RecruitPKB: What is Confidence

“Confidence is the knowledge that I can give my best effort regardless of circumstances” – Ben Bergeron

After hearing this definition of confidence on a podcast I listen to it got me thinking about the real meaning of confidence.

But what catches my attention in this quote is the use of the word “knowledge”. Typically the words faith and belief are used when defining confidence but I believe the use of the word knowledge is what defines true confidence. According to the Merriam-Webster definition of knowledge, it is “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience”. As opposed to the definition of belief, “something that is accepted or considered to be true or honest” and the definition of faith, “something that is believed especially with strong conviction”.  Having faith and belief in yourself are almost these vague words to give you the sense and feeling of having confidence, but not actually giving you confidence, whereas “knowledge” is more of a certain and definite term.

You can say you believe in yourself and you have faith in your abilities, which are both certainly part of feeling confident but do you really “know” that you can “give your best effort regardless of circumstances.”. To me, that means you KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that you have prepared in every way possible for what you are about to encounter. You don’t wait until your warm-up to see how you hit the ball and you don’t wait until a few holes in and then determine if you feel confident or not.  You don’t question it. You don’t consider it. You don’t worry about the conditions. You don’t worry about the rest of the field. You show up and KNOW that you are prepared and ready for anything!