Confidence

 Confidence impacts and permeates every aspect of our lives. True confidence comes through time and persevering through negative circumstances. If we are constantly moving around, constantly trying to improve our situation through movement and changing directions in life, we don't develop the grit and fortitude to be truly confident. To place our roots down and to stay put, to allow situations to evolve around us, builds confidence. To recognize that confidence doesn't build over night is key. Usually strength of character is related to confidence.

When I had my ears surgically altered through surgery, I lost a lot of confidence in my appearance. But in the end, appearance doesn't matter. It is more about the person we are, how balanced we are, and how good we feel in our own skin. Unfortunately, my hearing was impacted but even hearing might not matter that much in establishing confidence. Mostly, confidence comes from knowing we are good at something. There is something that we have that makes us strong, relatively to other people. Whether it is time at a place, experience, or a skill or ability, we can gain confidence through time and growing into a particular shape of person.

I often gripe about my situation in life, that I don't like it where I am, or my relationships are suffered. But as we grow and plant our roots and become strong within ourselves, people tend to naturally gravitate towards us. I used to be a consumer of alcohol, and now, as I don't have anyone to drink with and have decided that it is not really for me (due to being on medication and having phased off greatly enjoying the taste), I have noticed that there must be some other way to gain confidence, outside of alcohol. In general, alcohol and drugs (and smoking) are a bad idea. Looking after our health should be a first priority in pretty much all situations, if we can afford it.

Confidence does impact our mental health though, and strong, healthy relationships contribute to our overall health and enjoyment in life, which then translates to physical health. A person who is less nervous will typically enjoy greater health than a nervous, fidgety person (this is a generalization).