how do you become more confident

They way I found is to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Start small and build up.

If you do not feel confident in speaking in front of people, start small. Talk to one person - plan what you will you say. I am not sure your age, assuming you are still in school - go up to a classmate you don't really know and say something like - did you get what the teacher was saying about this or that? Something related to what just happened. You live through that and think jeepers that wasn't so bad (even if all you get is a grunt in return).

Build from there - but keep trying small things that normally would make you feel uncomfortable. Once you see it isn't a big deal and you do it more and more it gets easier.

My daughter just started a new school - went from 12 kids in her grade to a school where there is 200 in her grade. She made a little embarassing mistake. In front of the class, she owned up it was her mistake and laughed it off even though she felt embarassed - the class laughed too and it grew her confidence. Normally she does not raise her hand to speak up in class, but this increased her confidence (she told me about it) and she has.

So actually doing something uncomfortable and simply living through it and seeing it is no big deal boosted her confidence.

http://m.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Mind-and-Soul-of-Negativity

http://www.prolificliving.com/100-positive-affirmations/

My daughter gained more confidence when she did well in school. It brought her respect from her peers and she felt good about herself when she got A's and did well on her assignments.

Another option: think of something that you did well and you're proud of.
Then you write it down, pin it next to your mirror and read it every morning.

She seems dressed in all the rings
Of past fatalaties
So fragile yet so devious
She continues to see it
Climatic hands that press
Her temples and my chest
Enter the night that she came home
Forever
Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)
She is everything and more
The solemn hypnotic
My Dahlia, you're bathed in posession
She is home to me
I get neverous, perversed when I see her it's worse
But the stress is astounding
It's now or never she's coming home
Forever
Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)
Hard to say what caught my attention
Vixen crazy, Aphid Attraction
Carve my name in my face, to recognize
Such a pheromone cult to terrorize
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
(Yeah!)
I'm a slave, and I am a master
No restraints and, unchecked collectors
I exist throught my name, to self ablige
She is something in me, the darkness finds
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
SHE ISN'T REAL!
I CAN'T MAKE HER REAL!
SHE ISN'T REAL!
I CAN'T MAKE HER REAL!
(She isn't real, I can't make her real)
(She isn't real, I can't make her real)