Friday, July 9, 2010

On confidence

Over the past few years, I’ve come to find just how important confidence is. Being confident can make the difference between getting what you want in life and being the person people walk all over to get what they want. Feeling confident makes you look confident and turns you into a good-vibe generator. I had dinner this evening with a friend who just had her braces removed after wearing them for a year. She just had them removed, and this was the first time I saw her braces-free. She normally has a good level of confidence, but today she exuded such rich self-esteem and happiness with her restored smile that it was thick and palpable in the air around our table.

There is something to be said about a person’s level of confidence. Different parts of society prescribe different proper levels, but it doesn’t seem difficult to determine what most people feel is best. You don’t want overconfidence, where you’re so much of a self-indulgent boor that no one can stand to be around you, nor do you want a lack of confidence, where few people want to be around you because you’re such a drag. Surround yourself with supportive friends, practice what you do best, and do your best to have a positive attitude, and you’ll achieve a level of confidence that will not only make you feel good about yourself, but will make others feel good about you as well.

3 comments:

Sandman Moon said...

I couldn't agree more! I know it can seem inspirational poster cheesy to talk about self confidence (I blame "inspirational business management" culture for ruining it), but I actually like to think of it more in a bitchy, Ayn Rand kind of way. You know, there comes a point where it is up to the individual to grab self confidence by the balls and make it one's own. I've had to do that in my life. It certainly didn't come natural! But the results are pretty noticeable!

Twee Poppets said...

Hear, hear! Now be sure to take your own advice, love. ;)

Minima Sapala said...

It's also interesting that we usually think of someone as having too much confidence when they come off as arrogant, pushy, or rude. However, I've found that if you dig a little deeper, those are the people that are dying of insecurity on the inside. It seems the most confident people are the ones who are willing to quiet down and listen, the ones who never have to push.