Imagining a More Confident World: This is the Action We Need to Take for a Less Fearful Future

When I think of the world I want to see, it’s filled with confident, content people. All people are equal and strive for their best. We all feel supported and know where to go when we need help. This is the world I imagine while building Mavoure.

When I was 8, I thought the only piece missing from women leading a life they love was a lack of confidence. I thought women suffered from imposter syndrome and that we just never had the tools to overcome the fears we have that keep us from living the life we dream of. While girls and women still need tools to have more confidence and less fear, I realized that I’m missing half the puzzle: men. When men are empowered, they help others. When men lack confidence, they pull other people down with them. We’ve seen this recently with topics like misogyny and white supremacy. There is no one who lacks confidence and self-love more than a man who believes in misogyny and white supremacy. Both stem from fear: the fear that they themselves are not enough to succeed.

I month or so ago I attended a talk with Michael Smith, the ESPN anchor, where he said, “It’s not on Black people to fix racism. It’s on white people to fix racism. Likewise, it’s not on women to dismantle toxic masculinity or misogyny. It’s on men to dismantle misogyny or toxic masculinity.” This was such a profound moment for me. It’s true, women and people with less privilege can only do so much for themselves before they need a leg up, a helping hand from someone of privilege. I hope Mavoure is a space where all people, regardless of gender or race, can come to meet like-minded people and encourages people to live a life with less fear and more confidence.