It's speaking up when we have something worth saying while being comfortable enough to listen when someone else has a better idea. It's admitting we don't know everything and asking questions instead of pretending we do.
Easier said than done
There are more days than not when I don't feel confident. There are moments when I question myself; second-guess decisions; and wonder if I'm doing enough. I think many people feel that way, but we rarely talk about it. We see confidence in others because we see the outside; not the doubts and uncertainty behind the scenes.
I've met people with impressive titles who had very little confidence. I've also met people with no title who carried themselves with certainty. I often mistake confidence with arrogance. I don't do well with bragging loudmouths, so maybe I overcompensate?
Shape not define
When we're younger, we often look for approval. Over time, we learn confidence comes from within. It has less to do with applause and more to do with character. Here's where things go pear shaped. When we're younger, we often have less fear to try new stuff and that dissipates as we age.
Confidence isn't about feeling certain every day. It's about moving forward even on the days when we don't. Maybe that's what confidence really is - not the absence of doubt, but the decision not to let doubt stop us.
Some days we lead; most days we learn. ____________________________________________________________
