
The Confidence Gap
A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
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Narrated by:
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Graeme Malcolm
Too many of us miss out on opportunities in life because we lack self-confidence. Whether it's public speaking, taking on a leadership role, or asking someone for a date, there are situations in which we just don't feel equipped to handle the challenges we face. Russ Harris offers a surprising solution to low self-confidence, shyness, and insecurity: Rather than trying to "get over" our fears, he says, the secret is to form a new and wiser relationship with them. Paradoxically, it's only when we stop struggling against our fearfulness that we begin to find lasting freedom from it. Drawing on the techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a cutting-edge form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, The Confidence Gap explains how to: Free yourself from common misconceptions about what confidence is and how to build it; transform your relationship with fear and anxiety; clarify your core values and use them as your inspiration and motivation; use mindfulness to effectively handle negative thoughts and feelings.
©2011 Russ Harris (P)2014 Audible Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Editorial review
By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor
THE CONFIDENCE GAP HELPS YOU GROW AT YOUR OWN PACE
In a sea of compelling and well-researched books focused on self-betterment, The Confidence Gap offers one of the most earnest and achievable goals. In terms of pure personal impact, Russ Harris’s words left a strong impression on me and continue to affect my life.
I tend to be pretty skeptical when authors attempt to change my mindset. When it comes to books that make promises like this, I am more of a "guilty until proven innocent" type of guy. This book, however, really did reframe some of my most foundational qualities. Adopting clinically proven techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dr. Harris seeks to rewrite our relationships with our own anxieties and limitations.
A psychotherapist and a medical doctor, Dr. Harris believes that we are misusing what he considers to be some of our most useful instincts. He advises that attempting to apply brute force to insecurities will generally not only end in failure and frustration, but can even create a worse relationship to that particular feeling. At first, I did not understand where he was taking this point, but Harris quickly offers an elegant solution. Rather than seeing my weaknesses as a burden, I could instead apply them as assets to tackle life’s greatest obstacles. This is no snake oil pitch, as all of Dr. Harris’s claims are backed up by verified Acceptance and Commitment Therapy research.
Dr. Harris’s pragmatic approach to self-development really resonated with me. I am not the kind of person who believes in quick fixes, and that is not what The Confidence Gap offers. Rather than relying on a gimmicks and, ultimately, skimming the surface of self-confidence, Harris challenged me to look within myself, identify what I believe is holding me back, and then make it my ally. As I know from experience, this process requires work—luckily, this book comes with plenty of exercises to help its many lessons sink in. After investing time and effort in The Confidence Gap, I have found that I look at my own limitations with a deeper understanding and with something resembling fondness.
While any fan of self-development media will likely enjoy this book, I think this is an especially good one for skeptics like me. Dr. Harris makes no bones about some of life's most difficult hurdles. He knows that there are countless self-help titles out there, and he does not attempt to compete with them by spewing the same mantras we have all heard countless times. This is self-development for people who recognize their blemishes and personal hang-ups. Rather than seeking to fix your life in one go, Harris will guide you to instill values that are designed to help build confidence from the ground up.
Continue reading Seth's review >
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Any additional comments?
I have suffered with anxiety from a very early age. I do not mean to boast, but am one of those annoying people who seems to have it all, the looks, the great job, the lovely wife & house but I have suffered crippling anxiety. It has forced me to drink, take drugs & for 30 years put on my stage face. This has done little but take pieces out of me. I used to scream & even cry uncontrollably in my sleep, any social event I needed to be bolstered by at least a few drinks before I went out. Now I have made real progress. I am by no means 'normal' but I now have the tools to deal with life. A wonderful book with great narration. If I was you I would buy the print version, if not be prepared to take lots of notes. A wonderful book.MY LORD HAVE I SUFFERED
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useful, evidence-based, simply told
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ACT! This book was a God send
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game changer
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Kendall Handy, M.D.
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It's like an instruction manual on life!
This is a book that everyone should read!
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Valuable resource for refining ones focus
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phenomenal
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Good takeaways
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Read it again
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