This document discusses confidence and shyness. It begins by asking who seems more confident between two people, Maria and Abigail. While Maria appears outwardly confident, one cannot judge confidence by appearances alone. Sometimes those who seem shy are actually very confident inside.
The document explores how some people act confident to hide insecurities, while others who seem shy may have strong inner confidence. It shares perspectives from Maria and Abigail, where Maria feels she must act popular but it is just an act, and Abigail is confident with family but prefers to blend in at school to avoid judgment.
In the end, the document concludes the most important thing is to be yourself, whether that means
3. I SUPPOSE MOST OF YOU SAID MARIA
You may have picked Maria
because outwardly she has a
more confident stance.
We cannot judge a persons
confidence by simply focusing
on outward appearance.
Sometimes those who look
most confident are really quite
timid inside.
4. SOMETIMES…
Sometimes people make themselves appear confident through
the way that they talk, dress or act to hide deeper insecurities
that they face.
Sometimes those who sit quietly, dress plainly and talk on
rare occasions have an inner confidence that they are afraid
to show. They might be afraid because…
They feel that their opinions will be laughed at
Being themselves in the past has landed them in bad
situations
They do not believe in their own abilities
Sometimes people become shy in certain situations, like when
they talk to strangers or have to read aloud.
5. ABIGAIL
When I am with my family and friends I
have a lot of confidence because they
know and understand me, even if they
do make fun of me I know that they do
not really mean it, they do not want to
see me hurt.
6. ABIGAIL
However, at school I prefer to just blend
in and sit quietly during lesson times. I
do not think it is good stand out, people
judge you and everything that you do is
taken note of. I am also afraid that if I
say or do something silly I will be
laughed at. I loved to paint when I was
younger, but during class one day my
teacher said my work looked a mess.
Since then, I have chosen not to be
adventurous with my work.
7. MARIA
At college, I consider myself to be
popular. I made sure of it, in high
school I was bullied because I read a
lot and dressed simply. I didn’t want
the same thing to happen again so I
thought being mean was the way to
go.
8. MARIA
Now that I have popularity, I feel that
I can no longer be myself. I can no
longer get lost in a book because I do
not want to be considered geeky. I
have to spend a lot of money on
clothes so that my friends consider
me cool. The new me is just an act,
the real me is ebbing.
9. CONFIDENCE OR SHYNESS?
So which is it better to be? A confident person or a shy
person? There is only one answer to the question you must be
yourself, and if that means that you are assertive and poised
then so be it, if it means you are softly spoken and prefer to
go unnoticed then so be it.
FINAL ADVICE
Never try to be someone you are not in order to fit in.
Do not be too confident, listen to the thoughts and opinions of
other people.
Do not let other peoples opinions of you shape who you
are/become.
Do not be afraid to say what you think is right