h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What is real confidence? Well, I suppose it is different for everyone. For me it is the ability to be happy for your self as well as others around you. It is the feeling of knowing that you have your own individuality and you do not have to do what everyone else does. Coming to terms with who you are and accepting the good, bad and ugly things in life, head on. It is also knowing that you are responsible for what you say, feel, do and think, and there is no one out there that can make your life a misery unless you let them. I personally believe (from my own experience..please correct me if i'm wrong) that there are three type of people in this world.I know alot of people who have real confidence within themselves, the kind of people that get noticed as soon as they walk into the room ( Type A).Even they can have bouts of low esteem depending on the stress in their lifes. I also know of people who feel as though their life has been totally shattered by other people around them and that their life is becoming more and more miserable (type B). Then there is the type C who are an intermediate between the type A and the type Bs. Type C people feel depressed and happy depending on what they are doing, who's around them and what makes them feel good. Personally, i feel that due to type A people being so outgoing, they are able to obtain help i.e. going to the doctors. However the other two types ( B and C)either do not seek help or are not able to seek help because of the way low self esteem and confidence affects their lifes.

I, myself suffered from low esteem and lack of confidence in the past( and still do). I was unable to go out, as i felt, I was too ugly for anyone to look at. I had to get over that when i came to university. However the ability to communicate and interact with other students was very hard for me and most of my young life had been spent indoor and therefore i had limited social skills. Now i can deal with talking to people but i feel i still have alot to learn. I have tried many self-help books, but there was just too many rules to remember. My self confidence grew thanks to my small but very close friends, going to work and having to talk to people( as well as having an excellent office collegues) and joining various clubs (sport and hobby wise).
One of the main things that pulled me through my extremely bad patch was my faith and by remebering that I have as much right to live, enjoy and experience life as any one else...so i'm not going to live in fear of what anyone thinks, feels, says or does to me!!