Self-confidence is one of the most powerful qualities a person can develop. It’s not just about believing in your abilities — it’s about having the courage to stand by your decisions, even when the world seems to suggest otherwise.
For a long time, I have believed that the more you ask others for their opinions, the more confusion and conflict you invite into your life. People naturally love to give advice, and often, their opinions come from their own perspectives, biases, and desires to prove a point. It’s rarely about what’s best for you — it’s about what they think is best, or what validates their own beliefs.
In that sense, I’ve always felt that there should be a form of dictatorship in your own mind. Harsh as it may sound, sometimes your inner voice should be the only one that matters. If you keep asking others for validation, you’ll constantly be pulled in different directions. Your focus will shift, your clarity will blur, and you might even start doubting your instinct, which leads you to poor decisions or wasted time.
Even in organizations, I’ve noticed something interesting: the most successful teams often have a clear decision-maker. Leadership doesn’t mean you ignore everyone else, but rather, that you don’t let a flood of opinions derail the goal. When every small choice becomes a group discussion, productivity suffers. Too many cooks, as they say, spoil the broth.
But recently, I came across a thought that made me pause. Someone said to me, “Suno sab ki, karo khud ki” meaning, listen to everyone, but do what your heart says. This philosophy beautifully balances openness and decisiveness. Listening doesn’t mean surrendering your power; it means being open to perspectives, learning, and evolving. But in the end, the final decision must be yours.
Here’s the catch: this approach demands immense self-confidence. It requires inner strength to hear conflicting opinions without getting swayed, to absorb information yet stay centered, and to act without fear of judgment or failure.
Not everyone can do this easily. Those who get easily influenced by others’ opinions might find themselves lost in the noise. For such people, perhaps it’s better to first develop self-confidence before opening the door to external influence. Otherwise, the result might be confusion, distraction, and regret.
So how do you build self-confidence?
- Know Yourself: Understand your values, goals, and what truly matters to you. The more clarity you have about who you are, the less you’ll rely on others to tell you what to do.
- Trust Your Gut: Intuition is powerful. Learn to recognize that inner voice and distinguish it from fear or ego.
- Accept Failure: Confidence doesn’t mean always being right. It means being willing to take a stand, learn from the result, and grow.
- Limit Opinions: Not every opinion is valuable. Choose your circle wisely — surround yourself with people who add value, not noise.
- Take Action: The more you act on your own decisions and see positive outcomes, the more your confidence grows.
In the end, self-confidence is about freedom — freedom from self-doubt, from overthinking, and from the need to please others. It allows you to walk your own path, even when it’s lonely or uncertain.
Remember, listen to all, but follow your own heart — and make sure your heart is strong enough to lead the way.
Shreyas Trivedi 