Imagine this: you are right about everything. Not in some arrogant or delusional way, but in a simple and profound way. Your beliefs, visions, passions - they are all true for you in this very moment. They may evolve over time, as you learn and grow, but right now they are your reality. What if you embraced this idea fully? What if you acted with confidence and conviction, without seeking external validation or approval? This is the power of now. It is a mindset that frees you from doubt and fear. It allows you to trust your internal compass and follow your curiosity. Let me explain how it works… The Unwavering Conviction of Jeff Bezos To really understand this concept let’s illustrate it with an example. Jeff Bezos. He founded in 1994. Amazon He always maintained this mindset. He had a bold conviction in his vision. To quote Jeff. “It’s not an experiment if you know it’s going to work.” He had ultimate conviction in his current belief system. He didn’t know for sure that Amazon would become a trillion-dollar giant. But he believed in the idea at the moment. It was his present truth. And we know the end to that story. Amazon was not built overnight. It was built over many years, with: Small experiments Constant learning Alignment with his North Star Detachment from specific outcomes Bezos probably faced many challenges and doubts. But he followed his beliefs and instincts. And to be honest, how could he have not? How else could he have built Amazon into the behemoth it is today? Imagine Jeff on day one. There is no way you could ever build something that large, from nothing… unless you had an ultimate belief and conviction in everything you ever believed, in the current moment. And maintained that mindset for the entire course of building that company. If you had any disbelief in your convictions you’d be scared shitless to make decisions. You’d freeze. Many other game-changing companies followed this pattern. Their founders had a vision that others didn’t see. They let their convictions create reality. As Bezos said: “If you know it’s going to work, it’s not an experiment.” The lesson: Confidence is not a prediction of future success. It’s trust in your current journey, wherever it goes. Let your present truth be the guide, not the goal. And just to speak to the glaring question some of you are asking yourself. What if my beliefs today are incorrect? What if I follow the wrong advice or direction? This is what separates an open mindset from a closed one. The Wright brothers had a fierce faith in flight when the world doubted them. Their confidence propelled humanity into the air. In a different historical period, they would have been ignored as mad dreamers instead of praised as visionaries. But in that situation, their dream was valid and altered the world. Our reality is molded by our perspective. So be proud of your current beliefs. But also be curious and adaptable. Your current truth is just your location today - a point in time. It will shift as life moves around you. That being said, let’s go into four supporting ideas/frameworks I’ve researched that I’ve found best help me internalize this concept and incorporate it into my life. 1. The “Locus of Control” Mindset Shift Our first idea is the “ ”. Locus of Control Imagine you have two choices. You can either believe that your life is controlled by external factors - such as luck, fate, or other people. Or you can believe that your life is controlled by internal factors - such as your skills, actions, or decisions. Which one would you choose? The answer may seem obvious, but it’s not. Many people have an external locus of control. They think that their outcomes are mostly determined by forces outside their control. They feel powerless and helpless. They blame others or circumstances for their failures. They wait for things to happen to them. But there is another way. You can have an internal locus of control. You can think that your outcomes are largely influenced by your efforts and choices. You feel confident and capable. You take responsibility for your results. You make things happen for yourself. This is not just a matter of preference. It’s a matter of science. Studies show that people with an internal locus of control are more successful, healthier, and happier than people with an external locus of control. They also have higher self-esteem, self-efficacy, and optimism. Why? Because they own their present truth. They don’t let external factors define their reality. They don’t give up on their dreams or goals. They don’t make excuses or complain. Instead, they take action and make changes. They learn from their feedback and mistakes. They seek opportunities and challenges. They create their luck and destiny. They realize that they are right about everything - for themselves, in this moment. And so can you. The best part is that the locus of control is not fixed. It can be changed through experience and education. You can develop a more internal locus of control by: Recognizing your agency and influence over your life Taking responsibility for your actions and choices Setting realistic and attainable goals Seeking feedback and learning from mistakes Celebrating your achievements and progress Embracing uncertainty and change Developing a growth mindset By doing these things, you can shift your mindset from external to internal locus of control. You can realize that your perspective and beliefs shape your reality, rather than external factors alone. You can empower yourself to own your present truth. This is the “Locus of Control” Mindset Shift. It is a powerful way to live in the now. And it can help you understand how you can be right about everything - for you, right now (because you have control over your reality). 