The Core Concepts of Confidence

Introduction

Have you wanted to build your own confidence? Confidence is something that can be practiced regularly. However, most people misunderstand what true confidence is. According to , there are five core principles about confidence that can be understood and practice

The more ignorant you are, the more confident you feel

This is the reality of how this world works. Most expertise would feel less confident about them because they always think of uncertainties around them. "What happens when this happens?". "What would I do if this doesn't work?". "Do I have anything prepared if this happens".
On the other hand, people who are not true experts would feel confident due to their ignorance. "I'm sure I can get this done". They believe it groundlessly or with little evidence.
So is it all about fake it till you make it then? Not really. This is because you are living with a borrowed confidence. At some point, you would have to return all of them back. Not to mention

The longer you go, the harder you fall.

Our confidence paradox can be represented as a Dunning Kruger effect. Say you want to master a skill. First you learn your skill. As you progress, you feel more confident to the point you feel at the top of the world. This is known as the false confidence peak.
Suddenly, you are put together with others with more expertise than you. You realize that you know nothing about your skill at all. Your confidence drops immensely. I call this the actualization failure.
Then you start learning everything about the topic again and eventually become the true expert. This builds true confidence.

Rented Confidence: This goes back to point number one. This confidence can be built through primary knowledge, postures and control. It shows confidence but doesn't last.
Earn Confidence: Think of a surgeon who performs numerous surgeries and already mastered his skills. He enters the surgery room knowing he can perform surgeries successfully. This is know as earn confidence. Confidence earned through truthfully mastered a skill. This type of confidence is good however, it only applies to a particular area.
Owned Confidence: This is confidence based on life experience. The success and failures that you been through. That shaped who you are today. This is also known as the True Confidence

Confidence is not about positive thinking. It is about taking action

Sarah Blakey, as a child would got asked by his father everyday. "What did you failed today?" If she doesn't have any answers to that, her father would be disappointed.
Confidence is about action, failure, surviving and iterate. The more action you take, failure, and overcome, the more confident you become as a person.

This boils down to a single point. Practice and rehearse a lot. This is why musicians practices, checking their voices and why athletes practice a lot before their actual game. It is not about Fake it till you make it. It is about Act on it till you become it.

Real confidence is not about results. It is about self compassion. There is a danger about basing confidence on real results. One day, when you don't achieve what you expect, your confidence drops.
Real confidence is about forgiving and encouraging yourself when you fail. This is related to point number three. Action, Failure, Surviving and Iterate. Giving compassion to yourself to ensure survivability is the key to success.

theMITmonk (April, 30, 2026), This ONE Skill Makes You Almost Impossible to Ignore, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D0RV5AqFh4