This past weekend, I had the incredible experience of attending the One Night, Two Pianos concert in Knoxville with Michael W. Smith and Chandler Moore. It was absolutely amazing! These two artists sang with effortless confidence, drawing from a deep well of love—love for their craft, for who they are, and for why they do what they do. Their performance wasn’t just music; it was purpose on full display. It made me wonder—where does that kind of confidence come from?
All behavior is learned. From my days of teaching middle school music, I remembered a student who wanted to try out for the 8th-grade chorus. She was new to the school and a little shy. I had never heard her sing before, but I encouraged her to sign up. I said, “Come on Friday afternoon and let me hear you sing. Maybe just the first couple of lines of ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,’ so I can get a sense of your voice.”
Friday arrived. She stood in line, waiting her turn. When I called her name, she walked into the room, stood by the piano, and I gave her the first pitch. She started to tense up, so I reassured her, “Hey, this is just a formality. No big deal. I just need to hear your voice and get an idea of your range.”
She nodded, ready to go. I gave her the pitch again. Silence. Nothing. So, I thought maybe it was too high. I adjusted the pitch and tried again. Still, nothing. I even offered to sing along with her to help her get started. “I’ll sing with you. You just follow me.”
Still, not a sound. We tried again and again. Nothing. But then came a moment, of what I will call desperate inspiration, when I looked up, smiled, and cried out, “YOU MADE IT!”
Her eyes lit up. “I made it?” she asked.
“Yes, YOU MADE IT!”
She screamed with joy, ran out the door, and shouted, “I made it! I made the 8th-grade chorus!” And let me tell you, for the entire next year, that girl sang her heart out with effortless confidence. She had nothing to prove. She went on to high school and kept singing. What a shot in the arm for both of us!
If self-doubt and lack of confidence is stopping you from doing what you know you want to do right now, stop for a seconds and remind yourself you have nothing to prove. You already made it. You’re in the arena. I’ll say it again.
You have nothing to prove. You already made it. You’re in the arena!