How do you tell someone that they’re not good at something that they think they’re good at?
An example of this is someone who thinks that they’re good at social engagements, but unfortunately, they’re actually quite socially awkward. I find this specific example very difficult to explain to people, because their perception of what made for good conversation is quite different. Their readings of other people’s physical responses to their speech is also not very accurate, which leads to more misunderstood approval.
Perhaps I also suffer from this at times, when I misread someone’s physical cues, and I assume that everything is going well. But this is quite infrequent, and thankfully I have my wife to alert me on occasions when I do misread. But truthfully, perhaps this happens more often.
Maybe at the end of the day, I’m actually the one that’s not very good at something that I think I’m good at. And unfortunately, that will be something I need to work through. I think keeping myself humble through all these thoughts of self glorification is something I really need to be aware about, and work towards improving in any way possible.
But before it goes into a dark spiral of self doubt, I do think having other people to correct or to affirm you is really a good thing to look forward towards. I appreciate the times when I’m corrected, and I look forward to my own improvement. I just hope I get it more often, and in an encouraging way of course.