"Humble Pie? Nah, I'll Take a Slice of Confident Swagger!"
"Confidence is key," so they say. How are we to maintain our confidence when we constantly downplay our skills, and successes and be humble? Well, it turns out, being humble is overrated. Mark Twain wrote a great quote, "Never be haughty to the humble and never be humble to the haughty."
In a world where modesty often takes center stage, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of downplaying our achievements. We've all been there, trying to ride the line between acknowledging our capabilities and not wanting to come across as boastful. But let's face it, Mark Twain hit the nail on the head with his wisdom: "Never be haughty to the humble and never be humble to the haughty." It's a reminder that genuine confidence doesn't require putting others down or diminishing our accomplishments. Instead, it's about finding that sweet spot where we can stand tall in our achievements without overshadowing the achievements of others.
So, ditch the humility charade and embrace the refreshing honesty of embracing your capabilities. After all, Twain's words remind us that true confidence isn't about arrogance; it's about recognizing our worth and standing firm without belittling anyone else in the process.
When you achieve something great, don't just brush it off like it didn't matter — acknowledge the hard work you put into it and take pride in your accomplishment — it's simply recognizing that you can do great things when you set your mind to it.
So, is it important to be humble? To a certain point yes, just don't forget to celebrate your wins along the way. Recognize the power of your successes and never be afraid to feel proud of what you have achieved. There's nothing wrong with that- show off a little bit. That confidence is a crucial part of success, and if you don't believe in yourself then nobody else will, again be proud of your accomplishments and never let anyone take away your self-worth, your self-worth is a valuable commodity.
No one should make you feel less than or like you need to downplay your successes. Life is all about taking risks, believing in yourself and pushing forward — don't be afraid to go out and do it. Shake off the notion of being humble for the sake of appearances, and instead focus on actualizing your goals with confidence. Knowing that you are capable enough — no more downplaying accomplishments or not taking pride in your successes.
I am most proud of my failures, they are capital F FAILURES. I learn more from failures that I have from my successes, failures have taught me to pay attention and recognize what's needed around me, Isaac Newton paid attention when he watched an apple fall from a tree, a person at 3M paid attention and found a use for an otherwise failed adhesive and invented Post It notes. Do I think I'm like Issac Newton, no of course not, but I believe in the possibility of greatness because I have had failures that taught me to pay attention. So, don't be afraid to make mistakes and own them as lessons learned — never downplay yourself or limit your potential and don't downplay your failures, use them as fuel, use them to take risks and have confidence in all that you do.
There is a big difference between Douchebag confidence and real confidence, Douchebag confidence is hollow, filled with hormones, dick-measuring contests, self-loathing, an inferiority complex and the notion that you are better than anyone and that you can do anything. Real confidence comes from understanding your strengths and weaknesses, knowing you can't do anything and everything, and the measuring tape is always totally wrong, it just is...shut up. I know I can't be President of the United States, nor can I be a Prada model, however, I will walk like a supermodel on the treadmill at the gym... so it's about taking evaluated and calculated risks...when the situation calls for it. It is this kind of confidence that will bring you success, not the douchebag kind!
As I enter my 50th year on earth, I can honestly say that real confidence is sexy, nothing is more attractive than someone with a spark in their eye and a belief that they are capable of greatness. Actually "nothing is more attractive" is an overstatement, a well-toned body and somewhat symmetrical features are also highly attractive, but "Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being, really, really ridiculously good-looking?" I have not and do not want to know the answer ;).
Don't be afraid to let your talents shine. Stars don't shine without fuel, so use your failures to fuel the belief that you can accomplish what you want, be proud of your successes, and keep going no matter the setback — these are the foundations for true success. Be proud, and make sure you never downplay the hard work you put into something because that's what truly helps you stand tall, use own your accomplishments and failures to move forward with real confidence.
Look, it's okay to be confident. There's no need to put yourself down or feel like you have to be humble, that negative narrative is insidious and damaging. Instead, focus on your accomplishments, take pride in your hard work and celebrate all that you have achieved. Go out there and be confident — own it, get on a treadmill, or a grocery aisle and try walking like you're Derek Zoolander or Naomi Campbell. Dare to be great, and don't forget to have fun while you're doing it. That's what all this is about after all — living life with a bit of swagger and enjoying every moment as best as you can.
And if all else fails, just watch "Zoolander" again... because even Derek Zoolander knows that confidence is key. And yes, I'm talking about the first one. ;)
"Its hard to be humble when you're as great as I am"
Mohammed Ali said that once.
