It should go without saying that it’s not possible for most people to be better than average. But we tend to believe we are. That’s because average can actually be quite good in many cases.

That feeling of being good at something can make us believe we’re great at it, especially when done in isolation or among small numbers of people.

Even the beginning stages of developing a new skill or acquiring new knowledge can feel that way. When you’re starting from scratch, any amount of progress can feel significant.

Overestimating yourself might be helpful in some situations, but in aggregate it will set you back. There’s nothing more valuable than seeing things the way they really are and operating accordingly.

Reality will often not match fantasy. Don’t be led astray by your fantasies or stories you tell yourself. Stay grounded.

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