Is Confidence the Key to a Fulfilling Life?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Holocene
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of confidence in achieving a fulfilling life, exploring both internal and external aspects of confidence. Participants reflect on the implications of genuine confidence versus false confidence, and how these perceptions affect personal interactions and self-worth.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that genuine confidence, as opposed to false or overconfidence, is crucial for a quality life free from excessive disconsolation.
  • There is a distinction made between self-confidence and confidence in specific skills, with self-confidence linked to one's sense of self-worth and not dependent on external validation.
  • One participant argues that many confident individuals may actually be incompetent, using a metaphor that genuine confidence comes from within and does not require external validation.
  • Another participant references a psychological study indicating that people often overestimate their abilities due to a lack of self-awareness regarding their incompetence.
  • Some participants express that projecting confidence can lead to an increase in actual confidence, suggesting that perception plays a significant role in social interactions.
  • There is a viewpoint that confidence can influence performance in various activities, with some participants describing it as a mental state that facilitates success.
  • Others challenge the idea that confidence is entirely independent of competence, particularly in social interactions, suggesting that social skills may also be a form of competence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of confidence, with some agreeing on its importance while others contest the relationship between confidence and competence. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on how confidence impacts personal fulfillment.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of confidence, noting that it can be influenced by various factors including personal experiences, societal expectations, and individual perceptions of self-worth. The discussion touches on the nuances of confidence in different contexts, such as social interactions versus skill-based scenarios.

  • #31
Holocene said:
I've been thinking that even if a person has not fulfilled the societal mainstreams of what "success" is supposed to be, they might still be "respected", so long as they project an aura of confidence that is not necessarily unwarranted.

It seems like we are always concerned about others' opinions and evaluations, especially about ourselves. That concern can make the acceptance of ourselves and of life around us a difficult thing to understand. So the thing that needs to be done is to look deep within yourself and come to the realization that you are perfect just the way you are because nature (or perhaps you prefer God) doesn't make any such distinctions. And then, when you accept life just as it is, on its own terms, there is no need to project anything but yourself. That's when you will notice that tension and pessimism and discontent will disappear and you will begin to feel much better about yourself and about others, just naturally and without creating any artificial mask.
 
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  • #32
Andre said:
And remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Exactly.

I used to be a huge introvert before. I'm the complete opposite now. I barely recognize myself when I think back 2-3 years ago.

I notice that people occupy themselves with trivial thoughts all the time. I also hate repetitive behaviour too. Sometimes I'll just say goodnight to this girl I know, and off to bed. Then I get a message in the morning sayingI forgot to... kiss goodnight. WTF? Did she seriously think that during the night or what? So trivial and pointless.
 

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