I recently experienced a dramatic increase in my confidence level by realizing one fundamental fact:

I don't need other people's approval to make me happy. I derive my happiness from things that are very personal to me.

This leads to knowing exactly what I want, not caring about other people's approval and generally not needing other people or some particular thing to happen to get what I want out of life.

I now look people directly in the eye and its funny because you would have sworn I had aspergers before this.