Confidence Without Experience

Often, we misunderstand the word “confidence.” We believe that confidence comes only from experience, and that someone becomes confident after they’ve done something repeatedly and succeeded at it. But is that really true? Is it possible for an individual to be confident when they have never experienced or done something before?

I believe the answer is yes.

Yes, I believe someone can be confident when they are doing something for the first time. For some, they are good at learning fast while just observing, and when it’s time to practice, they do just fine.

We also have those who feel scared for the first time. Both depend on mindset - how we perceive things. Confidence is not always the absence of fear; sometimes, it is taking the decision to move forward despite it.

I would like to narrate a situation of mine.

Last year, I was chosen as the president of the Lydia Auxiliary. In the Baptist church, Lydia is structured for young and unmarried ladies (aged 17 and above) to guide them in growing spiritually, training them in the missionary field, and personal development before marriage.

I never understood how this thing is done. I only joined the group during my service year and I was never given a role to do except being a participant in any activity.

But getting to Ibadan, I became the president, even though I was still getting some knowledge about how it works. Being a president was something I saw as a huge task and also my first time in such a position.

There was this program we needed to do, and on that day, other Lydia members didn’t show up on time because most of them were students who were in school. Though a few of them started arriving after the program was almost finished, it meant I literally organised the program from the beginning. And it turned out nice.

I had this confidence even when I didn’t know how to do it, but I had to figure out what to do after our coordinator explained a few things and that was it.

Looking back, I realise that the confidence I had did not come from experience. It came from a sense of responsibility. I knew that if no one showed up, I was still accountable for the success of the program. That realisation encouraged me to act, even without having everything figured out.

More importantly, I knew the confidence didn’t come from anywhere other than with God’s help. There was an inner assurance that I was not alone, and that gave me the boldness to step forward.

So, is confidence real? Yes, it is. It is not only when someone has succeeded in something that confidence arises. Also, being confident comes from trusting God, believing in yourself and knowing you will figure things out along the way.

You don’t have to experience something at first or repeatedly to gain confidence. A lot of times, it comes from showing up, doing your best and taking responsibility even when you feel unprepared. And in that moment, when you do something for the first time, it's confidence and it's real!

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_{Image is mine}