Confidence: A Reflection From Prominence

Confidence is earned slowly. It is earned from putting in a consistent amount of effort towards a goal on a regular basis. When we attempt to snatch it too quickly, we will be met with a lesson of humility. The teacher of this lesson takes many forms in life: failure, injury, damaged relationships, unstable footing, and countless others. It only takes a few of those lessons to understand what going to quickly can feel like. Do not allow yourself to be charmed by the illusion of progress portrayed by arrogance or hubris, as all they want from you is to ascend recklessly, belligerently, ignoring how, through what, or over whom that violent ascent requires. Pursuits championed by these causes eventually meet the same fate as Sisyphus; but where Sisyphus had an eternity, you definitely will not. Our lives are short, and if you try to take shortcuts within it, they will only cut life short.

In contrast, confidence is quiet, confidence brings people closer, it provides a figurative lighthouse, and a sense of warmth in frightening or difficult times. Arrogance and hubris, in comparison, may initially lure people in, but they sing their siren’s song, eventually dragging the unaware down into the abyss below their feet. Always remember, if someone feels the need to proclaim they are the supreme authority, the absolute best, or some sort of chosen one, they aren’t - nor ever will be. Those individuals need to proclaim the quality of their artificial luster, as if they do not, and you look too closely, you will quickly find the corroded underlayer of tarnished insecurity.

Allow yourself the grace and permission to take your journey slowly, peacefully, but also, with an appropriate amount of challenge. You do not have to sprint to every finish line, but you will have to hike, and sometimes that hike gets steep. As a matter of fact, if you did continuously sprint, and you have not put in the vast amount of training time needed, you will tear something, I guarantee it. Instead, build up a sense of cumulative progression. Ascend the mountain slowly, taking in all aspects of the journey up. Some parts of the hike will be as steep as you can imagine, but they can be done at a slow pace. Walk, feel yourself slowly overcoming what you thought was impossible. We’re not supposed to sprint up mountains, we are supposed to hike, and then eventually climb.

It does not really matter what you decide to start building confidence towards, as everything can be approached the same way. If you want to become better at speaking to people, go speak to people - but start small, start slow. Accumulate your wins, then build a strong foundation with them. Envision your cumulative successes as a staircase, or to stick with our theme, a hike up a mountain. Each “small” instance of practice accumulates towards the larger goal. Nothing is too small, and everything builds towards your growth. If you only interact with one person that day, great. You pushed further upon your path. If we apply this same approach to running as an example, or even the larger world of fitness, it remains salient. If you tried to go out and run a marathon without training, it will most likely result in you feeling like death. The same is likely true if you attempt to go lift weights similar to Olympic athletes, and in that case, your chances of literally crushing yourself to death may be higher than you would ever like to know. However, if you just start small today, just for 5-minutes, who knows what you would be capable of building within 5 years. Your life may look completely different. Then, once you realize you have ascended a mountain, you can take a moment to look back at where you started from - a euphoric moment to reflect on your new topographical prominence.

Whatever it is, go start. Give yourself the permission to pursue a life you know is worth living.