She made a perfect presentation-well-prepared slides, solid facts, proper research and innovative ideas. Still, when she got to the stage, her self-doubt kicked in. "What if I missed something?"-she thought. Her voice trembled; despite having well-researched solutions, she forgot to present them. This illustrates how low confidence speaks louder than knowledge, louder than their actual skill.
What happens when you have the potential but you cannot express your thoughts because you have low confidence? The fear, the anxiety, the doubt takes over your mind. Many talented people face this challenge every day.
There is a term in psychology called "the imposter syndrome". It is the feeling of not being "good enough" even when that is not the case. For example: a class is going on, the teacher asks a question; a student knows the answer but he didn't raise his hand because of self-doubt. He fears the answer will sound foolish and everyone will laugh. We can see another scenario-in a meeting, an employee holds back his idea from expressing it, fearing it's not worth sharing. All of it comes from self-doubt, never from a lack of skill or knowledge. This nervousness, this hesitant behaviour can lead to frustration and affect your ability to achieve things.
Low confidence often steals an opportunity without you knowing. Be it in the classroom, office or any kind of club or organisation, people remember those who speak up with certainty. A sharp mind, a brilliant idea can go unheard when they are trapped in silence. Lack of participation and low confidence affect grades, recommendations, and even future prospects. An interviewer always seeks candidates with skill and confidence. So doubting your skills never helps in the long run. The more you run from expressing yourself, the fewer opportunities you get to prove yourself. And gradually your talent stays hidden instead of shining brightly.
In reality, talent and confidence go hand in hand. Confidence without skill may bring attention but it fades soon. On the other hand, skill without confidence goes unnoticed no matter how valuable it is. So the hack is 'balance'-channelling your ability to be seen through self-belief.
If we think of a classroom presentation-a student who spent long nights preparing perfect slides, did proper research, yet on the stage they may fumble and lose marks, whereas another student with less research and more stage presence often earns praise because of their confidence.
The famous world leaders, public figures, activists, and entrepreneurs who remain in people's minds were confident to express their thoughts and ideas and lead others. They weren't just talented; they believed in themselves and their word. So when they spoke, they persuaded others to believe too. People always call them "the capable one" who speaks with ease and assertiveness, whilst the quieter, equally talented one blends into the background. This can be seen in the friends group as well. You can lose the love of your life because your self-doubt held you back and you never really told him/her how you felt.
Confidence isn't a gift-it's a practice. Small steps like practising in front of a mirror, gradually participating in public events, celebrating small wins, telling yourself that "you are worth it", "you can do it" helps build the courage to speak up. Learning to believe in yourself, accepting mistakes as lessons can help bridge the gap between what you know and how to show it.
It all starts from being confident. A quiet talent fades away with time. But when skills are sharpened with confidence, they speak louder. When you start believing in your true abilities, the world will start to recognise it too. So break the barrier of self-doubt standing between your ability and recognition with confidence.
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