Dr. Aziz (speaker) argues that confidence is an internal quality developed over time (he references teaching it for 20 years). He frames two internal parts: the "inner critic" (self-doubt, negative self-talk) and the "inner champion" (supportive internal ally). He recommends cultivating the inner champion so confidence doesn't depend on external factors (appearance, popularity, wealth).
If there's one thing I've learned about confidence over teaching it for the last 20 years, it's this. Confidence is an inside job. It's not about how you look. It's not about how people respond to you. If you're popular, if you're beautiful, if you're ugly, if you're rich, it doesn't matter. It's about how you perceive yourself. And more specifically, there's two parts inside of every person. One I would call your inner critic. You're not enough. You're ugly. They're not going to like you. It's not going to go well, no matter what is happening on the outside. And then there's the other side. And most people I work with have never even developed this part. But I would call it your inner champion. Your inner champion is the one who's on your own side. It's guiding you, it's supporting you. It's helping you navigate this life. And the more you live from the inner champion, the more confident you will feel, regardless of anything outside of you.
