Confidence

I find it particularly interesting that we glorify confidence as one of the hallmarks of a strong, resilient character, when it has proven time and time again that it fails us.

Is this tenuous, fragile state of being self-assured and the act of being assertive actually contributing anything to help us understand a situation for what it is, as opposed to merely how we feel about it? All too often, our compulsion to maintain an image of confidence becomes an obstacle to reason and  objectivity. 

Confidence is only good when it is conjoined with lucid and rational judgment. But even with sound judgment, how can anyone be so sure? Why be sure, when in this paradoxical, hostile, and chaotic world, it’s not only nearly impossible to be completely sure from an objective standpoint, but, even being justifiably sure, it’s more than likely that our selfish, narrow-minded, and erratic emotional tendencies will inevitably undo any rational judgment we once had? 

Lest we continue to conflate confidence with character, charisma with competence, bravery with bravado, and certainty with success, when in reality they all belie the truth of their counterpart. 

It should be good to be unsure. It should be good to say “might,” “maybe,” or “perhaps.” 

And above all, in an effort to whittle down and disintegrate this pretense of confidence at its roots, it should be good to say, “I was wrong.”