I believe there's a fine line between most things and finding that perfect balance between them is the key! Lately I've been thinking about that fine line between humble self-confidence and blatant conceitedness. It's one thing to be confident in one's own abilities and talents and quite another to be a conceited snob.
When one feels the need to constantly tell everyone what an awesome athlete/singer/cook/writer one is there might be an issue with finding that balance between humility and conceit. Furthermore, if a person constantly barrages anyone who will listen with how great their talent is and constantly berates others who are also similarly talented, I tend to discount that persons talent.....even if they are brilliant. Being braggadocios and boastful is just poor manners and makes one ugly in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong. It's great to believe in the depth of your talent, but believing that no one else in the entire world is as talented as you is short-sighted. It's true that there probably is someone in the world who is better than everyone else in their particular area of expertise. The chances that, out of everyone in the entire world that is YOU..... well, statistically speaking, the odds are not in your favor.
Here's what I'm wondering. What's wrong with being able to admit and accept that someone else plays/sings/cooks/writes as well as you do?" And, if you really do believe that no one is as equally talented as you, why can't you keep it to yourself? I feel that if one is truly talented, others will realize it without having it pointed out for them.
[steps down from soapbox]
