Why do we need confidence?
People with disabilities often tend to underestimate themselves, as they adopt the attitude of a vast part of the society that surrounds them. This prevents them from fulfilling their full potential, entering into new relations or undertaking challenging tasks, requiring collaborative work. Due to the fact that often it is up to the disabled to step forward and initiate communication, prove competences, skills and knowledge, confidence would be of great aid.
The exercises and games that have been proposed for confidence building are useful also for group formation and bonding. They have the purpose of training spontaneity, developing the ability to trust one’s own opinions and impulses, not second-guessing or agonizing over the next choice. We are far from the statement that confident people are not immune from self-doubt, but this is the healthy and reasonable self-doubt of intelligence. Confident people do enjoy a strong sense of security, clarity, and trust in themselves, but they are also aware of the variables that are beyond their power or influence. Confidence affects all areas of life – professional, social cultural, personal. There are experiences that can damage confidence, this is particularly true for people with disabilities, who are constantly questioned and challenged about their abilities, skills and independence, but making an effort to maintain it, is quite worth it.
Confidence is good for mental health as it helps overcome negative emotions such as fear, depression, and anxiety.
Safety is of major importance for people with disabilities, as for everyone else in fact. Confidence can help staying safe, because confident people are less likely to do risky, dangerous activities that others are trying to convince them to do.
Confidence helps with decision-making, which is crucial for achieving independence and self-management and progressing in all spheres of life.
Confidence helps put failures in perspective and learn from them. Mistakes are a part of the life of those who work and strive forward. When a person is confident, they know they have the skills necessary to tackle challenges that come their way. The proposed exercises and games help develop challenge tackling muscles. The more such games we implement, the more our confidence and resilience increase.
Regardless of our qualities and abilities, when we lack confidence, we are more prone to be dependent on others for assurance and approval. Confident people are ok in their own skin and this encourages honesty in the relationships they build and develop with people around them.
Confident people are usually good communicators, they are not afraid to be direct, when necessary, without being offensive or rude. They communicate their needs and wants in a clear way and the interaction with them does not build potential future problems due to unshared requirements or misunderstandings.
People respect confidence. If you are on the way to leadership and want to make a difference in whatever field you have selected, confidence will be a must. We should certainly keep in mind that “confidence” does not equal “arrogance” and that confident people respect others’ perspectives, are good listeners and are ready to learn.
Last but not least, confidence and self-esteem are linked, even if people can have good self-esteem but struggle with feeling confident. Confidence can help the development of better self-esteem and vice versa. Being aware of one’s value and what you bring to the table boosts your confidence. Going in the other direction, confidence gives you the strength of belief in who you are and what you are capable of.
Confidence building
Step “Taking action” into the educational approach
Relevant for all types of disability
Each game/exercise is described separately.
Links to other resources
VIVA project: https://www.viva-erasmusplus.eu
VISION project: https://vision-erasmusplus.eu