Anja
New member
- Joined
- May 2, 2008
- Messages
- 2,967
- MBTI Type
- INFP
Does it have so much to do with open-mindedness / uncertainty as it does for getting an accurate gauge on your skills and abilities?
How does arrogance hamper with progress? Only if you're arrogant without substance to back up your attitude. Nobody grudges an arrogant genius... It goes with the position.
Perhaps the two issues are being confused here. It's not so much arrogance as complacence that slows us down. After all, you can look down upon others and still see the need to better yourself...
I had this thought on semantics as I was posting.
I'm wondering if you didn't mean overconfidence, Ygolo. Having an unrealistic view of one's knowledge and ability. The question does address what you are able to do or know, for sure.
That's why I believe it's important not to fall into the competition trap in regards to personal worth.
Who has more money is one thing. That's an obvious tangible. But who is the more qualified/knowledgeable person is something else altogether. Impossible to have an accurate view of how you're doing in the personal values department if you try to measure anothers' worth or have them measure you against their own values system. You know how much we dislike having others size us up and how often we feel that they are incorrect. Works both ways.
You don't want to go there even though it's an irresistible part of our nature as social animals. You'll always come up lacking somewhere down the line. Not good for your self esteem to compare yourself to others. Gonna tip too far one way or the other. Leaves you constantly re-evaluating your comparative worth. See what I'm saying?
Measure yourself by your own skills and abilities and you don't have to lose track everytime someone new comes along once you can more accurately judge your potential.
An afterthought in regards to the Wall Street suicides which I'm guessing we'll see more of in time. Put all your eggs in the "Who has more money?" game and what happens should you lose it? Apparently for some people life is no longer worth living. Get what I'm saying about personal qualities? You need many measures to create a life worth living.