It happens to all of us.
We’re talking to someone about something, and we’re having a really good conversation. And then all of a sudden, they feel it’s really important that you know that they climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro or that they met Britney Spears in a nightclub and she complimented them on their outfit, but no wait, this totally ties into the story you were telling me about how your lunch got misplaced in the community refrigerator.
And for some reason, they always start that humble brag comment with what they’re not doing: not to brag or not to come off this way or that. But no matter how they preface it, they sort of end up sounding like a righteous jerk anyway.
And if you’re anything like me, this even applies to even the smallest accomplishment or the tiniest brandishing of the ego. Any positive self talk at all seems to grate against my sensibilities.
Even if someone is like I really had a great weekend and I got a lot of things done, I am somehow personally offended. Who do they think they are that they can be positive about themselves when I’m over here wallowing in self doubt like a pig in mud?
But even though some people are really bragging to your face, this doesn’t mean that a little show of self confidence is necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can really be the difference between getting ahead in life. When people see you believe in yourself, they believe you too. Their confidence in themselves does not take anything away from you.
Now do you need to tell everyone you hiked Everest? No, because their opinion of your worth doesn’t really matter. But if you feel like you did something well, and someone asks you to elaborate on it, don’t be afraid to tell them. Humble brag or regular brags aside, you should be proud of your contribution to the world.
Bailey Dailey 