I don't believe in fine lines. I don't believe in limits. There is no straw that breaks a camel's back. Everything is gradual. That said, there is a balance that must be maintained. One between recognizing flaws in oneself and hating oneself, between respecting oneself and worshiping oneself, maintaining a unique identity and being pretentious, between friendship and adoration.
Yes, we must love ourselves, but we are not immune to criticism. "It's okay to be different!" We're told as children, and then we grow up trying too hard to be. If I were to believe only myself, I would be the ultimate narcissist. If I were to listen to only myself, I would be the ultimate narcissist.
In the spring of 10th grade, I received my reality check. I realized that I wasn't a genius. I realized that I wasn't some god sent down among the mortals to show the world how lacking in wisdom and profundity it is. We're all works in progress, and to think that we have reached our potential is intellectual arrogance and pretension.
So I try not to brag about being different. I try not to complain about problems that I know everyone else has.
Titles are worthless unless they are earned.