Humility and Confidence

Humility is the small door to wisdom that opens to all who are willing to bend.

One important step away from data-driven foolishness is to find a new perspective on two key filters within our decision-making process: humility and confidence. When I consider my own approach to these qualities, I find that I tend to twist them in harmful ways - something like the following:  

Humility (n): A disagreeable lack of confidence appropriate for OTHER people.  

Confidence (n): The deeply desirable feeling that my decisions will produce superior outcomes because they are informed by the unbiased data guiding my own wise perspective.   

Wise decisions require a new perspective on each of these qualities. As food for thought, I’d suggest the following definitions:    

Humility (n): The door to wisdom which opens when I intentionally confront the limitations of my knowledge, perspective, and goals.   

Confidence (n): The dangerous feeling that contributes toward ignoring the limitations of my knowledge, perspective and goals. 

How might you describe your relationship with humility and confidence?