You've all heard it before: "Confidence is key." It's probably been so drilled into your head that it doesn't have much of a meaning anymore. I might be stating the obvious here, but this phrase is proven true in so many situations, that it's something to keep in mind.

What I find is that some people may mistake confidence for being pompous, arrogant, or bossy. Contrary to prior belief, this is actually not true. Yes, some may take "confidence" to a whole new level, but when speaking in general terms, confidence is essentially defined as "believing in oneself." So with that in mind, confidence should really be thought of as "belief" or "faith" in your own abilities.

When it comes to finding your confidence, well, that's a bit of a tricky situation. There is no real answer to the question of "how" when it comes to confiding in yourself. Everyone obtains confidence in their own ways. Similar to finding your dreams or desires, finding your confidence is much like a journey since it's subjective and mental. Some take longer than others, but once you get there, you'll know.

Although it's easier said than done, finding confidence in yourself as a person–as well as your abilities–is one of the most important achievements that you can attain in your lifetime. Why? Because it truly is the key to many doors in life. Once you have the master key, you can unlock any door that your heart desires. Like I said earlier, you don't have to be a cocky person to be considered confident. In fact, being too overly confident can sometimes be seen as a negative attribute. Regardless, having confidence can be a major advantage. For instance, if you have your eyes set on a job, an employer is going to hire the person who carried themselves with confidence at the interview over the other individual who was more timid. Now that was a bit of a generic and obvious example, but confidence can help with other smaller instances in your life, such as getting a role in a play, or even getting picked for a sports team.

However, confidence is very versatile. Other than obtaining materialistic things, if you have a true belief in yourself and a love for yourself, everyday will be a bit brighter. You'll feel better about yourself, your abilities, and you'll just feel like a new person. The world is your oyster when you have the drive and certainty within yourself that you can do anything. In fact, I had trouble finding my self-confidence for a while. But I'm speaking truthfully when I say that it is so important to try and try again because I have honestly been much more productive with my life, and just a happier person in general since I've learned to believe in myself. So do whatever you need to do to build your confidence. So stand up tall and show everyone that you're you, and NO ONE can touch that!