How confidence is holding you back

Confidence is frequently lauded as the key to success in life. People often tell us, “Believe in yourself, and you can accomplish anything,” or “Just be confident.” However, while confidence can be advantageous, it can also be a hindrance. In this article, we’ll delve into the dual nature of confidence and explore how it can sometimes impede your progress, preventing you from reaching your full potential.

One of the most significant ways in which confidence can restrain you is if you become overconfident. Overconfidence can be defined as a belief in your abilities that exceeds what is justified. When you are overconfident, you might take excessive risks, make hasty decisions without sufficient information, or fail to recognize your limitations. Consequently, you may miss opportunities, make mistakes, and experience setbacks.

Consider this example: You are a salesperson who has enjoyed tremendous success in the past. You may become overconfident and presume that you can seal the deal in any situation, regardless of the circumstances. As a result, you may neglect to do your due diligence and gather all the essential information before meeting a potential client. Moreover, you might come off as pushy or arrogant, causing the client to back off, and preventing you from closing the deal.

Likewise, a student who has always excelled in school might become overconfident and believe that they don’t need to study as hard or prepare as much for exams. As a result, they may not put in the necessary effort and end up with a lower grade than anticipated.

On the other hand, a lack of confidence can also hold you back. Self-doubt can prevent you from taking risks, trying new things, or pursuing your dreams. When you doubt yourself, you may feel like you are not good enough, that you don’t deserve success, or that failure is inevitable. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and a lack of motivation.

For example, suppose you are an aspiring writer who has always been passionate about writing. However, you lack confidence in your abilities and feel like you’ll never be good enough to get published. Consequently, you may never submit your work to publishers or share it with others, depriving yourself of the feedback and support you need to improve.

Similarly, someone who is interested in starting a business may doubt themselves and worry that they lack the skills or experience to succeed. As a result, they may never take the plunge and start their own business, preventing them from realizing their potential.

So, if both overconfidence and self-doubt can hold you back, what’s the solution? The answer is balanced confidence. Balanced confidence is a belief in your abilities that is grounded in evidence and realistic. When you have balanced confidence, you acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses and are willing to take risks, try new things, and recognize the possibility of failure.

Consider this example: You are a musician who has been playing guitar for several years. You have had some success playing at local venues, but you realize that there is still much to learn. You possess balanced confidence because you recognize your abilities and achievements while also acknowledging that there is always room for improvement. Consequently, you are willing to take risks, try new things, and seek out feedback and guidance from others.

Likewise, if you are a manager responsible for leading a team, you possess balanced confidence because you understand that you have the skills and experience to perform the job well. At the same time, you recognize that there is always more to learn.