We often grant ourselves superstar status at the first sign of success and victim status at the first sign of failure. Perhaps this is in human nature to arrogate any achievement to oneself and blame the whole world for any failure. Arrogance often appears in the garb of confidence.
It is said that knowledge brings humility. It is because the more you know something, the more you realise how much more you don’t know. At the pinnacle of success, Sir Isaac Newton said, “To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.” Who can question Newton’s confidence?
Therefore, true confidence grows with an acute awareness of one’s own limitations. When success comes your way, your heart bows down to the force of providence in silent gratitude, as you realise that many other factors outside your control have contributed to this success. And, when you encounter a failure, you smile in silent acceptance of your current limitations. You are truly confident when, wearing a glowing smile, you are able to say, “I don’t know.”
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