Question: In Swedish there is a term called *självdistans*, which would be directly translated to "self-distance", which means possessing a certain objectivity towards yourself, to be ego-less or not taking yourself too seriously. In other words, it's a quality in a person that would be modest and not too egoistic. Important thing to stress here is that an apparent lack of "self-distance" is a negative thing while too much self-distance can also be seen as a negative trait as it would been that you are actively trying to avoid giving yourself credit for something you have done, or dismiss any praise you might get from others.

I am not sure if what I am trying to get at is clear enough or if I should try to explain it better. At any rate, I am trying to find a word or expression to express the same quality but I can't seem to find "self-distance" in any English dictionary. Is there a good, semi-formal word that fits in this context?

Answer: 
**Self-aware** is commonly used to describe a healthy objectivity toward oneself, though the formal definition is more limited. 

**Self-effacing** captures the idea of modesty, potentially to a fault. 

I don't know of an English word that combines both concepts in the way your Swedish term does.
The problem here is that although there's a Swedish word that can be used in certain contexts, I suspect it's quite likely different Swedes would interpret even that word differently.

For example, a person might be said to have the *självdistans* attribute if he ***acts*** in an *objective* manner (because he's deliberately being *equitable, evenhanded, impartial, impersonal*). These meanings all tend towards a general concept of *fairness*.

But another Swede may say a person has the *självdistans* attribute if they lack a strong sense of *personal identity*. Clinically speaking, people with [autism/Asperger's syndrome](http://www.lookingupautism.org/Articles/Asperger-brain-signal.html) fall into that category (the link says they *'lack brain signal linked to sense of self'*). That's an extreme case, but there are a whole host of words in that general area (*egoless, detached, unengaged*, etc.).

There are also plenty of words involving *spirituality, serenity, unworldliness*, etc.

And if a person lacks the ability to protect their own interests, they're *naive, gullible, artless*, etc.

All such words will come with connotations, but probably OP's own **objectivity** would be the best word for most contexts, if he wants to minimise positive/negative associations.