It's a Fine Line

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]

It's a Fine Line

Lately I feel like I've lost my self identity. Maybe "lately" is a bit understated since I spent the better part of the last 10 years making adjustments to how I act and what I say so others feel comfortable and safe. And to be honest, I think that's a good thing to do, but at what point does it become too much? Where does one draw the line?

There's a fine line which separates the two extremes of everything. A fine line between love and hate, pleasure and pain, good and evil.......there's also a fine line between being true to one's self and being selfish. This one has been on my mind a lot the past few weeks and I'm trying to find the correct balance between the two. After all, isn't that what the fine line is; the balance one should strive to find? However, finding that balance and walking that fine line are often easier said than done.

Why should I feel selfish when I feel I've reached my tipping point when it comes to this fine line balance? The only thing I'm really good at is being myself and if I don't have that, it's very disconcerting. I'm not sure this is something I could even change since I've been doing it so long, but at least with the thought germinating in the back of my mind, I might be able to make it a bit more balanced.