"L'affirmation constante de la croyance est une indication de peur"

Picture this: someone who keeps telling everyone how confident they are. They say it over and over again. It's like they’re trying to convince themselves as much as they’re trying to convince others. That’s the core idea here. When people constantly assert their beliefs, it’s often because they’re actually afraid—afraid those beliefs might not hold up, or afraid others might see through them.

Historically, this idea pops up a lot. Take the times of intense political regimes, for example. During the Cold War, politicians and leaders would frequently broadcast their ideologies, almost ad nauseam. They’d assert their beliefs about capitalism or communism repeatedly, not just to convince the masses, but perhaps because at some level, they harbored fears about their own system’s faults or vulnerabilities.

Let’s get into a real-life example to illustrate this point. Think about a workplace setting. Imagine Sarah, who has just been promoted to a managerial position. She’s always been a bit insecure about her leadership skills. So, she starts every meeting by emphatically stating how confident she is in her decisions. She repeats it so much that it becomes almost a mantra. But her constant need to assert her belief in her abilities actually reveals her underlying fear—that she’s not cut out for the job, and that her team might eventually see through her façade.

So, how can you apply this insight in your own life? First, recognize when you might be overcompensating. Are you constantly asserting your beliefs to others? Maybe you’re trying to convince yourself more than them. Instead of repetition, work on building genuine confidence. If you find yourself in Sarah’s shoes, take a step back. Reflect on your capabilities and remind yourself of your strengths. Rather than repeating your belief, show it through your actions.

Let’s bring it home with a relatable scenario. Picture you’re at a family gathering, and your cousin Alex won’t stop talking about how he’s absolutely certain that his investment in a new startup is going to make him rich. He’s bringing it up at every turn, even if the conversation has nothing to do with investments. Alex’s constant assertions might be masking his fear—maybe he’s worried he made a bad financial decision and is trying to convince himself it’s going to pay off.

In chatting with Alex, you could ask him open-ended questions about his investment to get him thinking more critically and less defensively. You might say, "Hey, what’s the backup plan if things don’t go as expected?" This way, you’re helping him confront his fears head-on, and it might ease his need to constantly assert his belief.

So next time you find yourself or someone else repeatedly asserting a belief, pause for a moment. Ask what fear might be lurking beneath the surface. By addressing that fear directly, you can move towards a more genuine and less defensive expression of your convictions.