What is confidence?

[CJ Wiley]

sacrifice, dedication and a desire to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles

Ha ha, seriously.

I like the pain pleasure idea too. I know the real motivation theory is a concept in nlp and not used this way but this is how I like to think of it.

Success isnt easy. Everyone wants it but so many give up before they get there. In life , on the road to success, you wont deal with the same pain as if preparing for a fight but still you are going to have times when you feel the "pain" and want to quit. Thats why I like the saying "be driven toward success and not away from the pain" because even in life the road to success is full of "pain". Embrace the pain, feel it and keep going. Stay focused on the prize.

Kind of like that "dont cry to give up... cry to keep going. Dont cry to quit.. you're already in pain get a reeard from it." motivational speech.

Success is not easy at all, in fact, it's the most difficult thing known to humankind. It takes sacrifice, dedication and a desire to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles.

Most people will naturally go towards pleasure and away from pain, and as you stated, this will not bring success very often.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Confidence is that overwhelming feeling my opponent gets when they see that it's my name that they've drawn.

 

[336Robin]

Confidence is....

Yeah, what is confidence?

Describe it please.

Thank you for asking. As it pertains to pool...

Confidence is....the overwhelming belief that you have more chances to make a shot rather than miss it through the weighing of your abilities and the application methods of those abilities. Knowing how you do all that you do and being able to repeat it while learning.

or

The irrational belief by someone to do something for which they are totally unprepared.

Depending on your state. Confidence may not be in order, perhaps you should then have the confidence that you need to practice.

 

[(((Satori)))]

Success is not easy at all, in fact, it's the most difficult thing known to humankind. It takes sacrifice, dedication and a desire to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles.

Most people will naturally go towards pleasure and away from pain, and as you stated, this will not bring success very often.

The real theory claims that individuals tend to be motivated more by one or the other. They tend to either seek pleasure or run from pain more than the other. Of course we all seek pleasure and run from pain but when faced with the possibility of both some people stay focused more on the pleasure and the possibility of pain is secondary while others focus on the possibility of pain while the pleasure is secondary.

One of its uses is it explains how some people can chase their dreams when others will settle. Sounds like you are having a discussion similar to this in the pro thread.


It's like the guy who's afraid to ask the girl out because she might reject him vs. the guy who goes after what he wants without fear.

 

[CJ Wiley]

On this day we "real eyes" that nothing has ever happened that's bad,

The real theory claims that individuals tend to be motivated more by one or the other. They tend to either seek pleasure or run from pain more than the other. Of course we all seek pleasure and run from pain but when faced with the possibility of both some people stay focused more on the pleasure and the possibility of pain is secondary while others focus on the possibility of pain while the pleasure is secondary.

One of its uses is it explains how some people can chase their dreams when others will settle. Sounds like you are having a discussion similar to this in the pro thread.

The best way to make positive changes is to first identify weaknesses......then re-frame the opposite and try to do this new behavior every day to create momentum.

Once momentum is created, the natural forces of the universe will continue in that direction. The only issue is many people are afraid of change, therefore scared of success.

We must overcome this human tendency to get the most out of human existence, then we can look back on our lives with no regrets.

On this day we "real eyes" that nothing has ever happened that's bad, it all works out for the good eventually.....why not make it today? 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[BRussell]

The best way to make positive changes is to first identify weaknesses......

I agree. The problem is that a "confident" person doesn't want to think about their weaknesses. You have to be self-critical to improve, not confident.

 

[FranCrimi]

Is it confidence that made the shot? Or skill, or maybe luck?

I think we overstate the importance of confidence in performance. Plenty of people have plenty of confidence - too much confidence. It makes them take low-percentage shots, it stops them from practicing. But I don't see how it helps them to make that tough shot or win that tough match.

Here's a scenario of something I've witnessed hundreds of times in competition:

Two players are competing.

Player 1, the better player but less confident, plays at 70% of his normal speed during the match due to his nervousness.

Player 2, who is confident, rises to 95 or 100 percent of his ability in the match.

Player 2 wins.

Spectators call it an upset.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Simple Answer............Confidence is.......See Below

The Absence of Any Worry or Doubt or Fear.

 

[CJ Wiley]

This would have to be classified as "super confidence"

The Absence of Any Worry or Doubt or Fear.

