Self-confidence: a resource more valuable than gold, and frailer than a shard of ice. Valuable in that people seek it out and others rely upon it, and see potential in it. Fragile in that it is seemingly acquired and lost at the blink of an eye. Many books, TED talks, videos, and all manner of other media have taken their own spin on the ins and out of self-assurance. I will not attempt to validate one theory or way of thinking in contrast of another, though I hope to outline a few things I've noticed in the my own private study of confidence.
One thing that has continually stood out to me is the rigidity with which people apply to the entity itself. "Building" and "maintaining" confidence almost always mean to suggest some sort of tangible element, which is improved upon and in motion, but reliant on an immovable base. What this prime factor is I cannot say, though if there is one consistent attribute to this model is that it markets consistency. Trying to "get" confidence like some sort of grocery item, or believing it to be a sturdy pillar, to me, seems fatally naive.
Despite one's ego, their achievements, or their skill sets, all will suffer a setback or defeat at least once within their lifetime. And, should it occur, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be met with confusion, frustration, and a good helping of inner despair. With maybe the most exceptional of cases, I would assert that no one person's vault of confidence is impregnable. We all have our moments of weakness, and often when we do, no amount of self-help or positive thinking will grant us an absolute defense against a shattered ego.
Surely however, there must be some way to resuscitate lost confidence. Though the mechanism of its revival does not seem to be particularly swift or as expedient as we might hope. Indeed, after we get ourselves knocked down one peg or several, all that remains is to take a stand once more. Conversely, the effort and the requirements of said stand vary greatly from person to person. Some folks can suffer disaster and throw themselves right back into the fray; others may require a more extensive period to accumulate their gusto anew.
In either case, we mustn't mistake a journey of growth for a race to the finish. The process is ongoing, and by rights it must be so. If the mettle of human perseverance were tied to finite sums of vigor and endurance, so little would have been accomplished within our history. Perhaps if we are to endeavor forward, to dare to face what lies ahead even if we aren't totally sure of ourselves, a new paradigm is needed to analyze the force that drives our personas. Instead of psychological programs and industrial symbols, perhaps the solution lies with a more organic frame of mind. Confidence may yet be grown and developed, but by that logic it will always be vulnerable to affliction and setbacks, like any other organism. As we are nurtured, so too must we nurture our confidence; not to great excess, but rather to a healthy, wary medium. How this is accomplished is entirely up to you. As I lay down my pen, I know my own cultivation is winding about in its own unique way. Thus I implore you all to pay due attention to the temper of your spirit, and tug that follows it.