2. The Science of Shaping Your Neural Self Our second idea revolves around the concept of . Neuroplasticity Embracing our self-concepts and truths takes form as neural pathways in your brain. They shape how you perceive the world. As psychologist Rick Hanson explains: "Who you are today was built slowly over time, from past experiences." But the magic is - you can reshape those neural patterns through focused effort. From the time we're born until the day we die, our brains are continually forming new connections and neural pathways. This remarkable capacity for change is known as neuroplasticity. What does this have to do with owning your present truth? Everything. Your self-concepts, beliefs, and identity are largely ingrained neural patterns built up over a lifetime. They shape how you perceive reality. As Dr. Hanson puts it: "The self is a transient construct of the brain. Who you are today was built slowly over time, from past experiences." But here's the incredible part - because of neuroplasticity, you can consciously shape and evolve the neural patterns that form your sense of identity and truths. Studies show activities like meditation and CBT therapy literally change brain wiring over time related to identity. So if certain beliefs limit you, have hope. Your truth is not fixed, but flexible. Strengthen neural networks that serve your highest truth in each moment. The brain believes what you teach it. Help it understand your ever-expanding potential. 3. Leveraging Our Bias for the Present Moment Our third idea is the “ . Intertemporal Choice Theory” Imagine you have a choice: Option A - Get $100 today Option B - Get $120 in a month What would you choose? Most of us would prefer the immediate $100, even though it’s less money. We have a natural bias for the present over the future. This behavior is explained by intertemporal choice theory, a concept from behavioral economics. Studies show that humans tend to value rewards that are available now more than rewards that are delayed. We do what’s called future discounting - we reduce the value of a reward as the time to receive it increases. Our minds favor what is real and present over what is possible and future. For instance, in a Stanford experiment, when given the option of $20 now or $21 in a week, most people picked the $20. The extra $1 in the future was not worth it. How does this relate to embracing your present truth? The simple answer is that we are wired to focus on and optimize the present. Our minds stick to what is happening now. This means the easiest way to live is to be fully present. When we pay attention to this moment without judgment, confidence can emerge naturally. We don’t need to chase confidence in some uncertain future. We can relax in the truth we experience today, without devaluing it. As the Buddhist wisdom says, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Believe in your abilities and vision today. Don’t future discount your present truth. 4. Stoic Philosophy and Focusing on the Controllable And finally, our fourth idea. Let’s apply a to the power of being right, in the now. stoic mindset Stoicism is a school of philosophy that hails from ancient Greece and Rome. . The Stoics believed that the practice of virtue is enough to achieve eudaimonia: a well-lived, flourishing life The Stoics taught that we should differentiate between what we can and cannot control. As Epictetus, the ancient Greek Stoic, put it: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” We cannot control external events. But we can control our judgments and attitudes. This shapes our experience. Modern psychology backs this up. . Studies show that our belief in controlling a situation reduces anxiety and dysfunction How does this apply to the present truth? External validation is not in our control. But owning our beliefs, talents, and effort is. As Marcus Aurelius said: “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” We can’t control being right. But we can control, fully embracing our perspective, today. Train your focus here. Define your worth by your values and conscience, not externals. You can’t control the winds. But you can adjust your sails. Navigate with conviction. Stoicism provides empowering tools to separate external from internal control. This allows fully own your present truth. You control your path. Walk it with purpose. This is the “Stoic” Mindset Shift. Owning Your Present Truth: A Path to Unshakable Confidence We started with a radical idea: You are right about everything. Not in a cocky or delusional way, but simply and profoundly. Your beliefs, passions, and talents are your truth today. They may change tomorrow, as you learn and grow, but right now they are your reality. When you embrace this idea fully, confidence flows naturally. We learned how conviction comes from trusting your inner voice, not seeking external approval. Your present truth is your rocket fuel when you own it. I gave you an analogy of a snapshot - capturing this moment perfectly, but not forever. Your beliefs are true for today, not for eternity. But that’s the beauty of it. It means you bravely update your truth as life teaches you. You stay curious, but grounded in the now. My hope is you now see that confidence lives in the eternal now - in owning your ever-changing truth with courage. The future will happen as it should. For today, believe strongly in your direction - no matter how the road twists and turns. Your inner voice will guide you right if you listen carefully. There are no mistakes, just new learnings. Trust in your truth today. The rest will follow. If you enjoyed this article, I’d love to hear from you. Also published . here Email me at or at me and I’ll do my best to get back to everyone! scott@scottdclary.com tweet @ScottDClary

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