Confidence: The One Word Guide to Success by Navya

Backstage, palms sweating, legs shaking—my mind trying to play back each step. I’m paying such close attention as if I’m watching something that my life depends on.  

Going on stage, I realize the audience detects every wrong move. Each mess up, my smile fades, losing grasp of the small bit of confidence I came out with. 

Each step is adequate. Even with  minor mess ups I’m trying my best to smile through the entire show. Hearing the last beat drop still with a grin, a sense of completion courses through me. 

Full of relief.

Sabrina Carpenter once said, “Confidence is the most beautiful thing you can possess.” In a way, confidence can be the cheat sheet or cheat code to success. 

It’s what can differentiate individuals from one another. 

Believe it or not every single activity you take part in includes some form of self-trust. Whether something so basic as attending school every morning or something so simple like placing an order at a restaurant—each event requires belief. 

Now what if I tell you there’s further advantage to confidence other than just standing out; it unlocks so many other step ups to success. 

Life skills help you live a mediocre life; confidence helps you live your life to the fullest.

 Imagine you and your partner approach the front of the classroom to give a speech. You stand with your chin up high and project your message with full determination. In contrast, your partner’s holding note cards, sounding very insecure. The content of their essay may be stronger in an academic aspect, yet their speech does not project the same power. 

Believe it or not, so many people everyday lack the ability to speak with fearlessness. There’s a clear line between a person who speaks with confidence and one who speaks with apprehension. 

Every study conducted in the past 50 years on self-confidence and success proves that the two things are related. Self-Confident people are more successful in all areas of life. 

“Confidence is a super power. Once you start using it, magic happens.”~ Unknown. 

This famous quote is pivotal  because it illuminates how powerful confidence is compared to superpowers such as telekinesis, flying, or super strength.

 Everyone wants to have a superpower. Well now’s your chance.

A tulip starts with a stem, bundled with petals. Eventually it blossoms into a grand, elegant flower.

 Like a tulip, unfurl your petals to reveal confidence. 

The more you believe in yourself the more it persuades you to achieve. Opportunities dish out to you left and right. Having the self-assurance that, yes, it will be difficult but taking on the challenge anyway can connect you to a mountain of future prospects.

 I learned this when realizing many things in my life were piling on each other: There was school work, homework, and on top of that having to get enough sleep for the next day. I wasn’t naive about the difficulty of managing time, but there was a part of me that knew accomplishing this was possible and would make me feel fulfilled.

 Taking the easy way out never does anything for you; it only makes you fragile.

Everyone is different; people develop. There’s a plethora of roads someone can go down on. A study by a leadership in careers article states, “The only way to build self-confidence is to take a risk and take action despite your fear of failure, messing up, or embarrassment.” 

Every scenario in your life can go one of  two ways—embarrassing and dreadful or successful and valuable. Never dodge an experience thinking of what negative outcomes it could bring.  Find it in you to take a risk. Be confident and see what each situation has to offer. 

There’s always a possibility of shame. Look beyond it, you might end up inspired. 

Until the age of five, children are nurtured and loved in the arms of their parents. Sooner or later they are sent to school where a number is what defines them. The older we get, the more these numbers matter. Each grade seems like the world’s weight is upon it. 

Now imagine sitting down at an interview 20 years from now. Do you really think the first thing the interviewer is going to ask you about is a number you received in high school or college? 

No.

They are going to look at your communication skills and identify the tone of your voice. No one wants a bashful employee scrambling to talk. Employers look for people who believe in themselves; not someone who needs to be told that they’re enough.  

A number defines you temporarily. Your character defines you eternally.

I find myself backstage once again, but this time, arms stretched, legs sturdy-—my mind playing back the beautiful piece just waiting to bring it to life. 

Knowing that the audience was going to be in awe watching a story come to life so delicately, through each turn and gesture, I felt assured. 

Expressions on my face emanated with each move, connecting on a level stronger than just dancing on a stage. The music fades as the curtains fall. The audience erupts in applause and praise. I stand with a smile on my face, feeling accomplished, no slip ups. 

Full of confidence.