Having quiet confidence in one's abilities, judgment, and worth without needing external validation. A stable sense of self-trust and inner certainty.
Compound of 'self' and 'assured,' from Latin securus meaning 'free from care' or 'certain.' The term emerged in the 1600s to describe confidence that comes from within rather than from others' opinions, representing psychological independence.
Self-assurance differs from arrogance in that it's calm rather than defensive - truly self-assured people don't need to prove anything because their confidence is internally generated. This makes them paradoxically more open to feedback and growth, since their self-worth isn't threatened by acknowledging areas for improvement.
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