It's a sad indictment on our attitude to appearance that I only had to google "ugly singer" a couple of weeks ago to be taken straight to Susan Boyle's much commented-on TV debut. And how toe-curling were the presenters and judges, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, compared with the sheer authenticity of Boyle herself. Much has been said about whether or not she was really the surprise the judges claimed she was. Neither the judges nor the presenters were the real point for me.
What made Susan Boyle such a joy to watch wasn't just the quality of her voice, though that was brilliant enough. No, it was the fact that she was so completely rooted in her own values and her own passion for singing that none of the flak seemed to touch her. She waved away the rudeness of the panel with complete equanimity, ignoring the eye-rolling and smirking asides that would have floored many a less confident being. Susan Boyle was utterly herself. And long may she remain so, despite all those who would like to remould her into something more approaching their idea of conventional attractiveness.
This sense of deep personal roots sits at the foundation of confidence. If we're not sure of ourselves, even if it's just a little bit unsure, somehow that insecurity undermines any attempt we make to appear confident. If your confidence has been knocked, a fundamental key to getting back on track is to reconnect with what matters to you and to what inspires you. What matters is who you are, not what you're not, and knowing who you are makes what you're not irrelevant. Watch the video.
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