Have you ever had a time in your life where you wished that you had more confidence? There are very few who haven’t had socially awkward moments or times when they couldn’t act on their impulses or wishes because they were simply too afraid about how it would make them appear. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that many people have to live with on a daily basis. But there are ways to overcome come that.

Lazy Chief has directed, animated, and posted a video on Vimeo called How To Be Confident. As written and narrated by Alain de Botton, the video argues that the core reason behind our collective lack of confidence is rooted in fear. Or more specifically, the fear of being ridiculed by others. Because people are so afraid of being looked down upon by their peers, they often pass up opportunities that could potentially work out in their favor. And in a life without risk, hardly anything ever changes.

How To Be Confident from Lazy Chief on Vimeo.

According to the video, the solution isn’t to find a way to avoid looking foolish. Instead, the narrator invites people to embrace their inner fool and realize that we are all foolish in our own way. Avoiding the risks won’t change that. But accepting that side of ourselves can be freeing. If there is no fear of being mocked or rejected, then perhaps we can all find the courage to act instead of shying away from our desires. It’s a lovely thought, even if it’s not something that everyone will be willing to adapt in their own lives. No one is perfect, but perhaps we can all be imperfect together.

What did you think about this video? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Image: Lazy Chief