Aww! That's so sweet!

I don't think you are highly intelligent.

It makes me feel uncomfortable... like I'm somehow perpetuating a fraud.

[@ Linda] Don't take this as an insult of any kind, it isn't, but some time with a therapist might help you uncover why it is you won't allow yourself to feel good about you. Did a parent or sibling trash you at a young age and make you believe it? Abuse can do great and lifelong damage... even verbal abuse can be devastating a whole life long. It can be very difficult to break free of a bad reputation someone might have unfairly inflicted on you. I would suggest try positive affirmations. (Like if you walk 40 minutes each day, that would be a good time...and you just pick 2 or 3 statements about yourself or your life that you would LIKE to become true, and just keep saying them over and over again in your head as you walk. Do it every day. You know why this works? because without you even being aware of it, your subconscious is working 24/7 to reinforce whatever stray thought you put into it with a conscious thought. If you think you're unlucky, your subconscious will keep causing you to notice things and think things that seem to reinforce that you actually are unlucky. But if you tell yourself you're lucky, it will work to make that true instead. ANYTHING you tell your subconscious it will make real...and if you're unaware your mind works this way, you may just be tricked by the whole illusion. ....So: just as you should be careful what you tell people you are, because it will stick indelibly, so also take great care what you tell yourself! Be nice to you. Believe you're worth it. Treat you like you'd treat someone else you felt compassion for.

No offense taken. I see it as the self-help I asked for, I do have a therapist I see regularly. I signed on here to see how far I'm swinging from 'normal' on certain thoughts. Please forgive me if I'm asking something clearly posted elsewhere, I haven't yet learned how to navigate this site. No offense intended, but what are your credentials? And thank you sincerely for your help.

@Anoname maybe we should just be as honest as possible, correct when we recognize a misconception and allow others to take responsibility for their own thoughts.

Sound advice.

It is true we tend to see (and also present) the best side. We seldom see the whole. And we often compare the best in others to the worst in us. Everyone has strengths and challenges.

Hmmm... how to assure you I think I'm a fairly awesome person without gushing a disgusting arrogance? I do have issues distinguishing fine lines and boundaries. My decision in the conversation was to state the truth as clearly as I was able to see and express it so as not to perpetuate a fraud. Their wrong assumptions (in this instance) are their responsibility. Trying to convince would only have appeared as humility to them. It was not a 'first' impression situation I've known them for years. I believe it was more along the lines of someone seeing what they wanted to see instead of truth. I'm much more comfortable about the whole situation after talking it out here. Again, thank you!

Perception, very often, is reality.

My parents didn't have very lofty expectations for me. But boot camp, childbirth and child rearing has taught me that I can do things I never thought I could!

As a parent, I'm trying to instill the same thinking into my daughter.

My father left when I was 2 so I'm not a wealth of knowledge on that subject. As far as I'm concerned any father who's there for their daughter has earned my respect.

To me, it's all about one's drive. "You can move mountains. You just have to begin carrying away the small stones." Anything is possible in this life, it just depends on how much you want to work for it.