What
is the difference between pride and confidence? How can you develop
confidence without pride? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary
Edition, page 1273).
Nerd
defined:
An
intelligent but single-minded expert in a particular technical field
or profession (WordWeb Pro).
:
an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially :
one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits (Merriam-Webster).
I
think most parents want a child who has at least one aspect of the
nerd; namely, a child with some remarkable talent or proficiency. On
the other hand, they clearly would prefer the child not suffer from a
chronic, neurotic sense of broadly based ineptitudes. Good parents do
their best to instill in the child a self-confidence that has broad
applicability and helps build a generalized can-do attitude when
facing challenges from a vast array of unpredictable sources.
Therefore when I speak of confidence, I am not referring to that
based upon a narrow, specialized expertise. It is obvious that an
Olympic swimmer will have more confidence in their swimming ability
than someone who considers dog paddling 3 feet a major
accomplishment.
Now
a generalized sense of confidence might seem to hazard the danger of
overconfidence or, to put it another way, of an inordinate amount of
overweening pride. The essential difference between confidence and
pride is that confidence allows us to welcome any challenge with
humility. Thus, I realistically compare the challenge presented with
my skill set. If it is outside that set, I undergo no psychological
gymnastics, but gladly take the problem to someone who does have the
ability to take care of the problem. I don’t flagellate myself for
not having universal expertise. Pride, on the other hand, lacks this
essential humility. It always demands expertise in all matters. To
put it another way, confidence allows for a sense of equality. I am
on a level playing field when it comes to the initial stages of
problem solution. Thus, I am free to objectively assess all
matters to determine whether I can positively contribute to the
solution of the challenge. I have unabashed certitude that I can make
this assessment objectively and with humility and will have the
psychological freedom to turn the challenge over to others when
necessary. Pride, on the other hand, straps its victim down with a
curse of closed-minded superiority—I am not only equal with others,
I am always superior to others in all matters. Thus, confidence is
followed by problem resolution, and pride is followed by implacable
problem escalation.
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