I play a musical instrument. Currently, I am in a position in a brass band where I am required to have a lot of confidence. I sit in the principal cornet seat. (For those of you who are not musical, I basically lead the rest of the cornet section).

It’s not the easiest place to be in. Being in a position like this requires a lot of confidence in your ability as a player and as a leader.

Having confidence in yourself not only benefits you as a player, but it benefits the whole band.

How you play in rehearsal, a concert or a contest determines, to a point, how well the rest of the band play. If you are on top form and playing really well, the rest of the band tends to follow suit. However, a bad day at the office for you can have a negative impact for everyone else.

This may be a news flash to some people who know me, but I’m not naturally a confident person. I may look like I am at face value, but underneath I struggle with self confidence and self belief.  A few knocks (to say the least) in my early childhood, and not receiving the praise and recognition I needed from close people, meant my confidence in myself was shattered.

I have had to work tremendously hard at where I play in the band. Not just with practicing my instrument, but with how I think and perceive myself as a player. 

My confidence stems from two things. 

~Knowing who I am as a player.

~Believing I am capable of playing in the position I am in. 

It’s not been easy. I have had to say to myself, over and over again, I am worthy to be where I am. I deserve to be in the position I play. 

If you struggle with self confidence or self esteem, no matter what situation you are in, then hold on to this truth…

Holding on to this has really helped me to be the player I am today, and has given me the confidence I need to believe in myself. It’s not easy, and every now and then I falter. However, if I keep repeating this truth, then I know I can get back up and have the confidence in myself again.

If I keep repeating this truth, then I know I can get back up and have the confidence in myself again. Share on X

Here is something to listen to if you feel like you need a confidence boost. I have this on repeat most days!

---

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).

This weeks word prompt is ‘confident’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘confident ’?