From: bostonherald.com

Confidence is difficult to define but easy to detect.

Confidence is that quality that sets people apart. Neurologists say it’s rooted in our DNA. Psychologists decree that it’s the product of choices we make.

Sports authorities and performance coaches declare it comes from practice and hard work. It’s true, some of us are born more confident than others, and it is partly genetic. But confidence can be acquired — part science, part art.

Here’s some examples:

In sports, confidence is key. Soccer pro Carli Lloyd, the women’s World Cup championship hero, said she wanted to be the “best soccer player in the world.” She then set her priorities and told her fiance, family and friends they all had to come second. Goal achieved.

To win you have to set goals, evaluate priorities and, above all, believe in yourself. Excellence is precise, practiced, measured and judged.

As athletes practice and train, we, too, can train our minds and literally change our brain structure to be more confidence prone.

Studies show confidence is more important than competence and ability when it comes to getting ahead at work.

Projecting confidence can affect your rise up the corporate ladder — you have to have it to be good at your job. Higher status means you are more admired, respected and have more sway. Whether consciously or subconsciously, we all give confident people an inordinate amount of admiration and respect.

According to Katherine “Katty” Kay, author and lead anchor of BBC World News America, “when people are confident, when they believe they are good at something, regardless of how good they actually are, they display behavior which makes them appear confident in the eyes of others … whether they truly excel or not is irrelevant.”

Remember, overconfidence can be misinterpreted as arrogance.

When you genuinely believe you are good, it comes across. Conversely, when people don’t genuinely believe in themselves, others pick up on it quickly.

Try training your mind to think positively. (Positive thoughts also release endorphins.)

Believe in yourself.

Dismiss past negative thoughts and behaviors and articulate goals, and write them down.

Use expansive body language and speak in clear, audible vocal tones.

Be willing to take a risk and fail, but try.