3 tips to boost your confidence - TED-Ed

Summary

This script explores the concept of confidence as a blend of self-esteem, optimism, and courageous action. It delves into the origins of confidence, influenced by genetics, social treatment, and personal choices. Practical tips for boosting short-term confidence and fostering a long-term growth mindset are offered, emphasizing the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. The narrative encourages viewers to face challenges with a positive outlook, knowing that each attempt, regardless of outcome, enriches their understanding and abilities.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Confidence is a combination of self-esteem, optimism, and courageous action in the face of challenges.
• 🧬 Confidence has roots in genetic factors, affecting the brain's neurochemical balance.
• 🌐 Environmental social pressures significantly influence an individual's level of confidence.
• 🛠 Personal choices, including risk-taking and responses to challenges, are crucial in building confidence.
• 🚀 Quick confidence boosters include visualizing success, listening to empowering music, and adopting powerful poses.
• 🌱 A growth mindset, believing in the improvability of abilities, fosters resilience and learning from setbacks.
• 🧠 Neuroscience supports the idea that brain connections strengthen with study and practice, aligning with a growth mindset.
• 📚 People with a growth mindset tend to be more successful academically and in overcoming challenges.
• 💪 Embracing failure as a part of the learning process helps in developing constructive responses to setbacks.
• 🛫 Notable figures like J.K. Rowling and the Wright Brothers overcame significant failures on their paths to success.
• 🌟 Confidence is not just about the outcome but the journey of gaining knowledge and understanding through challenges.

Q & A

What is the definition of confidence as described in the script?

Confidence is the combination of self-esteem, the belief that one is valuable and capable, and the optimism that comes from being certain of one's abilities, which then empowers one to act courageously to face challenges.

What are the three factors mentioned in the script that impact confidence?

The three factors are: 1) what you're born with, such as your genes, 2) how you're treated, including social pressures, and 3) the choices you make, the risks you take, and how you respond to challenges and setbacks.

How does the script suggest we can cultivate our own confidence?

The script suggests cultivating confidence through practical tips such as using quick fixes for immediate boosts, believing in one's ability to improve, and practicing failure to learn and grow from setbacks.

What are some quick fixes mentioned in the script to boost confidence in the short term?

Quick fixes include picturing success, listening to music with deep bass to promote feelings of power, striking a powerful pose, and giving oneself a pep talk.

Why is it important to believe in the ability to improve according to the script?

Believing in the ability to improve is important because it fosters a growth mindset, which influences how one acts when faced with setbacks, turning challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

How does the script relate the growth mindset to success and brain function?

The script states that neuroscience supports the growth mindset, as the connections in the brain get stronger and grow with study and practice. People with a growth mindset tend to be more successful, get better grades, and perform better in the face of challenges.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Understanding Confidence

This paragraph delves into the concept of confidence, defining it as a combination of self-esteem, optimism, and the courage to act. It outlines the sources of confidence, which include genetic factors, social pressures, and personal choices. The paragraph emphasizes the significant role of personal choices in developing confidence and suggests that confidence can be cultivated with practical tips.

Keywords

💡Confidence

Confidence is a psychological state characterized by a belief in one's own abilities and self-worth, which enables a person to face challenges without being deterred by the fear of failure. In the video's context, confidence is portrayed as a combination of self-esteem and optimism that fuels courageous action. The script illustrates this by suggesting that confidence can turn thoughts into action, emphasizing its role in personal development and success.

💡Self-esteem

Self-esteem refers to the overall subjective evaluation of one's own worth. It is integral to the concept of confidence as outlined in the video, where it forms the foundation of believing in one's value and capabilities. The script mentions self-esteem as a component of confidence, suggesting that recognizing one's own worth is a crucial step in building the confidence needed to tackle challenges.

💡Optimism

Optimism is a hopeful and positive state of mind that expects the best possible outcome. In the script, optimism is described as a belief in one's abilities that comes with self-esteem, which together contribute to confidence. The video implies that an optimistic outlook can empower individuals to act boldly in the face of adversity.

💡Challenge

A challenge is a difficult task or situation that requires considerable effort and determination to overcome. The video script frequently refers to challenges as the scenarios where confidence is tested and developed. It suggests that facing challenges head-on is a way to cultivate confidence, as it involves taking risks and learning from setbacks.

💡Genes

Genes are segments of DNA that carry the instructions for making proteins, which are the basic units of heredity. In the context of the video, genes are mentioned as one of the factors that can influence confidence levels, such as affecting the balance of neurochemicals in the brain. This highlights the idea that some aspects of confidence may have a genetic basis.

💡Social pressures

Social pressures refer to the influences and expectations from society that can affect an individual's behavior and self-perception. The script identifies social pressures as an environmental factor that can impact confidence, suggesting that the attitudes and actions of others in one's social environment can shape a person's belief in their abilities.