Is it even possible to have total absence from any worry, doubt or fear?

This would have to be classified as "super confidence".

 

[336Robin]

Confidence

The Absence of Any Worry or Doubt or Fear.

As long as their is a lot of caring about playing correctly otherwise this might be a good definition for not caring about the outcome.

 

[CJ Wiley]

My personal description of confidence concerning pool

As long as their is a lot of caring about playing correctly otherwise this might be a good definition for not caring about the outcome.

I agree, this is almost like wishful thinking, and not realistic for anyone other than "Spock". Maybe someday we can take the "Star-ship Enterprise" to play in a galaxy far, far away.

My personal description of confidence concerning pool is:

"The belief there is always a correct shot - the experience to find it - and the expertise to {mentally and physically} create it." - CJ Wiley

When a player reaches this level they will have developed and maximized their confidence. This is just the foundation, we can continue to refine and master the process.

 

[336Robin]

I agree, this is almost like wishful thinking, and not realistic for anyone other than "Spock". Maybe someday we can take the "Star-ship Enterprise" to play in a galaxy far, far away.

My personal description of confidence concerning pool is:

"The belief there is always a correct shot - the experience to find it - and the expertise to {mentally and physically} create it." - CJ Wiley

When a player reaches this level they will have developed and maximized their confidence. This is just the foundation, we can continue to refine and master the process.

Yeah I can go along with that, in fact thats sort of where I am. I look more at the table now like what is the perfect move here and not so hung up on running out. If the run out happens it is supposed to be because thats what you were supposed to do in that situation and not just what you wanted to do.

 

[pt109]

I think my best game came from the days I got the mixture right....
....fear, humility, and respect.

Confidence, like focus ( or the 'zone' ) will arrive...if you go looking for these...
...you never find them...they are truly tantalizing.

Dead stroke is akin to the Isles of Serendip....you can only find them when you are not
looking for them.....hence the word 'serendipity'.


pt....wore out a few vehicles looking for players exuding confidence....
...it was usually partnered with vanity and an unearned sense of worth.

The most dangerous man to gamble with is one who doesn't let his ego rule him

 

[CJ Wiley]

After missing the same shot 10 times in a row I was confused.

I think my best game came from the days I got the mixture right....
....fear, humility, and respect.

Confidence, like focus ( or the 'zone' ) will arrive...if you go looking for these...
...you never find them...they are truly tantalizing.

Dead stroke is akin to the Isles of Serendip....you can only find them when you are not
looking for them.....hence the word 'serendipity'.


pt....wore out a few vehicles looking for players exuding confidence....
...it was usually partnered with vanity and an unearned sense of worth.

The most dangerous man to gamble with is one who doesn't let his ego rule him

Well said!!!

I found this out the first time as a very young boy shooting basketballs outside my house. After "falling into the zone" I made about 10 shots in a row from the wing position and it was like "magic".

My mother came out to hang cloths on the line (yes, I'm that old) and I yelled at her with enthusiasm "hey mom, look what I can do, I can make this shot every time"

After missing the same shot 10 times in a row I was confused. How could I make these shots when alone, and miss them when I drew attention to what "I" could do?

This lead to a lifetime of curiosity about the mind, the ego and how "the zone" is achieved. It appears when we bring conscious attention to a subconscious activity it disturbs the pure, natural flow of energy and throws our "shots" off course.

Later in life I depended on this "zone" to play the game through me, as opposed to me trying to do it myself. That's why I consider pocket billiards an art form and a way to express ourselves, much like a musician uses music or an artist uses a paint brush.

 

[BRussell]

Here's a scenario of something I've witnessed hundreds of times in competition:

Two players are competing.

Player 1, the better player but less confident, plays at 70% of his normal speed during the match due to his nervousness.

Player 2, who is confident, rises to 95 or 100 percent of his ability in the match.

Player 2 wins.

Spectators call it an upset.

I've seen lesser players win many times, I just don't think it's because of confidence.

 

[(((Satori)))]

I've seen lesser players win many times, I just don't think it's because of confidence.

Fran is right.

When you doubt yourself you feed your subconscious with more negative images and when your subconscious has more negative images your performance suffers.

A person who regularly plays A speed might drop to a B- if their confidence is bad enough.

