(Reading Time: 1 Minute)
People spend a lot of time talking about confidence.
Some of us don’t have enough and we worry about it; we want to find out how to get more of it.
Others have too much of it, and we stand with open-mouthed wonder as we watch them march through life without a single care in the world and not a modicum of self-doubt. But what does confidence mean in reality? Is there a straight forward, simple to understand confidence definition?
Confidence Definition
Confidence is about having a belief and positive regard for yourself and your ability to succeed.
According to Wikipedia
“the word confidence comes from a latin word ‘fidere’ which means “to trust”; therefore, having self-confidence is having trust in oneself.”
With self-trust comes a self-belief that you are able to exist and thrive in a range of different situations: personal relationships, the professional environment, social interaction, family life, and even the ‘unknown’.
It is common for people to have mixed levels of confidence according to the situation that they find themselves in. For example, a high flying senior executive may be extremely confident in her career in the work place, but when she gets pregnant she has little or no confidence that she will be able to cope in this aspect of her life.
Confidence Level
Most people would agree that getting the right amount of confidence is a fine art.
People who are over-confident are can be perceived as arrogant, big-headed, and sometimes rude. There are dangers associated with such over-confidence or hubris as it can be known. Such folk often tend to overreach themselves and overestimate their abilities so that failure often ensues.
Similarly, too little confidence can also cause issues. People who suffer from a chronic lack of confidence often hold themselves back and miss out on opportunities. The irony is that they usually want to be more confident, and have a broader range of life experiences. However, the inability to increase their self-confidence perpetuates the issue.
Confidence and Life
Finding just the right amount of confidence is a deeply personal thing and often takes time and life experience.
Many people will work on their confidence throughout their lives and forever see it as a ‘work in progress’. It can change depending on where we are at in our lives.
As we grow, develop, and experience new things, it is usual for us to enter arenas in our lives where we have little experience and therefore less confidence. This is normal.
Sometimes, for various reasons, we can lose it all together. Don’t worry. When this happens we can regain it and emerge stronger than before.
Knowing How Much is Enough
Finding that balance between having enough and having too much confidence takes time and a little experimentation. Here, we discuss the actions to take if you fall either side of the line.
Whilst confidence is about the way that we feel about ourselves, it also has much to do with the way that others feel about us. Thus, working with the facts, being honest and open with other people, listening to feedback, and having an open mind to change can all positively impact our confidence and the way that we are perceived by others.
The best way to tell if you’ve hit the mark and got the balance right is that you will find yourself respected, trusted, admired, and approachable in equal measure. You will also know in your gut.
People who are over-confident are seldom trusted and respected. Their peers find them unapproachable and intimidating.
Conversely, those lacking in confidence whilst usually approachable may often find themselves in situations where people struggle to respect them. This means that they are not entrusted to take responsibility for things of significance.
Take notice of the signs. Reflect and be authentic. Your confidence level is akin to a living being, it needs to be tended to carefully, nurtured, and supported through the twists and turns of life.
We hope that you’ve found this post on the Confidence definition useful.
What to know how to build your confidence?
Have a read at this Ultimate Guide from The Rediscovery of Me.
Further reading from The Rediscovery of Me
Want To Be A Winner At Life? 8 Quick Tips Backed by Science
Confidence Affirmations to Boost Self-Belief
I Am A Fraud: How to Understand Imposter Syndrome
I would like to read more of this