💡Personal choices

Personal choices are the decisions and actions that individuals make for themselves. The video emphasizes the role of personal choices in developing confidence, stating that the choices one makes and the risks one takes are controllable factors that significantly influence one's level of confidence.

💡Fixed mindset

A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and talents are static and cannot be changed or improved. The script contrasts this with a growth mindset, noting that individuals with a fixed mindset may give up when faced with setbacks, whereas those with a growth mindset view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.

💡Growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort. The video script promotes the growth mindset as a way to enhance confidence, explaining that individuals with this mindset are more likely to persist in the face of failure and ultimately achieve success. It is supported by neuroscience, which shows that the brain's connections strengthen with study and practice.

💡Practice failure

Practice failure involves intentionally exposing oneself to failure as a way to learn and improve. The video script encourages embracing failure as a natural part of the process towards success. It provides examples such as J.K. Rowling and the Wright Brothers, who experienced numerous rejections and failures before achieving their breakthroughs, to illustrate that regular failure can lead to better responses to challenges.

💡Pep talk

A pep talk is a speech intended to inspire enthusiasm and determination. In the script, a pep talk is suggested as a quick fix to boost immediate confidence. It is a form of self-encouragement that can help individuals feel more empowered to face their challenges, as exemplified by the script's advice to 'give yourself a pep talk' before taking on a challenge.

Highlights

Confidence is a combination of self-esteem, optimism in one's abilities, and the courage to act on challenges.

Confidence can be developed and is influenced by genetics, environment, and personal choices.

Personal choices play a major role in building confidence.

Quick confidence boost can be achieved by visualizing success, listening to empowering music, or adopting a powerful pose.

Believing in the ability to improve is crucial for long-term confidence development.

Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset: the latter is more conducive to learning and growth in the face of setbacks.

Neuroscience supports the idea that abilities can be developed and improved with study and practice.

People with a growth mindset tend to be more successful, achieving better grades and overcoming challenges more effectively.

Practicing failure is important; regular failure and persistence build resilience and constructive response to setbacks.

Successful individuals like J.K. Rowling and the Wright Brothers overcame significant failures on their path to success.

Failing regularly and continuing to try is a key to developing the ability to respond constructively to challenges.

Learning from failure involves trying different strategies, seeking advice, and persevering.

Embrace challenges, accept the likelihood of mistakes, and maintain self-compassion to foster confidence.

The excitement of gaining knowledge and understanding, regardless of the outcome, is a sign of true confidence.

Confidence is not just about the outcome but also the journey of learning and self-improvement.

Cultivating confidence involves a combination of practical tips and mindset shifts.

Transcripts

Translator: Jennifer Cody Reviewer: Jessica Ruby

When faced with a big challenge

where potential failure seems to lurk at every corner,

maybe you've heard this advice before:

"Be more confident."

And most likely, this is what you think when you hear it:

"If only it were that simple."

But what is confidence?

Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable,

also known as self-esteem,

add in the optimism that comes when you are certain of your abilities,

and then empowered by these,

act courageously to face a challenge head-on.

This is confidence.

It turns thoughts into action.

So where does confidence even come from?

There are several factors that impact confidence.

One: what you're born with, such as your genes,

which will impact things like the balance of neurochemicals in your brain.

Two: how you're treated.

This includes the social pressures of your environment.

And three: the part you have control over,

the choices you make,

the risks you take,

and how you think about and respond to challenges and setbacks.

It isn't possible to completely untangle these three factors,

but the personal choices we make certainly play a major role

in confidence development.

So, by keeping in mind a few practical tips,

we do actually have the power to cultivate our own confidence.

Tip 1: a quick fix.

There are a few tricks that can give you an immediate confidence boost

in the short term.

Picture your success when you're beginning a difficult task,

something as simple as listening to music with deep bass;

it can promote feelings of power.

You can even strike a powerful pose or give yourself a pep talk.

Tip two: believe in your ability to improve.

If you're looking for a long-term change,

consider the way you think about your abilities and talents.

Do you think they are fixed at birth,

or that they can be developed, like a muscle?

These beliefs matter because they can influence how you act

when you're faced with setbacks.

If you have a fixed mindset,

meaning that you think your talents are locked in place,

you might give up,

assuming you've discovered something you're not very good at.

But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve,

a challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Neuroscience supports the growth mindset.

The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice.

It also turns out, on average,

people who have a growth mindset are more successful,

getting better grades,

and doing better in the face of challenges.

Tip three: practice failure.

Face it, you're going to fail sometimes.

Everyone does.

J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers

before one picked up "Harry Potter."

The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight,

including some of their own,

before designing a successful airplane.

Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway

are better equipped to respond to challenges and setbacks

in a constructive way.

They learn how to try different strategies,

ask others for advice,

and perservere.

So, think of a challenge you want to take on,

realize it's not going to be easy,

accept that you'll make mistakes,

and be kind to yourself when you do.

Give yourself a pep talk, stand up, and go for it.

The excitement you'll feel knowing that whatever the result,

you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding.

This is confidence.