Since their opponent has a range of speeds too his game can be elevated due to the high confidence he is having jumping him from his normal B speed up to his high gear of an A speed.


In this scenario we have a guy who normally plays an A speed getting beat by a guy who normally plays a B speed with the difference being their confidence at the time.

 

[Neil]

Pool players exhibit two types of confidence. The first type, and most visible, states that "I can beat everyone here. You have no chance against me." This type is ego driven, and is a false confidence. It is only based on "want", and not reality.

The second type of confidence stems from knowing ones own abilities well. This person doesn't care who he is playing. They may want to win, but that is a byproduct of what they really will be doing. And that is playing with the confidence of taking the correct shot for their abilities. Doing things the right way, and trusting what you have done in practice.

The second person will play a more consistent game. Will have few if any ups and downs in their game. They are less prone to take that "wild" shot that their ego says they can make, and stick to a set of principles they have learned. Likewise, they will make more "wild" shots than the ego driven person, because they have learned that to them, they are not "wild" shots, but just shots. They have the confidence of their trained abilities to fall back on, and the confidence to not take on things that they aren't trained in.

For the second player, they will attain "the zone" much easier than the ego driven player. This is because the ego driven player always has the audience on their mind, and the second player only has the table on his mind.

The first player, the ego driven one, is easy to shark. The second player can be very difficult to shark. And, the second player will learn much more from each outing than the first player will.

 

[BRussell]

Satori - It reminds me of self-esteem. People believed for decades that increasing self-esteem was the key to success in life, and we have raised in the US several generations of narcissists as a result of that belief. But it turns out that self-esteem is not all it's cracked up to be. For an academic review, this is the best: pdf file.

Maybe confidence is not exactly the same, but I think it's close. And I believe there is a popular view about confidence that is similar to the popular view of the benefits of high self-esteem, and equally wrong.

What's required for success is self-criticism, a work ethic, and practice. The problem occurs when self-confidence is at odds with those things.

 

[BRussell]

Pool players exhibit two types of confidence. The first type, and most visible, states that "I can beat everyone here. You have no chance against me." This type is ego driven, and is a false confidence. It is only based on "want", and not reality.

The second type of confidence stems from knowing ones own abilities well. This person doesn't care who he is playing. They may want to win, but that is a byproduct of what they really will be doing. And that is playing with the confidence of taking the correct shot for their abilities. Doing things the right way, and trusting what you have done in practice.

The second person will play a more consistent game. Will have few if any ups and downs in their game. They are less prone to take that "wild" shot that their ego says they can make, and stick to a set of principles they have learned. Likewise, they will make more "wild" shots than the ego driven person, because they have learned that to them, they are not "wild" shots, but just shots. They have the confidence of their trained abilities to fall back on, and the confidence to not take on things that they aren't trained in.

For the second player, they will attain "the zone" much easier than the ego driven player. This is because the ego driven player always has the audience on their mind, and the second player only has the table on his mind.

The first player, the ego driven one, is easy to shark. The second player can be very difficult to shark. And, the second player will learn much more from each outing than the first player will.

good post, I agree. The confidence in your second player is rooted in reality, i.e., practice and improvement, which I believe is the real cause of the success. The confidence may be more of an effect than a cause.

 

[(((Satori)))]

Satori - It reminds me of self-esteem. People believed for decades that increasing self-esteem was the key to success in life, and we have raised in the US several generations of narcissists as a result of that belief. But it turns out that self-esteem is not all it's cracked up to be. For an academic review, this is the best: pdf file.

Maybe confidence is not exactly the same, but I think it's close. And I believe there is a popular view about confidence that is similar to the popular view of the benefits of high self-esteem, and equally wrong.

What's required for success is self-criticism, a work ethic, and practice. The problem occurs when self-confidence is at odds with those things.

Self esteem from my undersatanding is simply valueing yourself as equal no matter what qualities, or skills, or whatever you possess, Not near the same thing as confidence imo.


I do agree though that confidence is not the end all be all to acheivment. You certainly need the skill (and knowledge) to back it up but just because you have skill that does not mean that you will always have confidence. The same as just because you have confidence that does not mean you have skill. You need both. A person can develop both individually as well as increasing one will help the other.