Confidence by Ethan Nichtern Summary
Overview of Confidence
Nichtern's "Confidence" revolutionizes self-trust through Buddhist wisdom of the eight worldly winds. Endorsed by spiritual leader Sharon Salzberg, it blends ancient teachings with modern struggles. Can confidence be cultivated daily rather than achieved? Discover why mindfulness experts call this 2024 release "vulnerability meets badassery."
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Key takeaways
The Courage to Be Present in an Uncertain World
Imagine waking up one morning with a startling realization: "Damn. I am here, and this is exactly what's happening. How do I show up for any of this?" This is precisely where Ethan Nichtern begins his exploration of confidence - not as some unshakable trait possessed by the lucky few, but as a practice of showing up fully for our lives, even when everything in us wants to disappear. In a culture constantly bombarding us with messages about not being enough, this perspective offers a refreshing alternative to the "fake it till you make it" approach that dominates self-help literature. True confidence emerges not from conquering our vulnerabilities but from befriending them. Confidence is like walking a precarious tightrope. On one side lies the pit of insecurity - that nagging feeling of unworthiness that makes us question whether we deserve to take up space. On the other side looms the cliff of arrogance - an inflated sense of self-importance that disconnects us from others. The Buddhist middle path suggests that genuine confidence emerges when we learn to "take our seat" in the world - not with entitlement, but with a sense of belonging. When we meditate, we come face-to-face with our internalized critics - the voices that tell us we're not doing it right, not good enough, not spiritual enough. Rather than silencing these voices, mindfulness helps us recognize them as just that - voices, not ultimate truths about who we are. Some people gobble up too many seats in life, while others believe they're unworthy of even being here. True confidence emerges when we recognize we have exactly one seat that is undeniably ours, and we learn to hold that seat even when life gets difficult.
Navigating Life's Inevitable Storms
The Wisdom of the Body and Mind
The Social Mirror and Self-Worth
Compassion as the Foundation of Confidence
The Power of Awareness
Riding Life's Energy with Courage
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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