Being overconfident can be misconstrued and taken as arrogance, or even being overly big-headed.
Have you ever been thought, a big-head when really you were just being confident and proud of what you have achieved?
Is it best to keep quiet about things, as you don’t like to be seen as arrogant, overconfident, or a big-head?
Mmmm now I’m thinking about something that happened to me . I’m a confident woman and in some situations I know what I’m talking about as have a lot of life experience . I dont believe I’m big headed in any way but certainly confident and can hold my own where necessary . I can talk to people from all walks of life and show an interest in people .
Invited to a friends house where she had invited new friends. On arriving I was chatty and friendly and showed an interest in one of the new friends asking about her life and why she had moved recently to Dorset etc etc .
The following few days my friend rang to chat and I asked after her new friends and was told " Jean said she found you scarey "
I was stunned . I couldn’t think of anything I’d done to be scarey . This woman was from London and I can only assume she wasnt used to someone showing an interest in her .
So occasionally I remind myself when with new people not to be too interested.
susan, It sounds like your confidence, scared her.
I don’t know why l am more confident in my life now, than l was years ago?
It might be because l don’t care a damn anymore. I just think people have two choices in life and that they can take you, or leave you. It’s their choice!!
Don’t ever lose your confidence, as you will go under…
I agree. When I was younger I did care what people thought of me, now I couldn’t care less what they think. I would never deliberately offend anybody but if, say, someone asks me my opinion then I tell the truth …… tactfully! 
Flowerpower, Good for you!! That’s the spirit!!
I have only one ability that has occasionally lead to overconfidence, I won’t say what it is, as I wouldn’t want to come across as big headed. In most other respects, I am riddled with self doubt.
Being confident in your abilities is a good thing if your self-assessment is realistic but, in my opinion, being “overconfident” can cause problems for yourself and others.
I think self-esteem, ambition and setting goals slightly above what you have achieved before is all good but over-confidence can trip you up in some circumstances.
My definition of being overconfident would be wildly overestimating your abilities to carry out a task or control events and / or substantially underestimating the risks involved in something you are tackling.
Oh Dear, Harbal, it sounds like you’re past redemption!!
Just keep telling yourself… how great you are!!
Boot, Out of interest… do you live alone, or do you have a husband/partner?
Oh no, that sort of thing leads to overconfidence and big headedness. 
That question surprised me, Art - Why do you ask?
I’m not sure what the connection is to this thread?
I don’t mind answering it, though.
I live alone but I am in a “committed relationship”
The man in my life lives about a hundred miles away and we are both happy to live independently but enjoy spending chunks of time together sometimes, either travelling or in one home or the other.
Boot, Sorry, it wasn’t meant to sound that way.
It was just that your post made me wonder if you had a husband, or a partner?
I just find that usually, someone who has a husband/ partner doesn’t realise that a person who lives alone (through no fault of their own) , who has no one to lean on for reassurance and support, cannot understand that sometimes a person on their own, struggles…hence why they have to be overly confident in order to cope and survive.
Not your fault but it’s true that us Londoners are an anti-social bunch who don’t share with strangers easily! She might have felt a bit scared, we assume anyone taking too much interest in us is up to no good!
I’ve lived here for 30 years and I still find it freaky when people I don’t know say good morning to me when passing 
Ha! This reminds me of when my daughter first went to London to live and work.
In the mornings on the tube, she would smile and say, ‘Hello’ to everyone but no one smiled, or spoke back!
My other daughter went to live in Brighton with her boyfriend and she would smile and say, ‘Hello’ to everyone. Her boyfriend took her aside and and told her she mustn’t do this, as no one did this in Brighton!
You just don’t understand how it makes us feel! Really intruded on
Your not going to believe this but some visitors to London ACTUALLY MAKE EYE CONTACT ON THE TUBE!
And others STAND ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ESCALATOR!
I’m starting a helpline for traumatised Londoners who’ve been exposed to country folk! 
Maree, Actually, now you say, it was the words…’Don’t make eye contact’ that he used!
As a Northerner who moved down to London on my own to find my fortune at the tender age of 16, the last few posts have got me giggling.
I was one of those open, friendly and confiding Northern lasses who smiled at strangers on the tube and tried to chat to retail assistants and say Good Morning to folk I passed in the street - their reactions made me think I must seem like a madwoman to them! 
So interesting to read replies . I’ve lived in this seaside town 42 years and we all talk to strangers at bus stops on the bus on the train or even just smile when passing . Not all of course . I tell the truth when I tell you passengers always say "thankyou " to the bus drivers when getting off the bus . The drivers must get fed up with replying. 
I went walking with my friend Val ( who can talk a glass eye to sleep ) (no offence to those with a glass eye of course ) we decided to do a litter pick with those long pickeruppers and black sacks . During our 3 mile walk it took an hour longer than usual because people kept chatting to us !
It’s nice being friendly I’d be unhappy if people didnt make eye contact .
I was just watching an episode of Master Chef last night that reminded me that confidence and arrogance are opposites. There was a guy who walked into the test to be Master Chef. He was full of bravado. He was good, but his bravado didn’t match his skill. The judges saw right through him and pointed out the flaws in his cooking. As he was on the show more, he got better and better. He made it all the way to runner-up to the winner. By the end, he had confidence, not arrogance.
I’m confident in some aspects of my life but not in others. I doubt myself often but I get through… the trick is not to let others see your self doubt…show up a coffee in one hand and a bit of confidence in the other.
