What does it mean to be confident?

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

“Self-doubt doesn't go away when you succeed. In fact, the higher the stakes get, the more doubt will continue to show up. Confidence isn’t about removing all doubt. Confidence is knowing you’ll be all right if things go wrong.” - Mark Manson

It’s so easy to delude ourselves into thinking if we can just reach some milestone or dollar amount that all that ills us will magically fall away. I mean, who wouldn’t want to believe that to be true!

Alas, deep down, we know it’s not the case. 

In light of that admission, I think reframing what it means to be confident might be one of the best alternatives available to us.

I love the way Mark does that in the quote above, especially those last two sentences:

“Confidence isn’t about removing all doubt. 

Confidence is knowing you’ll be all right if things go wrong.”

When you look back on all of your life experiences to date, including the trials and tribulations, you’ll quickly realize that you’re still standing and probably better for it.

That’s where you’ll find your confidence.

There’s no way to avoid life’s ups and downs and the best any of us can hope to do is smooth out the ride. 

But knowing you’ve been here before, you’ll be here again, and you’ve always found your way through?

That’s something that I’m confident you can continue to do — and I hope you are too.