From last week, confidence is a skill you can learn, right? I realized there are two main factors that affect my self confidence.

One is knowing things. Knowledge and the ability to understand and retain information is something that I have always admired. But then also articulating it. That skill can’t be left out if the discussion is knowing a topic.

So when I don’t know things or when I cannot explain properly, this is something that hits my self confidence. The articulating comes into play more when it is to do with opinion or debating. As facts are facts and if you really know a topic extremely well, you can explain it to anyone. Remember what Einstein said? “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” I have also seen it similarly stated, that if you can’t explain it to a 6 year old, you don’t understand it yourself. I have seen that credited to Einstein as well. I think of that all the time. It’s a bench mark for myself that if I fumble a bit or don’t have my thoughts straight, then I need to have a better grasp myself.

In contrast to being able to explain something simply, I can also think about certain times when people have used big words or more elaborate explanations in an attempt to make themselves sound smarter. Maybe I notice it because I appreciate subtle intelligence when putting on a show is not needed and the grasp of a topic shines through in the ease of explanation. That is what I admire and work towards when I learn something. I love that. So when I don’t have that ease, I feel a bit down and less than what I could be. I get frustrated when I don’t learn or understand things as fast as I want to. But keep in mind, this is coming from the girl who cried the first day of school because I hadn’t learned to read yet. On day one.

I really don’t like not knowing. I always feel like I should have figured out how to tap into some central intelligence system, a universal mind. There is so much more to know out there, I am appalled at myself that I haven’t figured it out yet. 😅.

So at least by learning more, I can gain confidence. Then it’s just making sure I don’t lose that.

Sending Love,

Devon