The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

Too many of us miss out on opportunities in life because we lack self-confidence. Whether it involves public speaking, taking on a leadership role, or starting a relationship, we often don't feel equipped to handle new challenges.

Most confidence-building strategies —such as affirmations and positive self-talk —help us only in the short term, if at all. Russ Harris offers a surprising and revolutionary solution to low self-confidence, shyness, and insecurity. Rather than trying to vanquish our fears, the secret is actually 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.

The Confidence Gap draws on proven mindfulness-based techniques and on the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to provide a long-term solution. (ACT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health problems.) Harris combines key insights, anecdotes, and exercises, along with humor and playfulness, to show readers how to overcome self-defeating patterns and get more out of life.

"Harris, an Australia-based physician, therapist, and lecturer on stress management, reiterates and expands on concepts from his earlier book, The Happiness Trap. Here he focuses on the techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a cognitive-behavioral treatment created by Steve Hayes in the 1980s. Harris applies it to helping readers learn to play the 'confidence game.' People in the confidence gap may desire a romantic relationship or want to find a better job, but when fear surfaces, they don't take action. Offering a solution to insecurities, shyness, and low self-confidence, Harris blends personal anecdotes, insights, and exercises to show readers how to get more out of life by overcoming their self-defeating patterns. For instance, he says, first, one must act with confidence; the feeling of confidence will follow. After showing readers how to 'tame' their fear,' Harris reviews strategies that lead to psychological flexibility and concludes with bringing the new skills together for ongoing success and peak performance. Newcomers to behavioral cognitive therapy and ACT may well find Harris's intriguing ideas of value. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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.

Dr. Russ Harris is a physician, therapist, and speaker specializing in stress management. He travels nationally and internationally to train individuals and health professionals in the techniques of ACT. Born and educated in England, he now lives in Australia. For more information, visit actmindfully.com.au.