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Home > Articles > Behavior Articles > You Can't Fake Confidence
Cool-Relax
Written By Cool-Relax

You Can't Fake Confidence

 
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Posted 11 months ago Views 648 Comments 10 Category Behavior
I've heard that a lot, especially on this site. Whenever someone asks how to be less insecure, more outgoing, how to get someone to notice them, they're told to be more confident. How do they go about doing that? Fake it 'til you make it, sweetie!

It's a concept that I don't buy into.

For one thing, "fake it 'til you make it" is a phrase I learned in marketing classes in high school. You may be trying to sell yourself to other people, so to speak, whenever you're in public, but it's not the same thing.

Also, the idea of lying to yourself seems like a bad idea to me.

When I asked how exactly you go about faking confidence, a girl told me that she's full of insecurities when she's at home, but when she leaves the house, she acts like she isn't. She told me that you have to smile, hold your head high, and act like you know what you're talking about even if you don't (which I don't advise doing--ignorance does not equal confidence).

In spite of everything she told me, all that came across was an insecure person pretending to be confident.

This is where the idea of self-acceptance comes in. Insecurities, anxiety--they're both based in flawed thinking. Pretending that you're not insecure addresses the issue at the surface, but not at the root. You have to change the way you view yourself.

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Stop comparing yourself to other people, stop saying you're not good enough, not attractive enough etc. We are our own worst critics; other people don't notice our flaws as readily as we do, yet so many people let the negative thoughts get the best of them, and they lose confidence over it. When you realize your self-defeating thoughts, it's a lot easier to discount them.

Overcoming challenges is the next thing you have to focus on. It's so easy to talk yourself out of doing things out of fear or insecurity. But when you keep letting things pass you by, you only end up with regret, which is not a confidence builder. No matter how scary something may seem, you have to work through it. That's how you become more comfortable with the things that make you uneasy, and you'll see that you shouldn't let anxiety dictate your life, which will boost your confidence over time.

Gaining confidence isn't a process that happens overnight. Although faking it is a quick fix, it can't bring about real change without attending to the underlying problems.

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Article Comments

 
AlexRoz Amazing. Seriously though that's really true especially where you say "Stop comparing yourself to other people, stop saying you're not good enough, not attractive enough etc. We are our own worst critics;" That's the part that I think brings most people down. Congrats on this it was a great read. - 10 months ago
Cool-Relax Thank you :] - 10 months ago
doctorwhofan23 Thank you, I need to take this advice and hopefully I will be a happier person. - 8 months ago
_Gerald_ "Cool" article. :P I think it's better to address the reasons why people are not confident rather than to just fake it. - 5 months ago
here4you Truly awesome
i'm not as confident as I am when I'm with my friends
is that the same thing? - 3 months ago
Cool-Relax No, it's not the same thing. A lot of people think that if they're confident around their friends, they should be confident around everyone, but it's a situational thing. You act differently around different people, so being confident and outgoing around your friends doesn't mean you can't be a shy person. - 3 months ago
aceofdiamond Well, I have only one problem. I have to fake confidence. I have some sort of prob in my head. not like I'm crazy or anything but... I get really anxious when people are behind me. I mean, its hard to get thru school like this! my bk tightens up, my body has heat flashes and I can't move that much. but I act like there's nothing wrong. even rite now, I'm getting anxious, there are people behind me. -sighs- I want ot get over this but... I can't stand having people behind me! its makes me really nervous.. - 2 months ago
Cool-Relax That's not necessarily a confidence issue, it's anxiety. And you're not avoiding those situations even though they make you uncomfortable--that's a good thing. If you did avoid them, you would have a problem. - 2 months ago
MarkVonLewis Maybe, but for a while when my confidence was destroyed, I just ignored any insecurities, fears, and such until they were gone. Granted you could likely say my confidence is less confidence and more like reckless bravado. - A month ago
Cool-Relax Lol, bravado is just being full of yourself. That's taking confidence to cockiness--not a good thing. - A month ago
 
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Behavior Articles
 
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