Confidence: Examining The Source Of Our Security

Introduction:

Welcome my friend,

When we say that someone is confident, what comes to mind?

Well, there are different contexts to confidence, and for every shy person, the word reminds them of what they are not.

This isn't in any way a shy person's slander though, considering that a person may not be allowed to belittle their own traits.

Anyway, this is a safe space for all and because of that we're going to discuss confidence in an entirely different context.

I hope that does make my fellow shy folks feel seen, as it may seem as though a shy person never wins.

Well, not today.

Discussion:

We’re going to examine confidence in the context of security, as in that inner assurance and conviction that we can confront life’s circumstances or obstacles as they arise and emerge unscathed.

In other words, it’s about identifying the true foundations of our strength and beliefs; the elements we rely on to steer through daily living.

Truth is, many of us draw confidence from different things and today we're going to discuss some of the very significant ones.

This way, when we're done, we'd be able to tell how solid these our defenses truly are, and whether or not they're genuinely enough to carry us through life.

■ Examining Common Sources Of Our Confidence

Most of us find security in various things, holding the firm conviction that as long as these are in place, we’ll always manage to find our way.

To us, they form the source of our confidence, giving us that calm assurance.

A few of them include the following:

▪︎ Money 

To the rich, their money provides them with a source of confidence since they're well assured that they can handle all their problems that money can solve.

This feels like a solid foundation, given that nearly everything carries a price tag, except, of course, for the handful of things that don’t, which oddly tend to matter most.

Take, for example, a healthy body, a peaceful mind, a joyful household, and strong relationships; these simply can’t be bought.

So unless those hold no value for us, it means that while money goes a long way, it might not deliver the full security we imagine it does.

Indeed, money is exciting because with it we can get what we want, when we want, which of course must be a very good feeling.

However, many times once we have something we desire, it no longer feels as special because that reality removes the beauty of imagination, as one can't imagine their reality.

▪︎ Power 

Some draw confidence from their position, the fact that it protects them from certain things, either as a right or privilege tied to holding that role.

Yet, we mustn’t overlook that we won’t always occupy that spot.

Some of us arrogantly abuse our position to bully others, knowing the power imbalance is so vast that they often feel helpless and may never get a chance to push back.

However, where our power ends is exactly where someone else starts, and while we may be stronger than one person, there are countless others who are stronger than we are.

Which means we shouldn’t dish out what we wouldn’t want served to us.

▪︎ Name 

The strength of a name typically lies in its achievements, the things it’s recognized for.

Over time, through consistent excellence and standout performances, or sometimes simply by the positions they’ve held, a person builds value into their name, giving it far more social capital than the average individual.

For these people, this becomes a source of their confidence.

They know they can get away with certain things because their name has earned society’s recognition and trust.

So they exploit it, often slipping past poor behavior because no one suspects them or they’re instantly given the benefit of the doubt.

Well, this only holds for so long.

The more someone gets away with, the more invisible they become, quietly digging their own grave until it’s deep enough to bury them.

That’s when the truth surfaces and all that reputation crumbles.

▪︎ Abilities

When someone is exceptionally skilled at something, it distinguishes them from the crowd, ensuring there’s always a seat for them at the table.

For such individuals, this can be a source of confidence.

Many highly talented people believe their skill is enough to offset shortcomings in other areas, especially when it comes to collaborating with others.

For them, instead of making efforts to improve, they expect everyone else to adapt and tolerate them, simply because of what they can do.

We see folks do this when a group task is forced to pause for their sake, because they've capitalized on the relevance of their role to mistreat the rest.

Over time, this usually backfires.

More often than not, those who act this way end up replaced by someone less skilled, because people would rather steer clear of them.

▪︎ Network 

The final common source of our security we’ll cover today is our network.

As the saying goes, “a person’s network is their net worth.”

When we have people who can reliably step in for us, we lean on that to take risks that those without backup wouldn’t dream of attempting.

Also, for some with a strong web of allies in key positions, tapping into it to manipulate outcomes for their own selfish gain is a frequent pitfall.

So that they even ridicule those working hard to earn their spot, because they’ve already undeservedly locked in theirs with their lobbying.

■ Anxiousness - The Pressure To Strengthen Our Fortress

For those of us whose source of confidence is one or more of these things, there’s always a frantic drive to bolster our defenses as a means of preserving that confidence.

We crave more money, power, accomplishments, and the rest as a way to stay relevant, ensuring we don’t lose our sway.

On the flip side, for those of us who were the victims of these people because we had less or nothing at all, we too are relentlessly working to fortify our own standing.

For us, it’s preferable to join the ranks of the oppressors than remain the oppressed.

Yet this is a limiting mindset.

For us, our pursuit of more money, power, name, ability, and network ought to be about doing more with them.

To wield them as a shield to protect the defenseless, rather than simply turning into the very thing that hurt us, treating others in the same way we didn't like to be treated.

■ God, Our Ultimate Security 

All the confidence we place in other people vanishes the moment they die, meaning everything can shift in the blink of an eye.

There’s no true security outside of God, because He alone grants us eternal life, the promise to safeguard our soul forever.

Every other thing is temporary.

While the confidence we gain here on earth is perishing, ending the instant we draw our last breath, the security we find in Him endures far beyond.

Which is why it matters above all.

However, this isn’t for everyone, only for those who, quite simply, believe!

God has freely bestowed upon us everything we’re striving to obtain, providing the deep satisfaction of contentment and fulfillment, far surpassing anything money or any other temporary thing can offer.

Yet, it all begins with taking that first step: believing and inviting Him to take His rightful place.

Here, we don’t need to be perfect, just willing.

Summary:

It's always good being here with you my friend, I hope that our stay here today was worth your time.

See you next weekend!

Master Apprentice.

www.x.com/truekingmaker