WHAT IS AUTHENTIC SELF-CONFIDENCE?

If we look honestly at our own life, and the lives of those around us, we will see
that in searching for happiness we spend most of our time and energy improving
external conditions, such as increasing our wealth and possessions, enhancing
our reputation or finding a better partner. However, we can see through our own
experience that even if we are successful in acquiring these external conditions,
we will never enjoy the lasting happiness that we all desire. If we try to develop
self-confidence based on our ability to acquire better worldly conditions - 'worldly
self-confidence' - we will always be left feeling incomplete and disappointed.
Worldly self-confidence will never be fully realized or remain stable because we
can never be completely satisfied with or hold on to our worldly conditions and
achievements.
In the introduction of How to Transform Your Life, Venerable Geshe Kelsang
Gyatso says:
‘Since this world evolved, human beings have spent almost all their time and
energy improving external conditions in their search for happiness and a solution
to their problems. What has been the result? Instead of their wishes being
fulfilled, human suffering and problems have continued to increase while the
experience of happiness and peace is decreasing. This clearly shows that until
now we have not found a correct method for reducing our problems and
increasing happiness.’