
T50 Demon
Stuck at level 3 on the hierarchy of needs
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2023
- Posts
- 1,763
- Reputation
- 2,580
Confidence feels internal, but it’s largely built externally, through social validation, positive reinforcement, and real-world success.
Looks can be “granted,” confidence must be earned: You can be born attractive or improve your appearance with relative ease (fitness, grooming, fashion). But confidence often requires a history of affirmation—being listened to, respected, desired, included.
Social creatures need mirrors: As humans, we calibrate our self-worth based on how others respond to us. If you're consistently ignored, rejected, or disrespected, it’s incredibly hard to just "believe in yourself" without any evidence.
The paradox: You often need some confidence to get that reinforcement in the first place—but without reinforcement, you may never develop confidence. A catch-22.
So yeah, confidence is not just about “changing your mindset”—it’s about having an environment that reflects your value back to you. In that sense, it might even be more scarce or harder to cultivate than genetic gifts.
Looks can be “granted,” confidence must be earned: You can be born attractive or improve your appearance with relative ease (fitness, grooming, fashion). But confidence often requires a history of affirmation—being listened to, respected, desired, included.
Social creatures need mirrors: As humans, we calibrate our self-worth based on how others respond to us. If you're consistently ignored, rejected, or disrespected, it’s incredibly hard to just "believe in yourself" without any evidence.
The paradox: You often need some confidence to get that reinforcement in the first place—but without reinforcement, you may never develop confidence. A catch-22.
So yeah, confidence is not just about “changing your mindset”—it’s about having an environment that reflects your value back to you. In that sense, it might even be more scarce or harder to cultivate than genetic gifts.