Confidence and Humility

By Dr. Patty Williams on October 10, 2022

BISN founder and president Dr. Patty Williams is a trauma therapist who specializes in EMDR, ND-Affirmative DBT, and IFS modalities. Through Bright Insight Support Network, she works to counsel, coach, and advocate for gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent persons, along with other marginalized populations.

Confidence and Humility

Blogging is a difficult thing to do at times. It is vulnerable. I used to feel more comfortable as I put myself in the position of expert. Now I feel far more exposed.

The ups and downs of multilevel disintegration are hard.

I’ve found myself there again.

The waning and waxing of confidence versus humility,

When actually they exist as compliments- each of the other.

It is exhausting.

What makes me an expert on anything? This is an odd question as I know I have a lot to teach. I could argue why I know what I do, however, this is also seemingly subjective. Are you not also an expert?

The way I run Bright Insight Table Talks (BITTs) assumes all who participate have some pocket of expertise and wisdom to share. This is why I am not a presenter at BITTs and do not vet participation. Every person who is interested in attending has something to bring to the table. When there are say ten of us, you have ten experts of their own experiences to learn from and your own expertise to offer. This also extends to participants, therefore, multiple opportunities to learn.

In relation to giftedness and the gifted community, I see a great error, however. Often, we make the mistake of thinking we know more or better than our neurotypical peers. However, we forget that a person’s experience brings with it value and that since their experience and learning are not my own, they will be qualitatively (and quantitatively) different than my own. Because of this, every person has knowledge I do not have. I can learn from anyone. The moment I think I cannot is the moment I completely limit my development.