If you can do these 7 things in public without feeling uncomfortable, you’re more confident than the average person

Confidence isn’t always about big, flashy gestures. You don’t have to walk into a room and command attention or deliver a TED Talk without breaking a sweat. Sometimes, it shows up in the quieter, everyday things we do in public.

And here’s the thing: many people struggle with even small acts of visibility. That awkwardness you feel when all eyes are briefly on you isn’t unusual — but how you handle it reveals just how comfortable you are in your own skin.

So, if you can do these seven things in public without feeling uncomfortable, chances are you’re already more confident than most people.

1. Walking into a room alone

Think about the last time you walked into a busy restaurant, a crowded party, or even a meeting where everyone was already seated.

Did you feel the heat rise in your face? Did you scan the room hoping to spot someone you knew immediately?

Walking into a room alone is harder than it sounds because it triggers one of our deepest fears: standing out without support. But confident people have learned to lean into that discomfort. They don’t need someone at their side to validate their presence.

I remember attending a conference in a city where I knew absolutely no one. I walked into the networking event, palms sweaty, stomach tight. For the first ten minutes, I clung to the snack table like it was a lifeboat.

Then I took a breath and reminded myself: I have as much right to be here as anyone else. That shift changed everything. I started conversations, and by the end of the night, I felt like I belonged.

Confidence doesn’t mean you don’t feel nervous. It means you trust yourself enough to walk in anyway.

2. Speaking up in a group

For a lot of people, this is the big one. You have an idea in a meeting, or something to say in a class, but you hold back.

Why? Because the fear of judgment — of sounding silly or being dismissed — looms large.

Confident people still feel that fear, but they override it with self-trust. They know their perspective has value, even if it doesn’t land perfectly.

I used to struggle with this. In my early twenties, I’d sit in work meetings with ideas bubbling in my head but keep quiet, only to hear someone else voice something similar later. It was frustrating.

One day, I forced myself to speak up — heart pounding, voice shaky. To my surprise, people nodded. They engaged. The world didn’t end. That single act became the seed of confidence I grew from.

The ability to contribute openly in public, without shrinking back, is one of the clearest signs of inner strength.

3. Eating alone at a restaurant

There’s something strangely vulnerable about sitting at a table by yourself in a restaurant. Most people would rather grab fast food or pretend to be “in a rush” than sit there with no one across from them.

But if you can do it comfortably — order your meal, savor it, maybe even enjoy people-watching — that’s a subtle but powerful marker of confidence. It means you’re not worried about what strangers are assuming about you.

I once had to travel for work and ended up in a little Italian place on my own. At first, I buried my face in my phone, pretending to be busy. Then I put it down. I watched the room, listened to the music, and actually enjoyed my pasta instead of rushing.

By the time I left, I realized: no one cared that I was alone. The only person who cared was me.

When you can eat alone in public and genuinely enjoy it, you’ve broken through one of the most common — and unnecessary — social anxieties.

4. Starting a conversation with a stranger

Whether it’s chatting with the person next to you in line or striking up small talk on the train, initiating conversation with strangers is something many people avoid like the plague.

Why? Because it feels risky. You don’t know how they’ll react, whether they’ll ignore you, or if you’ll stumble over your words.

For most people, that possibility is enough to stay quiet.

Confident people, though, push through that discomfort. They don’t assume rejection or awkwardness will ruin them. They trust themselves enough to handle whatever comes next.

And here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be dazzling. It can be as simple as complimenting someone’s book choice, asking if they’ve tried the pastry you’re both eyeing at the café, or commenting on the weather.

These little acts show you’re willing to bridge the silence instead of hiding in it.

More often than not, people respond positively. And even when they don’t, the fact that you had the courage to initiate speaks volumes about your confidence.

5. Dancing like no one’s watching — even when they are

For many, the idea of dancing in public without a drink in hand is terrifying.

You become hyper-aware of your arms, your legs, your awkward rhythm. But confident people don’t let that stop them — they lean into the joy of the moment instead of obsessing over the image.

I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of avoiding dance floors. But I once went to a wedding where the bride’s uncle (well into his seventies) jumped out first, clapping, spinning, and pulling others in.

He didn’t have “moves,” but he had something better: zero self-consciousness. The crowd adored him. His joy was contagious, and nobody cared whether his steps matched the beat.

Confidence isn’t about technical skill — it’s about the courage to take up space. Dancing in public without cringing shows you’ve let go of perfection and chosen presence.

6. Admitting when you’re wrong

This might not sound like a “public act,” but it is. Think about how often we double down in front of others rather than admit a mistake. The fear of losing face keeps many people stuck in defensiveness.

Confident people, though, are comfortable saying: “You’re right, I got that wrong.” It takes inner security to let others see your flaws without crumbling.

I remember once correcting a coworker during a meeting — only to realize later I was the one in the wrong. I felt my cheeks burn, but instead of brushing it under the rug, I apologized in front of everyone the next day.

To my surprise, my team respected me more for it. Admitting you’re wrong in public shows you’re more interested in truth than in protecting your ego.

It’s a strength that many underestimate — but it’s one that instantly communicates maturity and confidence.

7. Making eye contact and holding it

It sounds simple, but for many people, maintaining eye contact is deeply uncomfortable.

A few seconds in, they glance away, stare at the floor, or fidget with their phone.

Why? Because eye contact is exposure — it makes you feel seen, and that can feel vulnerable.

Confident people, though, are comfortable with being seen. They can hold someone’s gaze without flinching because they’re not afraid of that moment of connection. They don’t see it as a threat — they see it as communication.

If you can hold eye contact comfortably in public — whether it’s with a cashier, a stranger you greet on the street, or someone listening to you speak — you’ve already tapped into a deeper kind of confidence most people struggle to muster.

Final thoughts

Confidence isn’t about never feeling awkward. It’s about how quickly you recover from that awkwardness and move forward anyway.

Walking into a room alone, speaking up, eating solo, starting conversations, dancing, admitting mistakes, sharing feelings — each of these actions touches a common insecurity. And if you can do them comfortably in public, you’ve already built more confidence than most people ever will.

The good news? Every one of these is a skill you can practice. The more you lean into small moments of discomfort, the less power they hold over you. And one day, you’ll look back and realize the things that once felt terrifying now feel natural.

That’s how confidence grows — not overnight, but in every small choice to show up as yourself, even when the world is watching.