Self-Confidence: A Backbone Through Life’s Hardships

“When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say why me, say try me”. This quotation asserts that if one were to yield to every hardship thrown in his way, one would not truly live, but would spend his days drowning in self-pity and loathing obstacles instead of facing them. Here lies the most prominent sign of self-confidence; it empowers us to tackle every impediment hindering our path with perseverance and valor, not stopping until the mission is accomplished. In fact, self-confidence is a crucial factor when it comes to confronting all sorts of hindrances, regardless of their nature, be it social or physical.

            To begin with, self-assurance can help one overcome social hardships such as poverty. One brilliant example of that is the famous Irish-American teacher and author, Frank McCourt. He and his family lived in abject poverty, the parents and children sharing one bed together, McCourt's father drinking away what little money they had. His twin brothers died in early childhood due to the squalor of their circumstances, and Frank himself nearly passed away of typhoid fever. When he was 11, his father abandoned the family altogether, leaving Mrs. McCourt to raise her four children, on the edge of starvation, without any source of income. Frank's school education ended at age 13, for he had to take on odd jobs to provide for his mother and siblings. Nevertheless, McCourt pursued his education. He would sit under streetlights, late after nightfall, reading books and chasing after a better future. Fast forward to the year 1996, he published his first book, met with international praise and success. To this day, McCourt remains an icon in the world of writing, proving to the world that his will to persevere is what got him up on his feet again. Many celebrities and public figures, as well, have had to overcome traumatic experiences of bullying and harassment, only to become successful world-known figures later on, as a result of their faith in themselves. J.K. Rowling, the writer of the famous Harry Potter series, is a good example of that. She faced poverty during her years as a single mother and struggled to provide everyday human essentials for her daughter. J.K Rowling states, "I would have done anything to work and I took as much work as I could." J.K Rowling overcame poverty through hard work and motivation. She has accomplished many things due to her successful novel, 'Harry Potter'. Now, she is the biggest single donator to the labor party and has contributed too many charities. Not only has J.K Rowling inspired people through her steps to success, but has also filled children with a creative imagination and the delight to read.

In addition, self-assurance assists one in surmounting bodily issues, like long-term conditions or physical disabilities. Morgan Freeman, for instance, suffers from a chronic muscle condition known as Fibromyalgia. Every so often he experiences soreness in his left shoulder. It hurts when he walks when he sits still, and when he rises from his seat. After surgery to repair nerve damage, he was stuck with a useless left hand. It seems a kind of agony, though he almost never complains about it. Why? Because, according to Freeman, it is not the end of his world if he has this syndrome. “I only get one life, and I will not let Fibromyalgia take the joy from living it”, he says. Freeman continues to work with radiant confidence and comfort, despite his frequent pains. “I have to move on to other things, to other conceptions of myself. I play golf. I still work. And I can be pretty happy just walking the land”, he states optimistically. Also, Stephen Hawking, who is one of the most well-known physicists in the world, was able to achieve that in spite of being diagnosed with ALS when he was 21 and spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. His disability, however, has never been an excuse to give up on his desire to study the universe, specifically the framework of general relativity and quantum mechanics. Even after his death, Hawking remains an influential scientist, his theories having benefitted the domain of physics greatly, and his determination and self-assurance having changed the perspective of many on persons with disabilities.

            As a conclusion, self-confidence is a vital component in any human’s personality that, if manifested correctly, helps one win over any calamity that comes his way. In the end, with confidence, one has won before even getting started.