Thoughts
Reflexivity in Confidence and Competence
Confidence vs. Competence
Confidence is often based on perception and expectation, while competence is the actual reality or fundamentals. I truly believe that competence should be prioritized, as genuine confidence is a natural byproduct of true competence—not the other way around. However, the relationship between confidence and competence is more complicated due to their reflexive nature.
Reflexivity
Confidence and competence are reflexive, meaning they influence and reinforce each other. Competence stimulates confidence, and confidence can further motivate us to improve our competence, creating a positive feedback loop. However, this reflexive relationship implies that confidence might—perhaps more often than not—grow faster than competence, creating a large gap between perception and reality.