4 Proven Benefits of Confidence | Why I Wear a Paint Smock)
- Mar 18, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 4
Creativity can be messy—and that’s a good thing.
Fortunately, I have a solution: a paint smock.
But it’s more than a layer of protection.
My smock is my confidence cape.
Thirty years ago, Mary—twenty years my senior—gave me my very first one. I remember watching her athritic hands cradle a brush with fearless tenacity in art school.
She inspired me.
And when she handed me that smock, she passed along more than fabric—she passed along courage.
Every time I drape it over my shoulders, I give myself permission:
to be a bit wild,
to experiment,
to redo and restart,
to paint without judgment.
It’s amazing how a simple garment can change how you feel.
Todd Herman, author of The Alter Ego Effect, calls this enclothed cognition—the way clothing influences our mindset.
Think of Superman stepping into a phone booth.
Or Todd himself, slipping on his black-framed glasses to feel more intellectual before speaking to an audience.
For me, it’s my smock.
For you, it might be a pair of heels, a tailored blazer, or even your favorite lipstick shade.
Whatever it is, it can become your “cape.”
And the benefits of confidence? They’re proven, powerful, and worth leaning into.
4 Benefits of Confidence
1. More energy.When you feel confident, your energy lifts. You walk taller, move faster, and tap into motivation that propels you forward.
2. Greater self-worth.Confidence helps you act instead of overthinking. You stop circling in self-doubt and instead give yourself permission to try, fail, and try again.
3. More joy.When you’re confident, comparison fades. You can delight in being yourself—and joy naturally follows.
4. Less fear and anxiety.Confidence doesn’t eliminate challenges, but it steadies you. You adapt, learn, and grow without being paralyzed by “what ifs.”
Whether it’s a smock, a red tie, a favorite scarf, or those $300 shoes you splurged on—your “confidence cape” is worth putting on.
Because when you do, you don’t just protect yourself from the messiness of life—you give yourself the courage to soar.
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