12 Comments
User's avatar
ansorensen's avatar

As I grow up, I tend to see that vices are misapplied virtues, and vice versa. There absolutely is a power in knowing who you are, what you want, and confidently holding forth despite adversity and contrary opinions.

However, in our world of online virtue signaling, too often this proclamation of personal greatness comes without understanding of one's self, having desires 100% manipulated into corporate engineered cravings, and its thrown up reflexively as a shield against imagined attacks. The "warriors" mentioned in the song are too often shadow boxing.

Because actually being glorious has nothing to do with a proclamation to the world. It has everything to do with fixing your mind on things of true importance, setting your north star, and persistently pursuing it. The confidence and gloriousness of the individual comes not from words, but the transformation that only comes through relentless practice.

In the moments when I have had that level of self-confidence and insight, I often realize that my natural inclinations are backwards. I fail to assert myself and my boundaries when I should, and then attempt to compensate by inserting my ego when I should focus on others.

Expand full comment
J.E. Petersen's avatar

The right approach is usually the harder one. When it’s the right time to assert yourself, it’s harder than focusing on other people. When it’s the right time to refocus your attention on other people, it’s harder than asserting yourself.

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

Yeah, narcissism is having a long moment, basically being misappropriated for tossing at anyone some person doesn't like, and most often close relationships - parent, siblings, partner, coworker, manager.

Only around one to two percent of the population are genuine narcissists.

It's popular to label other people with a personality disorder, purely because they don't seem to exist solely to make us happy. Irony at its finest.

Expand full comment
J.E. Petersen's avatar

You basically said what I was trying to say, but better. Except it’s gotten to the point that I’m no longer sure there’s such a thing as a “genuine narcissist.” Narcissism just seems symptomatic of actual problems, like trauma, addiction, etc. People behave narcissistically when they are reacting from a less mature paradigm of self.

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

Hmm. Except that narcissism is a personality disorder, rather than a glitch in the maturation process.

Expand full comment
J.E. Petersen's avatar

But wouldn't it be fair to argue that most (maybe all) personality disorders are the result of a glitch in the maturation process?

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

Ah, I see your point.

If there's such a thing as a normal or good maturation process, then everyone would grow up to have the same personality, without flaws?

I don't see that as being plausible.

Expand full comment
J.E. Petersen's avatar

I seriously take issue with the idea that a healthy upbringing would produce homogenized personalities. For instance, I married a woman from an uncommonly loving and supportive family, where each of the children grew into mature, responsible adults, but they are tremendously different from one another.

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

That's personality, not a maturation process.

Expand full comment
Sean Worsley's avatar

Love the Greatest Showman, hate that song as well

Expand full comment
J.E. Petersen's avatar

Good to know!

Expand full comment
Joanna Sakievich's avatar

Amen.

Expand full comment