Confidence is feeling or showing certainty about something. Being unshakable in one’s belief.
According to Macmillan dictionary, someone who is confident believes in his or her own abilities and so does not feel nervous or frightened. People who are confident display it by the way they talk, walk, dress, speak, smile and comport themselves. Confidence and courage cannot be hidden, even if you try to hide it, it will be glaring somehow. Confidence is glaring and finds its expression either in speech, tone, appearance, mood or countenance.
Courage on the other hand is the ability to act despite odds, fear or opposition. The
Merriam Webster dictionary defines courage as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.
My own definition is this. Courage is the ability to confront your fear. Courage can be of different types. You need courage to take risks. You need courage to move to the next level. You also need courage to get the lion’s share.
The first thing you need is courage and confidence will follow suit. If you have confidence without courage, that confidence may collapse. Let the confidence on the inside of you flow, do not resist it or allow anyone to choke it. That doesn’t mean you should not be courteous.
However, confidence is not pride, it is totally different from pride or arrogance.
Confidence should emanate from the inside of you to the outward. It should not be otherwise. It is not about you proving a point but expressing your inner self/esteem. It’s a form of life expressing itself and thus must be controlled.
Confidence also reflects the level of growth and knowledge acquired which cannot be suppressed. It shows you have overcome certain situations, you are no longer afraid and thus act bravely. Real confidence implies that;
You are aware of yourself; You have mastered something; You have answers to some questions.
Ponder on some of these questions.
How firm is your mind?
How firm are your actions?
How firm are your decisions?
Can confidence be contagious?
What area do you show confidence in?
Do you have that “I can do it” attitude?
How to Contact Courage and Confidence?
1. Upgrade to a higher dimension of yourself.
2. You must mingle with the right people.
3. Emulate good and godly values.
4. Learn from other people’s stories
5. Be in the right environment
6. Be in the right association.
7. Make the right decisions.
8. Develop your personality
9. Have a coach and mentor.
10. Get the right information.
11. Appreciate little success.
12. Aspire to greater heights.
13. Do not compare yourself.
14. Set goals and achieve them.
15. Do not give up easily.
16. Overcome obstacles.
17. Complete your task.
18. Do the right things.
19. Celebrate yourself.
20. Dream again.
After you have been courageous for a while, you will develop confidence. It takes courage to show up and to become who you were created to be.
Show up!
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.