Does Critical Thinking Build Confidence?

Confidence in our decisions can be gained through experience with trial and error. In making decisions and having them be successful you gain confidence in your abilities. Outside of experience the critical thinking process can also give you confidence in your decisions. The critical thinking process allows you to take the thoughts and actions of others into consideration before you make your decision. Knowing what others have thought before you gives you a basis to work from in making an informed and educated decision. Once you have the basis of your thinking in the analization you are then able to asses the information for accuracy and reliability. This assessment builds upon your confidence even more by confirming and supporting your analization. Both of these steps are essential to developing your confidence in your decisions.

The critical thinking process increases your confidence because, in a sense, it takes you out of the equation. The doubts or questions you may have about your understanding and grasp of the information is removed through the process of critical thinking. You remove yourself from the process and you remove the doubt in the decision. The less the decision relies on your understanding the more assured you are that the decision is correct. Your confidence in your decision grows because you are not a factor in the decision.