Confidence
Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds
“CONFIDENCE. We post it, we lack it, we want it, we seek it, we hoard it, we lord it, we try to buy it and, I hope, offer it to others. A simple word with complex origins and imprints and expectations and we all need help with it. I'm so glad that Ethan is offering this as a practical access point to confidence!”
-Jamie Lee Curtis, actress
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Available May 21, 2024
A funny, wise, and relatable exploration of how to stand firm amid the ups and downs of existence, from a renowned teacher and writer hailed as “the future of Buddhism”
In today’s culture of intense polarization and constant change, how do we find the confidence to navigate life’s challenges? Is now really the time for meditation, for looking inward? What do we do with mindfulness? Ethan Nichtern, described by Vogue.com as “a supercool, deeply kind brainiac,” and one of the leading meditation teachers of our time, tackles these questions head-on in Confidence. This provocative book takes contemporary considerations of power, identity, ethics, and confidence to new heights, offering readers an essential guide to self-discovery.
Nichtern examines the Buddhist concept of the Eight Worldly Winds, the four paired opposites of praise and blame, pleasure and pain, fame and insignificance, and success and failure. By delving into these dichotomies, readers gain invaluable insights into their relationships with others (including teachers, friends, leaders, the disgraced, and the adored) and themselves. With four transformative meditation exercises, this book empowers readers to cultivate and access their innate confidence and wisdom.
Listen up.
In this conversation recorded at the Garrison Institute, renowned teacher Sharon Salzberg joins Ethan to explore how the development of confidence is a central theme in his upcoming book. Drawing on the Buddhist teaching of the eight vicissitudes, or worldly winds, they discuss insights into cultivating genuine confidence through mindfulness and meditation practice. They examine how skillfully relating to the changing nature of the eight vicissitudes - including gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and disrepute, and happiness and suffering - can help us break free from our ego's traps.
What People Are Saying
“In such wild times as these, this book offers us brave good medicine.”
— Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
“Confidence is a compelling call to claim our rightful place in this life. Ethan Nichtern’s clarity and compassion, paired with his humor and humility, open the heart to welcome the eight worldly winds of life in a manner that is possible for us all.”
— Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
“Real confidence, true confidence, comes not from a false front or a fleeting achievement; it goes way deeper than that. And Ethan Nichtern, a deft and experienced teacher, will take you there. I wish I’d had this book when I was much younger. It would’ve prevented me from all manner of suffering and embarrassment.”
— Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier
“Ethan Nichtern’s Confidence embarks on a profound exploration of self-assurance, challenging traditional notions with a refreshing blend of personal narrative, Buddhist philosophy, and actionable advice. Ethan masterfully dissects the nuances of confidence beyond superficiality, guiding readers toward a deeper understanding rooted in mindfulness and self-compassion. His approach is both relatable and insightful, making complex concepts accessible to all. The book stands as a beacon for those navigating the intricacies of self-trust and self-worth, offering a path to genuine confidence through introspection and mindful practice. Confidence is a must-read for anyone seeking to embrace their vulnerabilities and cultivate a life of presence, empathy, and resilience. Ethan is a master teacher.”
— Shelly Tygielski, activist, founder of Pandemic of Love, author of Sit Down to Rise Up, and coauthor of How We Ended Racism
“Ethan Nichtern guides readers to a resilient inner balance while dealing with the challenges of life, and each page sings with his kind and soulful voice. With skill and grace, he brings together Buddhist wisdom, clear seeing of injustice, heart-touching examples, and practical suggestions in this timely and very useful book. It’s a pleasure to read, and the benefits will ripple through your life and onward, outward to the world.”
— Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
“A generous, inspiring, and illuminating book that reveals the meditative path as a way not of escaping reality but of plunging more wholeheartedly into it, with all its imperfections, anxieties, flawed teachers, injustices demanding our attention, and everything else. Confidence is a clarifying and empowering field guide to the world in which we actually find ourselves.”
— Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
“This book is a masterclass in marrying vulnerability with badassery, showing us that true confidence is about leaning into our authentic selves and owning our stories, sassy quirks and all. As Ethan Nichtern shows, real confidence comes from knowing ourselves fully — shadows, light, and all. A must-read for anyone ready to live boldly and unapologetically.”
— Sah D’Simone, bestselling author of Spiritually, We
“Ethan Nichtern can turn a phrase! Confidence is brilliant, highly honest, very down-to-earth, and helpful to anyone who intends to live meaningfully the privilege of being human, always striving to be more so. I love Ethan’s transcendent nontranscendence and strongly recommend you bring this beautiful and inspiring book into your life!”
— Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor Emeritus of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Department of Religion, Columbia University, and author of Wisdom Is Bliss
“During this time of vast uncertainty and divisiveness, where can we find genuine confidence in ourselves, each other, and the world? With his trademark sharpness and kindness, Ethan Nichtern’s new work teaches us that we can trust in the unchanging brilliance of our true nature and, in so doing, support others to do the same. Confidence, he tells us, is not about stabilizing in a superhuman place of certainty, but about holding uncertainty fearlessly.”
— Susan Piver, author of The Four Noble Truths of Love and The Buddhist Enneagram
“In a world where it’s easy for self-doubt to cloud our vision, Ethan Nichtern shares his profound insight and practical wisdom to illuminate the importance of cultivating confidence to navigate life’s complexities. Like everything Ethan teaches and writes, Confidence provides clarity and overflows with compassion, making it an essential read for anyone seeking self-discovery by unearthing and unleashing their inner strength.”