Confidence is a quintessential attribute that everyone must possess. One needs confidence to progress in life. That progress may pertain to career, academics, personal goals such as health, marriage or children, financial objectives or anything else that matters. Without confidence, a man or woman and even a child would fall behind. That would happen regardless of the talent or the potential that the man, woman or child has. Unless there is confidence, talent will be futile.
But that same confidence can become exaggerated and turn into cockiness. The term cockiness is best defined as arrogance or too much confidence in oneself when there shouldn’t be that much. Usually, people who are confident about their potential are not cocky. That is simply because they know how they have toiled to earn that confidence. They know their potential but also know the limitations of their talent or abilities. That is what prevents them from becoming arrogant or cocky.
Cockiness usually prevails in men, women and children when they don’t really achieve something after much toiling. In most cases, people are cocky when they get things done very easily without the need to invest themselves heavily, when they are hyped up or praised to an extent that is beyond reasonable and when they are much better off than others without having to go through the rigors and challenges of reality. It is then that cockiness develops.
Confidence and cockiness are both matters of psychology. Confidence stems from self esteem and successes or failures in the past. Cockiness stems from a false sense of assurance that one is superior to others. In reality, people who are confident will sail through when difficult times are at the door but cocky people will not be able to do anything if their resources are taken away from them. In that sense, confidence stems from within which can be potential, ability, belief or a desire to do something whereas cockiness stems from financial well being, social stature or easy accomplishments.
Spotting the difference between confidence and cockiness is really simple. Confident people will be mindful of others, listen to others and pay a respectful ear to whatever anyone has to say without bowing down to anyone. Cocky people will be more inclined to deliver monologues, treat others as inferior and have an air around them that clearly portrays royalty which is certainly false or nonexistent.