From the series: The Upsdie of the Downside
In our last episode, we explored the strange mirror of comparison and how easily we can lose ourselves by measuring against others. This week, I want to share something a little closer to home, about what happens when confidence slips and humility quietly walks in.
Not long ago, someone approached me with what seemed like an exciting collaboration. It felt like the perfect fit, aligned with my experience, interests, and even personal values. We exchanged ideas, discussed possibilities, and I started to believe this was the start of something special.
Then, the silence came.
No reply. No closure. Just gone.
At first, I felt confused, then frustrated. I replayed our conversations, wondering if I had been too confident, too trusting, or too eager. That quiet space became a moment of truth. It reminded me that sometimes our enthusiasm gets ahead of clarity. Confidence is not about charging forward; it is about standing grounded, asking the right questions, confirming the details, and respecting both sides of the table before we move.
Later, I learned that the project itself wasn’t stable. There was no clear plan or funding, no real structure behind the idea. The silence wasn’t about me. It was about something that was never meant to stand. And that realization restored a part of my balance.
True confidence, I’ve learned, doesn’t come from control. It comes from acceptance.
As an author, I see this pattern often. Before sharing new work, I feel those same doubts: Will this connect? Is it enough? But each time, I return to gratitude. Confidence, at its core, is not perfection. It is the willingness to show up honestly, with both strength and softness.
I’m reminded of a book that captures this truth beautifully: Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. She writes about the freedom that comes when we stop fighting with reality and start meeting ourselves with compassion. Confidence grows not from proving who we are, but from accepting who we already are.
Maybe that is why I call this episode The Day My Confidence Wore Crocs.
Because real confidence doesn’t need to look perfect. Some days, it just needs to be comfortable, grounded, and quietly sure of itself.
Here are two reflections to take with you this week:
- When was the last time life reminded you to slow down and ground your confidence in clarity, not assumption?
- How might you practice self-acceptance today, especially when something doesn’t go as planned?
Thank you for walking this path with me, not toward perfection but toward presence.
Warm Wishes
