Confidence On Earth
Hangovers have an unexpected effect on me. Instead of being crippled by the combined factors of apathy and malaise – the usual products of a hangover – I find that my creative output is greater after an alcohol-affected night.
The sky doesn’t give a shit about humanity. It’ll keep turning, regardless. Our petty thoughts, opinions and relationships are beyond meaningless when considering the enormity of the earth. The human tendency to name these entities – sky, clouds, earth – seems laughable in this context. It’s human nature to attempt to understand, and then dismiss this knowledge as understood. How could we ever completely understand the nature of this planet’s natural environment?
I don’t mean in terms of scientific fact.
You look across a valley while driving on a highway. You stare into the vast expanse for a moment. And then you turn your head away, dismissing the opportunity to devote time and thought to the incomprehensible forces that have shaped this planet for x years. Again, applying the human concept of time to minuscule, incremental developments within the core of the very earth we stand on seems laughable.
“To know yourself is to be yourself.” Sure, they’re cute lyrics, but they contain truth, too.
Confidence is being able to devote the necessary time to making decisions that you’re comfortable with. Endeavouring to only act with confidence in one’s actions is admirable; the theory is much easier than the practice. Feelings of doubt regarding one’s actions and sense of self may be innately programmed; more likely, these feelings are shaped by our peers during our social development.
Self-confidence lives in the now, and has everything to do with your philosophy. Really confident people do not need to speak about or flaunt how confident they are. Real confidence is unshakable and is not determined by any outside person, situation or event. You don’t need someone to boost your confidence, or to accomplish something to feel good about yourself. What you need is a philosophy that you can live by, and be proud of yourself for. When you are a good person, when you set out to achieve your dreams, when your morals raise above laws and politics, you will be self-confident. – Alex Shalman
Tangentially unrelated thoughts incited by a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon that I’m soon to spend with my parents and brother.