Communication and Boundaries
Can a confident person say, “I do not know how to answer this”?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Yes. Confidence does not mean being able to answer every question. Knowing what you can and cannot yet do can help you face the moment more comfortably. You do not need to pretend to know something merely to impress people.
Dao Xuan described being called on by teachers in class: if he knew the answer, he answered; if not, he said, “Sorry, I do not know how to answer this.” When encountering unfamiliar tasks at work, he was also less likely to be held back by fear and more willing to face them. Others considered him confident. Looking back, he thought this might simply have been because he was less prone to stage fright.
This is one way to understand confidence. You do not have to appear stronger than everyone else in every respect. Recognize yourself honestly, acknowledge the abilities you already have, and be willing to face situations as they arise. Where you do not yet understand, leave room to continue learning.