Fixable Boost your confidence (w/ Master Fixer Ian Robertson)
8 snips
Sep 8, 2025 
Ian Robertson, a psychology professor at Trinity College Dublin and author of "How Confidence Works," dives into the neuroscience behind confidence. He distinguishes confidence from optimism, emphasizing its crucial role in navigating uncertainty. Ian also discusses transforming anxiety into a valuable tool and shares his framework for understanding emotional states. Listeners will discover strategies to turn frustration into growth and the importance of collective confidence, especially in leadership and coaching.
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Turn Anxiety Into Fuel
- Reframe anxiety as action fuel and intentionally convert it into excitement before a stressful task.
- Use the physiological arousal of anxiety to energize behavior instead of treating it as a disorder.
Two Strands That Make Confidence
- Confidence comprises two strands: 'can do' (self-efficacy) and 'can happen' (outcome expectation).
- Their combination produces four mental states: confident, frustrated, depressed, and apathetic.
Apathy’s Brain Effects
- Apathy is neurobiologically distinct and the opposite of confidence, lowering dopamine and initiative.
- Low dopamine reduces sharp thinking, persuasion, and motivation, worsening mood and anxiety.
