True confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to grow. It takes time to cultivate. If you do not have it, do not beat yourself up. Just be patient with yourself. Do not be scared to do things that can help you gain your true confidence.

As William Hazllit once said, “As is our confidence, so is our capacity.” When you believe in yourself, when you have confidence in yourself, there is nothing you cannot do. You are not afraid of new ideas. You are not afraid to try new things. You are not afraid to challenge the status quo. And you are not afraid to commit yourself to a long-term growth. That is where you should be.

Be fearless, but don’t be careless.

Truly confident people do things differently. They behave differently. They attack problems differently. And they see things differently. According to Amy Cuddy, “A truly confident person does not require arrogance, which is nothing more than a smoke screen for insecurity. A confident person- knowing and believing in her identity- carries tools, not weapons. A confident person does not need to one-up anyone else. A confident person can be present to others, hear their perspectives, and integrate those views in ways that create value for everyone.”

Do not fake it till you make it. If you do not have it, with practice, you will have it.

Further Reading:

Cuddy, A., Presence: Bringing your BOLDEST SELF to your BIGGEST CHALLENGES (New York: Hachette Book Group, 2015): 33.