On Confidence

So today I completed day two of my lifeguard training, and it really made me want to talk a little today about confidence. The biggest thing I noticed is that yesterday I had almost no confidence in what I was doing, something which has changed greatly over the course of today. What helped me greatly is two things – I knew the material, and I was able to put it into practice.

Knowing what you’re supposed to be doing is a vital first step. You MUST be educated and aware of not only your personal status, but also your responsibilities. You have to be educated about what you need to do, and how to do it. With this knowledge it is possible to effectively carry out these responsibilities.

Then by actually carrying out these actions, you prove to others and yourself that you’re capable of carrying out your responsibilities. It’s this that really gives you the sense of confidence, which is totally vital.

I also have to mention the two types of confidence – real confidence and false confidence. False confidence or bravado is unnecessary, and not based on anything. It’s confidence that comes from nothing, and is based only in you. It could be expressed as “I can do this because I’m me.” True confidence on the other hand is based in action – “I can do this because I am prepared.” The distinction is important! False confidence can easily lead to mistakes, which can devastate your confidence, or even potentially endanger the lives of others. Avoid it at all costs!

This can apply for all kinds of things, not just life guarding. Any place you have responsibility is a chance to build confidence. And confidence in yourself, in my opinion, leads not only to a better life, but a greater sense of self esteem. Have you ever noticed that people gravitate towards people with confidence? So build your confidence and you will be well on your way towards a good life!