When you want to write the emotion confident, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotional tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities. In simple terms, it is the belief in oneself and one's abilities. A confident person has a positive outlook on life, is self-assured, and is not afraid to take risks or try new things. They are comfortable in their own skin and have a sense of purpose and direction in their lives. Confidence is an important emotion to convey in characters as it can make them more relatable and engaging to readers.

Different Types of Confident

Here are some different types of confident:

• Self-assured confidence: the belief in one's own abilities and judgment
• Social confidence: the ability to interact with others comfortably and assertively
• Physical confidence: the feeling of being comfortable and capable in one's own body
• Intellectual confidence: the belief in one's own intelligence and knowledge
• Emotional confidence: the ability to manage and express emotions in a healthy and effective way
• Creative confidence: the belief in one's own creative abilities and ideas
• Professional confidence: the belief in one's own professional skills and expertise

Situations Associated with Confident

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of confident:

• Accomplishing a difficult task or achieving a goal
• Receiving praise or recognition from others
• Having a strong support system
• Overcoming a personal obstacle
• Feeling prepared and knowledgeable about a situation
• Being in a position of power or authority
• Having a strong sense of self-worth and self-esteem
• Feeling secure in one's abilities and decisions
• Believing in oneself and one's potential

Physical Reactions to Confident

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing confident might have:

• Standing tall with good posture
• Making direct eye contact
• Speaking in a clear and assertive tone
• Smiling or smirking slightly
• Using open body language, such as uncrossed arms and legs
• Walking with purpose and a steady gait
• Taking up space, such as spreading out belongings or leaning back comfortably
• Making decisions quickly and without hesitation
• Expressing opinions and ideas with conviction

Thoughts Associated with Confident

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing confident might have:

• I can handle this situation with ease.
• I know what I'm doing and I'm good at it.
• I feel capable and empowered.
• I trust my instincts and my abilities.
• I have prepared well for this moment.
• I am in control of my thoughts and emotions.
• I am worthy of respect and admiration.
• I believe in myself and my potential.
• I am not afraid of failure or rejection.
• I feel energized and enthusiastic about my goals.
• I am open to challenges and opportunities.
• I am proud of my achievements and my progress.
• I am grateful for the support and encouragement of others.
• I am excited to see what I can accomplish next.

Atmosphere of Confident

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of confident in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use a setting that exudes strength, such as a fortress or a mountain peak.
• Describe the lighting as bright and bold, which can represent the character's confidence.
• Incorporate bold and assertive colors in the scene, such as red or black.
• Use strong and powerful language in dialogue and descriptions to convey the character's confidence.
• Create a sense of control in the scene, with the character being in charge of their surroundings and actions.
• Use confident body language and actions for the character, such as standing tall and making direct eye contact with other characters.
• Incorporate confident and empowering music or sounds in the scene, such as a strong drumbeat or triumphant horns.
• Show the character taking risks and being unafraid of failure, which can demonstrate their confidence.

Verbs Associated with Confident

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of confident:

• Assert
• Assume
• Believe
• Convince
• Declare
• Empower
• Guarantee
• Inspire
• Persuade
• Radiate
• Trust

Emotions Before Confident

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences confident:

• Insecure
• Anxious
• Fearful
• Doubtful
• Timid
• Nervous
• Hesitant
• Uncertain
• Unsure

Emotions After Confident

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences confident:

• Proud
• Accomplished
• Empowered
• Satisfied
• Optimistic
• Courageous
• Relieved
• Assertive
• Charismatic

Telling Confident Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion confident in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• He held his head high and walked with confident strides, showing no signs of doubt or uncertainty.

Practical Examples of Showing Confident

Here are some examples of showing confident in a sentence:

• The CEO strode into the boardroom, her shoulders back and head held high as she surveyed her team.
• The athlete stepped onto the track, her muscles taut and focused as she prepared to run her race.
• The detective narrowed her eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she examined the evidence before her.
• The musician took a deep breath, her fingers poised over the keys as she prepared to play the opening notes of her concerto.

Exercises for Showing Confident

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing confident:

• Describe your character's body language when they are feeling confident. Do they stand tall, make eye contact, or use expansive gestures?
• Write a scene where your character takes charge of a situation and successfully leads others to achieve their goal.
• Have your character reflect on a past success and how it made them feel.
• Write a dialogue between your character and someone who challenges their confidence. How do they respond?
• Write a scene where your character tries something new and succeeds, despite initial doubts or obstacles.
• Describe your character's internal thoughts and feelings when they are feeling confident. What motivates them? What do they believe about themselves?
• Write a scene where your character stands up for themselves or someone else in the face of adversity.
• Have your character receive a compliment or recognition for their skills or accomplishments and describe their reaction.
• Write a scene where your character faces a difficult decision or situation and confidently chooses the best course of action.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full thesaurus of emotions.