Someone I was conversing with recently lamented their lack of talent. A lot of people feel this way, even if they don’t express it as explicitly as this person. In a society that places a premium on talent and celebrity, where content celebrating talent is demanded and supplied across every channel, it’s clear that a lot of people would feel this way.
One thing I did right very early in life was avoid any form of celebrity worship or idolatry. Even as a child, I realized that I felt diminished every time people around me heaped praise on someone else. That extended to all the media stars in our daily lives such as athletes, celebrities, wealthy people, or anyone else really.
I have also had an inner dialogue on this tendency of mine. I went back on forth on whether I was just fragile and envious, or if I was truly protecting myself from something dangerous and insidious. Sure, there’s always envy, but it certainly hasn’t led me to be ungracious or hostile toward those who are talented. I admire talent, I just don’t absorb it so deeply that it impacts my own well-being. I don’t regret not having learned an instrument at a young age, or practicing a sport until I was good enough to be wanted by a professional team. I don’t blame my parents for not forcing me to commit to developing one of my talents, such as drawing. Because I’m okay without it.
Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding: I don’t have an inferiority complex. I don’t think people would call me particularly talented, but it doesn’t matter to me. But more importantly, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to articulate why I made that decision early on, and just how foundational it has been to who I am and how I’m able to cut through much of the noise of life and find some real, substantive answers.
The last thing any of us need is to consume more media celebrating the amazing skills, talents, and qualities of people we don’t know. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating talent when you see it, but intentionally consuming a torrent of media extolling the talents of people you will never know does have an effect on our well-being. I’m sure there are some who will be inspired to try harder and be more, but I suspect there are many more who will be adversely impacted over time and with greater exposure.
The best advice I can give: be mindful of how much attention you give to others, keep more of your attention to yourself, and don’t think about people who won’t ever think about you.
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