Vanity vs Confidence

It’s strange how two similar personal attributes can have such a wide margin between them regarding how they are received by surrounding individuals. Confidence is universally accepted as one of the premiere attributes to possess, yet vanity is universally accepted as one of the most loathsome attributes to possess…despite the fact that both are rooted in the same principal– simple contentment and satisfaction with ones self.

It is from this root level that the two are allowed to blossom, and which direction one takes it is dependent on a number of seemingly unrelated elements that the person possesses; the most general of which being one’s ability to appreciate external forces and objects. It is no coincidence that another definition of vanity is hollow, or empty, for it is from a lack of appreciation for external life that one is allowed to appreciate one’s self so passionately. On the other hand, those who do appreciate external elements of life find that, since their overall satisfaction with their persona is appropriately where they want it, other avenues of thought and action merit the bulk of their attention– directing it outside of themselves, rather than into themselves.