“The Dance”

While self confidence is frequently a front it it not usually difficult to see it as a front. Genuine self confidence is based on life’s experiences and reality, not simple assumptions or perceptions. In an effort to create better understanding consider the following. Self confidence is relative to what we understand as truth or fact. While we all have confidence in varied situations relating to different topics most of us will find more situations and topics that we lack confidence in.  Just because you can cook it doesn’t mean you can bowl, (trust me on that one). Just because you understand mathematics doesn’t make you a great writer and so on. Our ability to be completely honest with ourselves and others about the situations and topics we are confident in creates self awareness and probably encourages others to have confidence in us. It is OK to say “I don’t know” or “I’m not certain” in any situation. This in my opinion is humble. It is necessary to be humble to grow as a human being, we must always assume there is more to know about anything. My own self confidence is based on expertise I have developed in my career. I frequently find myself assuring someone that while I do not have the answer or solution I can find one. This candid response creates credibility. A follow up with an acceptable answer or solution instills confidence. On the other hand if we are believed to have the answer or solution and are given opportunity only to find we do not have answers or solutions we lose credibility.