many ideas on how to get more confidence. In this article I'll show you five simple ways of improving your self-confidence and your life in general (because you have to be happy in order to be confident - it's very important!). Here they are.

1. Take risks

Be willing to take risks and embrace the unknown. T.S. Eliot once said that "only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go". And that also applies to self-confidence. If you constantly avoid risks, you can't transform your life. Don't be afraid of failures - there is no failure, only feedback. Start taking more risks in life. Start a business, say "hi" to this pretty girl on the sidewalk, travel to a foreign country.

2. Be positive

Have you ever noticed that unhappy people treat other people poorly? Don't be one of them. Smile more often, say "have a nice day" to people, compliment others, always look for the best in other people. Thanks to this, you'll bring more positivity into your own life. The more positive your life is, the more confident you are.

3. Relax

Nowadays so many people live in a constant rush. If you don't know how to relax, you are constantly stressed. And as you probably know, confidence doesn't have anything to do with being stressed. Every day try to relax for at least a while. Don't neglect it - it's hard to be confident with bad health and high levels of stress.

4. Expand your social circle

Try to meet new people as often as possible to improve your social life. Research proves that when you have a rich social life, you're happier. And when you're happier, you tend to feel more self-confident. Join some local groups (such as Couchsurfing, Meetup, sport groups, dance classes etc.) to expand your social circle and make new friends!

5. Accept responsibility for your life

Last but not least, you have to realize that only you are responsible for your life. Read "A Gift for My Daughter" by Harry Browne (it's a very short article available online) to understand that no one owes you anything. That means that you are the only person responsible for your self-confidence. Once you realize that life is only in your hands (and it takes time to fully grasp this concept), you'll become a more confident person.

Set aside at least one hour a day to work toward your goal of becoming a confident person. I'm sure that if you put all of these tips into practice, you'll quickly achieve success and get more confidence.

Bonus tip #6: visit How to Be Confident website http://flawlessconfidence.com/ to sign up for a free e-course on how to get rid of your shyness and become a confident man.