What do you think about vanity?

Should I not have vanity or should I? Vanity is a representative of a person's pride and I do not think we could do without vanity in today's world. Isn't it our vanity that makes us feel out of place in we are in certain places? That make us think we are better than few people out there? I think all of us need a sense of pride for our own selves here, and as Paulo has exclusively asked for us to jolt down experiences with the good side of vanity- the best example would be me.

I used to feel like I am the lowest caste of all people in earth because I did not sense anything about myself that makes me stand out from the rest. Without vanity, my confidence would have remained at an all-time low. Once I found what my talent was, I did, and still have, a certain degree of vanity that actually allowed me not to feel intimidated like I always did before while being with an exclusive group of people. The vanity allows me to look at a person with a greater position than me in a social classification with no envy or dissatisfaction, what-so-ever, the vanity is pure and simple- that even though that person may have more money, more luxury, or whatever it may be- he did not have the talent that I have. However potentially egoistic and far-fetched it may sound, it actually helps in closing the intellectual and social gap that sometimes our society leaves a gaping hole in. But I am also aware that just like how I felt I was overlooked as being insignificant before, I too- at the moment in action of trying to put my vanity in a place similar to the 'greater man'- I am overlooking the 'lesser man' around me.

Nobody has come across and called me arrogant before, and in that sense, I am happy that I have kept my limits at good pace. But, I can't help but to wonder, have I destroyed the 'lesser man''s confidence in himself by overlooking him? How would he overcome that?

As Paulo has stated above, nothing is absolute- so I think the jury's still out as to whether vanity is good or bad. Just like anything else in life, I believe, vanity is both essential and also uncalled for in several places. My question in return is- could we keep our vanity in check so that we do not get so full of ourselves when we shouldn't? When, or how, do we put the brakes to this inner emotion? How do we channel it out the right way? How to we put the proper direction for this feeling? Because as much as I do not want to be underestimated through how I present myself and my self-assurance, I also would want to inspire others who need that inspiration to take pride in themselves.

Just my two cents.

Regards, Ram Anand

(I dropped this comment on Paulo's blog in response to this question)

What do you think about vanity?