In this enneagram book I have, it was talking about how we often idealize other people, see qualities in others that we wish we had. Then it said that the characteristics we admire in others are in fact characteristics we already posses but don’t recognize in ourselves.
What do you think of this? Have you noticed it in your life or noticed it in other people? I don't know if I believe it/agree with it or not based on my own experience...
Partially agree/disagree.
I tend to admire people who are go-getters, who are exceptionally resilient, who are true to themselves regardless of what others have to say about it, who are very ingenious and creative, and who are charismatic and entertaining.
I think all of these qualities I have to some degree but probably not to the degree of the people I admire. For example, I don't know if I'd ever have the degree of self-discipline or intense focus to accomplish things to a degree that the go-getters I admire do.
I'm resilient to some degree but there are limits. At some point I'm apt to get discouraged and give up. It's about raising the threshold to a higher level so I don't get discouraged or tempted to give up quite so soon.
Regarding ingenuity/creativity, I have good ideas sometimes but I don't see them as exceptionally original. I welcome out of the box thinking and admire such thinkers but I don't know if my thinking is all that out of the box. I'm not creative in the artistic sense and probably won't ever be talented in certain artistic realms but I still greatly admire creators of such artistic works.
I care too much what others think so to some extent I put up a front when around certain people. I try to do it in a way though, so I can preserve as much authenticity as possible and so I don't completely have to act like someone I'm not. Hope that made sense.
Regarding charisma, I think I may underestimate myself in this area. I'm not charismatic to the degree that Bill Clinton or someone like that is and probably never will be but I have been told on occasion that I do have my own brand of personal charm that comes out once someone gets to know me.
As far as being entertaining goes, I'm not an entertainer in the literal sense of the word but I am capable of being entertaining in terms of just being fun to be with or being a good conversationalist. Again, it's probably an area I underestimate myself in. I think I see myself as less interesting than others see me sometimes.