Arrogant people aren’t likeable. There just are no two buts about it. I remember hearing the lyrics for a Psi Com (Perry Farrell’s first band before Jane’s Addiction) song, “replenish the humble, diminish the full” from Human Condition. I thought about those words. They reminded me of something I had heard from the bible, humble yourself and you shall be exalted or something like that. It is the justice and nectar of the universe. Those who bring themselves up as mighty shall be brought low. I have witnessed this in my own life. The more I keep my nose to the grindstone and don’t get my ego involved, the better off I am. But god, does it ever take work. We are beaten into us all the time that “confidence” is the most important thing. And it IS important. But not the beating of chest kind of confidence. Something I once heard Sogyal Rinpoche utter was “intrinsic confidence.” This is the confidence that is the shape of our soul. It is the part of us that is so righteous and courageous that confidence comes with no further effort. If we have to exalt ourselves there is a problem. That’s why I have a problem with self promotion. Maybe my career in music, acting, and writing will take longer because I’m not going to carry pictures of myself around or tell people to “like” my facebook page. I refuse to take part in this current trend of self promotion. Maybe there won’t ever be a career! But I will never stop creating. I will create in the face of rejection. I will keep putting my thoughts and feelings out there in the shape of songs, screenplays, and blog posts. Even if nobody ever reads it, I will be a better person for not having repressed my vision. And I won’t be arrogant, because I won’t need to be. The mightier I get, the humbler I’ll be. That’s not bragging, that’s truth.