What is the difference between vanity and having a healthy, positive self image?

Question

In raising my daughter, I find that sometimes I'm indulging her vanity, in the hopes that what she will grow into is a self-assured woman who knows her value. But I also worry that she will be cutting herself off from other opportunities, so I try to temper her vanity with humor, and I've also stated clearly that vanity isn't always an attractive demeanor to present to the world. Is there a happy medium?

Answer 1

Vanity involves not realizing where one's looks should fall on the priority scale and/or too much self-absorption. Vanity tends to disregard other people or make someone forget that no matter how pretty, fit, intelligent, or whatever else someone is there are always a zillion more people in the world just as pretty, fit, intelligent and whatever else.

A healthy, positive, self-image (for that lucky minority who can achieve that 100%) is healthy; and precisely because it is healthy it is able to put things into proper perspective and realize that no matter how "wonderful" one is he/she is not alone in his/her degree of "wonderfulness".

A positive self-image is also something that includes the who the person is on the inside as well. Vanity doesn't.

I think if a person has all the right attitudes and right respect for others she can afford the luxury of a little harmless vanity. There's something very normal about the young woman who cares about how she looks and doesn't want to just roll of out bed and go out without doing her hair and putting on a little make-up or whatever it is that makes her feel prettier.

Answer 2

Humility. Does she understand the wealth of valuable knowledge that other people represent? Everybody is worthy of the time you can give to them, so she should concentrate less on the defense mechanism you call vanity and more in discovering what solutions different people can provide.

Answer 3

Be happy with your self.
But be care full(Do not worship your self).
God Bless You!