Most people think confidence is a steady trait you have it, or you don’t. But after breezing through a presentation to 500 people and then melting down in front of thirty, I realized confidence is far messier than it seems. From self-esteem that refuses to stick, to the myth of fearlessness, to the way one bored face in the audience can unravel your nerves, confidence is a moving target. This essay unpacks the confusing, often hilarious realities of believing in yourself, and why true confidence is less about perfection and more about getting back up again and again.