Lack of Confidence and Its Effects

Confidence comes from within you. Confidence can also be what you show on the outside regardless of, or to conceal, what you feel inside. You might have the tools and skills to do anything you want in the world but without confidence nothing will be done.

Okay, so all of us know there are times when we may lack confidence, particularly when we are confronted with something new or daunting. Sometimes, despite our lack of confidence, we do it and we don't. This is a temporary lack of confidence which can be overcome by experience and learning.

What is really debilitating is when we feel we lack confidence to try to do anything. This is more than only a temporary loss of confidence. This is a complete lack of confidence that may be allied to low self esteem and a negative self image.

Individuals who lack confidence will often also have a negative image of themselves or their skills. They may also feel that they lack control or direction in their lives, in many cases they may think that someone or something else is controlling or determining the course of their lives. They can also feel that any success they reach goes unrecognised or is'claimed' by somebody else.

These other people or forces controlling the person may be their parents, schools or institutions, the government, their boss or company, or God or religious force such as'fate'.

Frequently a lack of confidence may be cyclical or accumulative. That is to say that a lack of assurance brings about a lack of accomplishment or recognition for the sufferer. This lack of achievement brings about a deeper or greater lack of assurance. This deeper lack of confidence brings about more lack of achievement. . .etc, etc.. At its extreme, the lack of confidence leads its sufferer to withdraw and not try things because they feel they will not achieve or gain recognition and thereby come to lack any motivation.

It's important to remember that few people lack confidence in every area of their lives. Some may lack confidence in their work, others may lack confidence in their learning, or their relationships or their athletic abilities. The lack of confidence in an area only becomes a problem when that region becomes important or takes up a fair proportion of time in the person's life. Lots of people can lack confidence in, say, their athletic ability but this is not an issue for them if playing game is not a major action in their lives.

What does be come a problem is when someone lacks confidence in their own self image or in their belief in themselves. This is more serious and in such situations the lack of assurance is likely to affect the individual's performance in many areas of their life and hinder them in leading a fulfilling and happy lifestyle.