OTOH, cassp, we have all seen musicians who beat themselves up constantly for not matching their OWN lofty goals, while all around them others tell them how good they really are!

Personally, I really think that ALL opinions are important, but it remains down to each one of us how we weight them, and act upon them... After seeing an audience throw adulation upon someone with virtually no talent at all, but a good stage presence and nice looks, is that REALLY how you want to judge yourself? Or watching musicians heap praise upon a 'player' who leaves just about any audience cold and uninterested, again, is that how you rank yourself? Or listen to other musicians, who obviously rate ONLY their own inflated opinion of themselves, no matter HOW dreadful they really are...?

Somewhere between the three, there's a consensus... whether we want to admit it is another thing!

BTW, fear not the 'Wrath of Diki'! Even if incurred, I won't at least stoop as low as some here, and insult you personally..