First I have to give my thanks to this entire subreddit community. You guys have pointed me to the youtube links, the literature, and gave tons of support that helped me become who I am today.

I used to be a plain beta, always afraid to talk to women, always backing down from confrontation, made excuses for myself as to why I didn't do things, etc, etc. I then began a total transformation a few months ago and my life has never been the same since.

I read Models by Mark Manson and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (abbreviated TGR) within the same month and my world changed radically. Those books are absolutely fundamental to everyone in this subreddit...hell...every man on the planet.

I remember times I would come home from work and be furious, my knuckles white with the innermost hatred for the outside world. Why aren't there women lining up for me? Why do my friends put up with my company instead of enjoying it? Why won't the world give me the respect and love I deserve?

After reading TGR I realized one of the most profound things ever in my life: You create your own reality. I am 100% in control and responsible for the circumstances in my life. I am absolutely convinced of this philosophy because like a scientist I tested the methods, and it works. I'm not going to debate this philosophy because here is not really the time or place. But know this: you are NOT a victim of circumstance. You are absolutely responsible for everything that happens to you.

That being said I started to turn my anger against the outside world inwardly to myself. Why didn't that interaction with that girl go well? Because I screwed up. Why don't I like my body? I don't work out. Why don't people want to be around me? I give off bad vibes in social interactions. Why don't people show me respect? I don't give them any reason to distinguish me.

Turning the anger towards myself made me, for a while even, more depressed and angry, because I could no longer blame outside circumstances for the misfortune in my life. Stripped bare, there was no one and nothing to blame for my unhappiness but myself. Then something strange happened. The anger, at myself, burned so furiously in my soul that it transformed. Into ACTION.

I couldn't stand my own mind telling me negative things about myself. Kicking myself in the ass all the time when I let a girl walk by without saying hi. "Why didn't you say hi? Pussy." I wasn't being honest with myself. So to avoid thinking negatively about myself, I started to do things different, things that my critical brain could not rip me apart for later on. I thought "If I work out then I can't harshly criticize my body because I'm doing something about it."

I heard an old saying, "Do esteemable things and you will have self esteem." That's absolutely true. What I've done is basically take the things I didn't like about myself, my clothes, hair, body, language, body language, mindset, and piece by piece made an improvement. And it continues to today. When I take a look in the mirror before I go to bed now, I can say that I did what I could to be my very best.

My confidence now flows like a fountain. Because I read books, work out, dress nice, etc I'm doing the things that naturally build confidence. Don't buy into the "fake it till you make it" thing with confidence. Just do the things that make you feel good about yourself, and it will flow authentically and naturally.