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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Confidence summary
Ethan Nichtern
Holding Your Seat through Life's Eight Worldly Winds
17 mins
Brief summary
Confidence by Ethan Nichtern provides insights into developing genuine confidence through mindfulness and compassion. It presents practical guidance on cultivating self-awareness and emotional resilience, helping us navigate life's challenges with more clarity and ease.
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Confidence
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Life’s roller coaster
We’ve all seen those inflatable tube figures flailing wildly outside car washes and dealerships. One moment they’re reaching for the sky, animated by a gust of wind, and the next they’re slumped over, lifeless and defeated. In many ways, we’re not so different. Our sense of self-worth can soar with a simple compliment or plummet at the slightest criticism, leaving us emotionally whiplashed by life’s ups and downs.
This emotional roller coaster isn’t just a modern affliction. Over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha identified eight “worldly winds” that buffet our psyche: pleasure and pain, praise and criticism, fame and insignificance, success and failure. These paired forces represent the experiences we chase or flee, the hopes that elate us and the fears that deflate us. Despite all that’s changed in 2,500 years, these worldly winds are as relevant today as they were millennia ago.
In the Buddhist tradition, the skill to navigate these turbulent winds is called upekkha. It’s often translated as “equanimity,” meaning calmness or composure. But another fitting interpretation might be “resilience.” Upekkha isn’t about becoming an unfeeling statue, impervious to joy or sorrow. It’s about developing the ability to respond mindfully instead of reacting on autopilot.
Cultivating this resilience forms the bedrock of genuine confidence. It’s a practice of holding your ground during life’s storms, responding with intention rather than being bowled over by every gust. This doesn’t mean the winds stop blowing – they don’t. You’ll always feel their effects. But with practice, you can become more flexible and adaptable, finding grace and strength amid your predicaments, as well as empathy for others facing similar struggles.
Importantly, this journey has no final destination. There’s no graduation ceremony where you’re handed a Master of Confidence degree. It’s an ongoing practice, a perpetual engagement with life’s challenges and opportunities. In fact, confidence isn’t about eliminating our inner tube man – paradoxically, it’s about embracing his presence, understanding his reactions, and learning to dance gracefully with the winds that animate us all.
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What is Confidence about?
Confidence (2024) explores how to navigate today’s tumultuous world through the lens of Buddhist teachings. It examines the concept of the Eight Worldly Winds, offering insights into your relationships with yourself and others, and includes meditation exercises to help you access your innate wisdom and cultivate confidence.
Who should read Confidence?
- People struggling with confidence and self-doubt
- Mindfulness enthusiasts looking to deepen their practice
- Anyone interested in personal growth and self-improvement
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