Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.
~Peter T. Mcintyre
I’d like to share an experience this week that reminded me of the importance of carrying oneself with confidence.
Historically when I’ve interacted with ‘Arnold’ (name changed to protect identity), he has presented himself with a certain level of insecurity. He never seems to be completely behind what he says or does, or his work as a practitioner. But I like ‘Arnold’. He is a good guy.
But this week when I saw ‘Arnold’ he exuded confidence. It was amazing the change that I felt in his presence. All of the sudden I felt more confident in what he was saying to me, and I felt more confident in his work as a healer. The therapeutic value I received from his work seemed greater.
It was a good reminder for me, as a physician, to maintain the ability to feel confident even in situations that may be confidence shaking.
There is an art to feeling grounded and secure in the face of unsurety. And I believe that it comes from accepting that we know what we know, we are who we are, and that we will continue to grow and change throughout our lives. It’s the recognition that we are ‘enough’ today, that we are the best that we can possibly be in this moment in time.
So the next time you, or I, are feeling unsure or insecure, hold yourself tall and own it. Maybe even acknowledge it out loud to who ever you find yourself in front of. Because that’s real, that’s honest. And who can judge you for being that.
