First thing’s first: if you haven’t seen “Bohemian Rhapsody” yet, I highly recommend finding a way to see it. It’s hard for me to even put into words how moved I was by this movie, and by Freddie Mercury’s personal story.

Freddie Mercury was a man who embraced what made him different. He realized that his differences are what made him truly special. From his over-sized mouth (apparently he was born with four extra teeth in his mouth and it caused his front teeth to jut out, but also gave him a larger mouth through which to sing and resonate incredible notes), to his flamboyant stage persona, to everything that Queen stood for as band, Freddie Mercury was a beacon of uniqueness and talent.

This movie really got me thinking about how important it is to be yourself. Rami Malek, the actor who took on the role of a lifetime in “Bohemian Rhapsody” had this to say about Mercury:

“On the stage, [Freddie] could be exactly who he wanted to be. There’s something quite powerful about that, not really caring about people’s perceptions. To get out there and do what he did.”

Freddie Mercury is perhaps one the best examples of the power of being yourself, and the true confidence that radiates out into the world as a result of living your most authentic life.

Why Freddie Mercy was Important

In addition to his legacy as a singer, songwriter and producer, Freddie Mercury has had a lasting impact as an inspirational figure. We’re still moved by his work and his words – the sign of a true artist – and continue to learn from his life’s journey, and his vision. Here are some of my favorite confidence lessons that I think we all can stand to learn from Freddie Mercury.

Freddie Mercury knew the value of charisma & likability

“The reason we’re successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course.” -Freddie Mercury

One of the things that set Queen apart from other rock bands in their time was their stage presence. They truly had that “spark” that drew people in, and made them want more and more. And Freddie Mercury as the band front-man was a huge part of that. He truly had a gift for connecting with the audience. His signature “call and response” and vocal improvisation with his adoring crowd was innovative; it was something no other band was doing at the time. But Mercury knew the value of building that bond, and it has solidified his place among the great performers of history.

Freddie Mercury had unwavering confidence

“I always knew I was a star. And now, the rest of the world seems to agree with me.” -Freddie Mercury

Something that really struck me as I was watching the movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” was the picture it painted of Freddie in his younger years, when he first linked up with his band and Queen was beginning their musical career. From the very beginning, Freddie knew he was special – believing in yourself is contagious.

Freddie Mercury dared to dream big

“You can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.” -Freddie Mercury

This is a big part of the reason why Freddie Mercury made “Bohemian Rhapsody,” along with his Queen band-mates. Queen prided themselves on being different – on being theatrical. The movie does a great job of capturing this in the scene where Queen presents the idea of Bohemian Rhapsody to their record label. They believed in their power to create something different, something special – something no one had ever created before.

And if there’s one big lesson I want you to take away from this post, as well as from Freddie Mercury’s legacy, it’s this: believing in yourself is enough. 

If you believe in yourself, truly and fully, you can accomplish anything.