If you only feel confident in a crowd, it’s not confidence yet. It’s borrowed volume.

Being loud among people who agree with you feels like strength, but it runs on them. Take the group away and the feeling leaves with it, which tells you where it was coming from. Real confidence is quieter and portable. It shows up when nobody is backing you.

Try one thing alone this week that you usually only do with your friends around. Order for yourself, ask the question in class, sit at a new table. Notice whether you still sound like you.