How Narcissistic Are You?

by ants

I am always surprised and somewhat intrigued by people I meet, whom at first come across as really compassionate and caring individuals shouting loud creeds of equal rights, justice and opportunities from the rooftops for all sentient beings. However, when I start digging and probing a little beneath that seemingly noble stand, as I do, I often discover something which is not concurrent with the lip service I experience on the surface.

A quick question to ponder: do you make everything about you or is it about something/someone else? Think about that for a moment.

You see, ultimately, we are obsessed about being recognised (either for something or just in general) or noticed, succeeding, getting ahead of everyone else or expressing something we believe to be right, true and/or important or even vaguely interesting. We like being in the lime-light and we enjoy the attention we get by standing out and taking a stand. Could this be leading to narcissistic personality disorder?

The Platforms To Narcissism

We tread on very precarious ground with this subject because self-obsession or narcissistic personality disorder or behaviour can be disguised and construed as self-development and can be the very stepping stone that has driven the world to blogging (a platform to be noticed and heard), MySpace, Facebook (networking), Twittering, reality TV or any other platform whereby you can voice YOUR opinion, start a riot, jump up and down or protest or write something, pose as a teacher, mentor or guru to “share” your so-called learnings with the rest of the world, all whilst you build an ego-enhancing loyal fan club.

Although blogging, networking and sharing an idea is a great way to connect, make yourself heard, fight for a just cause or transform the world, ask yourself who are you making this about? Is it about your own totally self-absorbed and self-obsessed views or is it about taking a truly holistic, big picture and altruistic approach to what is going on in the world around you and taking action to make a difference? Do you really have the interest of others at heart or are you hoping to make some money in your quest whilst standing on your podium preaching to have done or know it all?

My personal experience of Facebook is that everyone is much more concerned about letting the world know what they are having for lunch or what they are thinking, however arbitrary that might be right now or how they delight in sharing their personal family history and pictures with billions of people. As for blogging, I don’t need to tell you what is lurking out there!

The How Narcisstic Are You Check

Check yourself by answering the following questions truthfully:

Do you really care what happens to your neighbour and are you prepared to assist them in their struggles or at a time of need? No not your children only but your neighbours too?
Are you really fighting for animal rights or is it about attracting attention and making enough noise whilst being revered for your efforts?
Are you really sharing your learnings or do you love being on stage being noticed to overcome all those shortcomings you may have experienced in your youth?
What’s your real motive of sharing your life stories?
How do you really treat your spouse, your staff, your children, your neighbours and your animals?
Do you really walk your talk is does your own house need some serious spring-cleaning?
Are your really concerned about the welfare and well-being of your planet and participating in required initiatives?
How do you spread your wealth? Are you holding onto it or is it holding onto you?

When we start looking into the motives of why we really do or say what we do or say, we start noticing some other forces at play. Are we really in control of what we do, or is the age of narcissism in control of us with its grip so tight that we are convinced about our righteousness at the cost of everything or everyone else?

Be On The Lookout For These . . .

Do you find yourself using these statements or thinking on these lines often?

I don’t care about what he/she/they think/s - that’s not important and what does it have to do with me anyway?
Who cares, it’s not MY problem.
Someone else will recycle my rubbish or pick up my litter. Why should I do their job?
I work hard and therefore deserve my hard-earned cash and to hell with the poor or the rest of them. I can’t help that they are poor.
I’m able to attract anything (always positive of course!) I want into my life. And please ask yourself if that is true of your relationship, job, children, money and happiness.
MY thoughts can change the whole world.
That’s not my area of responsibility to take care of.
That has nothing to do with ME.
I cannot be taught anything further in that field, I’ve done it and know all of it.
How dare he/she/they question me?
Why should I suffer when I didn’t do anything wrong?
Dreaded disease/s doesn’t happen to me - I don’t DO disease or ATTRACT that kind of stuff into my life.
I didn’t have a part to play in the history or the past atrocities which were committed so why impose this on me?
I need to take care of MYSELF first and THEN ONLY can I help others.
I want, I need…
ME, MYSELF and I….

Do any of these sound familiar or have you used or do you ever use any of these on a regular basis?

So who are you really making this about?

Real Compassion

You see, true compassionate human beings DO care for everything and everyone in their universe and not just for those things or people in their own sphere of power or influence.

If you are truly altruistic and not so self-absorbed with your own life, thoughts, acquisitions and actions, you may notice all the beautiful beings and opportunities that exist around you, as you will the suffering in the world. Compassionate, caring, sensible beings take responsibility for everything that happens to them just as they take full responsibility for everything that happens in their universe and to others too. They take a stand for making a difference by giving more to those who don’t have the same opportunities by contributing positively to worthy causes and taking responsibility and being accountable for the education, self-development and prosperity of others as they do for themselves.

Truth is, we are all born the same. Our surroundings, our culture, our parents and our language shapes us, but we are all born equal. So if you think you are better, deserve more or are too precious or special to roll up your sleeves to get involved, think again! You may be caught up in the web of the narcissistic plague which is ruining humanity, communities and kinship as we have come to know it over centuries.

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