🧭 The Link Between Doubt and Confidence

Good Day, and welcome to The Growth Compass. We are your weekly dose of Flintstones vitamins: we support growth, enhance your energy, and look to support your overall mental health.

Here’s Where We Are Headed Today:

• Jack Nicklaus on Confidence

• What True Confidence Means

• How to Be More Confident (Steering the Ship)

• Adam Grant and the Experts on Confidence

• Free Mental Fitness Links 👇

• Quick Takeaways from Today’s Newsletter (TLDR) 👇

What True Confidence Means

What it is: Confidence is the belief in your own abilities and judgment. It shapes how you approach challenges and opportunities and the way you communicate with the world.

Why it matters: It matters because it influences how you interact with others, handle stress, and make decisions. When you are confident, you’re often seen as more competent and trustworthy. The benefits include:

• Improved Performance

• Better Decision-Making

• Stronger Relationships

• Increased Resilience

• Improved Mental Health

What the science says:

1. Study on Career Advancement - “Confidence and Career Success: A Correlational Study”: A study done by the University of California, looked into the relationship between self-confidence and career advancement. The study analyzed the career trajectories of professionals across various sectors, focusing on how their self-confidence influenced their success. The results were revealing: individuals with higher levels of confidence were found to be 28% more likely to achieve professional growth and success compared to their less confident peers. The study underscored the impact of self-assuredness not only in terms of promotions and leadership roles, but also in effective decision-making and networking.

2. Study on Early Childhood - “Early Childhood Influences on Self Confidence”: This study conducted by Harvard psychologists focused on the influence of early childhood experiences on the development of self-confidence. They looked at various factors such as family dynamics, schooling, and social interactions. They discovered that children who received consistent positive reinforcement and support, both at home and in educational environments, exhibited a 40% higher likelihood of developing robust self-confidence. This study highlighted the pivotal role of nurturing and supportive surroundings in the early stages of life, emphasizing the impact on confidence and psychological well-being.

How to Be More Confident (Your Backpack)

Confidence is like a backpack, and you are the one carrying it for your journey ahead. You have the power to choose what goes inside — greatness and past wins or just burdensome weight. This backpack holds your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, each item either empowering your stride or weighing you down. Let's talk about how we can make that backpack useful and powerful while light and efficient.

Let’s start with what you want in the backpack:

1. Look to your past - Create a YouTube video of your greatest hits - Reflect on your past victories. These are proof of what you are capable of. Write down 5-10 of them and put them in a place that you can see every morning. This will help remind you of what you are capable of. Ryan Holiday says, “Belief in yourself is overrated. Generate evidence.”

2. Add food to your bag every day - Make Confidence a Daily Habit - Don’t just look at what you’ve done in the past, but think about how you’re adding to your proof of victories every day. This will build your confidence because you’re added daily proof to how you’re working and getting better.

   • Write at least 3 successes that you had today. Be detailed and specific. It could be a specific effort, trying a new challenge, or just a great “practice shot.”

   • Use affirmations in the 1st person to change your self-talk (see last week’s newsletter for good affirmations.

3. Plan for the future - Build Confidence in What You Will Do - Use visualization to envision your future greatness. When you focus on the positive of what you can and will do, you aren’t worried about making mistakes, but just knowing what you are capable of. Lanny Basham, author of 'Winning in Mind,' states, "When you focus on the good, more good happens." This is the Principle of Reinforcement - the more you dwell on success, the more likely it is to recur.

What to throw out the bag:

1. Negative Self-Talk - You can never eliminate thoughts but you can accept them, silence them, and refocus them. They are just added weight to your backpack.

2. Complaining and Excuses - Complaining is negative reinforcement. It's like throwing a 10 pound weight into your backpack.

3. Self-Limiting Beliefs -Don't wait for perfection to feel confident. Your mind must envision success, not failure. Remember, "Positive pictures demand positive results from the subconscious," as per Basham.

In summary:

• Do: Reflect on achievements, practice affirmations, and focus on gratitude.

• Don't: Engage in negative self-talk or wait for perfection.

Remember, you are the leader in your journey ahead. You decide what goes in the backpack, what stays in the backpack, and what your future plans look like. Remember, confidence isn't just about feeling good; it's about steering your life in the direction you choose.

Adam Grant and Other Experts on Confidence

That's a wrap for today. If you want to spread the joy, make sure to refer the newsletter to someone you think would benefit!