What could undermine your self-confidence?

Okay, this was rather unexpected but not inaccurate.  My self-confidence is often directly connected to how in control of a situation I feel.  If I don’t believe I can excel at something, I often don’t bother to try.   This has prevented me from learning new things and trying new experiences.  It has inhibited my growth in more ways than I can imagine.

Feeling out of control or insecure about a situation reverts me back to childhood when I was very sensitive about being different (aren’t we all?).  I did well in school; was academically gifted.  As a result, I was often teased about my vocabulary (using $10 words), getting good grades (brainiac or “know-it-all”).  I eventually developed a thick about these things and stopped feeling as competitive about grades but the damage was done.  Although I have moved passed these responses in many ways, there are still moments when I revert right back to that awkward, smart, socially inept little girl who didn’t want to stand out.