Arrogance and confidence

I often think about the difference between arrogance and confidence. Arrogance ties my identity to being right. Confidence gives me the security to admit when I’m wrong. I can change my mind and still trust myself.

That relationship with the truth also requires intellectual humility. I can trust my judgement while accepting that there are things I have misunderstood or have yet to learn.

When being right becomes part of my identity, admitting a mistake feels like losing something. I can end up defending a position long after I have stopped examining it.

This connects with the idea of a growth mindset: seeing my ability as something I can develop. If I believe I can learn, a mistake gives me something to work with. Confidence, humility and a willingness to grow can support each other.

The question I want to keep asking myself is: when evidence challenges me, am I curious about it, or immediately preparing my defence?