Greek mythology says that Narcissus, son of the god
Cefiso and the nymph Liriope, when identifying the
beauty of his own image through the reflection of the
lake water, he was so enchanted with his figure
reflected there, that he ended up being distracted and
perished by drowning. From this tale comes the
expression narcissistic or narcissism, which is
equivalent to saying: to die by illusion ... According
to legend, Narcissus was a man endowed with
extraordinary appearance, which aroused immense
attention and admiration. However, Narcissus was also
arrogant, proud and conceited, which led him to the
supreme sum of falling in love with himself instead of
loving other people who loved him.
In any case, people with a narcissistic personality are
generally inclined to search for greatness. They carry
in them a never ending desire to be admired, as well as
a marked disdain and lack of empathy for others. As if
that were not enough, they also show other serious
mismatches such as: arrogance, false superiority and a
yearning for power. That said, it is undeniable that,
although we live in a real and tangible world, not a few
suffer from narcissism to some degree. Therefore,
narcissistic individuals have been associated with
highly undesirable characteristics, such as:
“1) - The leadership. Narcissists need to
exercise dominance to feed their egos. However, as they
“command” others, since they have the facility to do so,
they neglect the needs of their subordinates. The
junctions of these items make them bad bosses, although
I think the opposite is true. Narcissists are not good
leaders and they confuse leadership with
authoritarianism.
2) - Center of attention. Narcissistic people are
sociable and communicative and establish their
relationships in a way that draws a lot of attention
from the people around them, they like to have the
spotlight on them. Not everyone always sees these people
in a good way, as they are always in evidence.
3) - Eccentricity. Narcissists give excessive
attention to the stereotype. In this context, they are
excessively concerned with clothes and accessories,
often becoming ostentatious. They are interpreted by
those who see them as different and daring people.
4) - Vanity. An excessive cult of the body exists
on the part of these people. This point is valued for
being natural seducers and they always tend to be
directed towards that. It is common to see narcissists
exaggerate when doing physical activities in search of
perfection, which, many times, they never achieve,
because they always want more.
5) - Loving relationships. Narcissists treat their
partners as great achievements, displaying them as
trophies so that the world can see how they are loved
and loved. This need to appear is also constantly
expressed within their own relationships, where they
have a constant need to always demonstrate to partners
the existing interest of others in themselves, and who
can betray them at any time.
6) - Self-valorization. Often, in the search for
self-worth they hurt and distort the image of those
around them in an attempt to make their own image, in a
comparison, better. When they are surrounded by more
important people, they tend to devalue them, tarnishing
their images, so that in a way, even illusory, they are
better in front of the others.” [1]
In addition, studies suggest that many corporate
presidents, celebrities and politicians exhibit
typically narcissistic behavior. What seems
indisputable, however, is that narcissistic leaders see
the world exclusively from their perspective. [2] Very
recently, in fact, we have seen one of the clearest
examples of narcissistic leadership on the planet under
the administration of Donald Trump in the United States.
So disastrous was his management at the head of the
largest nation on the planet, that Covid-19 reached a
frightening level of contamination of the citizens of
that country. His constant clashes with much of the
press and health officials were bizarre episodes in
which the truth of the facts mattered little.
During his entire time in office, he expressed an
erratic and highly confrontational style of
"leadership", and many of the aspects listed above were
observed to exhaustion. Behaving like an authentic
emperor and “the only owner of the truth”, he fired
proficient auxiliary and direct advisers who questioned
him with disconnected and often irrational decisions.
Moreover, he propagated uncertainties and untruths
almost on a daily basis, as the prestigious Washington
Post newspaper found out. His upset personality has even
gone so far as to break with America's important and
traditional allies (and which the current government is
striving to rebuild).
Not happy with the outcome of the unfavorable elections,
he tried in every possible way to disqualify the
previously respected and immaculate American electoral
counting system - even without presenting concrete
evidence of fraud or errors. His narcissistic and
self-centered ways - typical of a person who does not
admit to setbacks or setbacks of any kind, and as if
life were a process under which only his individual will
prevailed - led him even further to the challenge of
encouraging supporters to invade the Congress, which
culminated in the death of several people, and many of
the offenders being prosecuted. Finally, because of his
emotionally unstable personality, Washington, DC, the
American capital, is under a strong regime of isolation.
Apparently, the American leader is a Spirit who overstep
the mark in his role as conductor of the nation, and the
deleterious effects of his administration will be felt
for a long time, since the great nation is now
politically split. I took such an extreme example for
its didactic character and to show how dangerous a
narcissus individual can be to the social and even
spiritual fabric. Given the excessive pride and
arrogance of such people, good spiritual companionship
certainly does not accompany them.
As the maxim says: “Tell me who you are with and I
will tell you who you are”. In this sense, it is
certain that unfortunate entities inspire them with
ideas, measures, actions and deliberations that are at
least shocking. As they do not cultivate the habit of
shielding themselves through sincere prayer or
self-illuminating initiatives, they end up drinking, so
to speak, from sources poisoned by evil thinking.
Therefore, what they do is generally harmful to society
as a whole.
The case of the former American president is rare given
his magnitude, as well as the power he has enjoyed.
Social scientists dedicated to the delicate field of
leadership have abundant material for analysis and
conjecture. It undoubtedly represents an extreme
situation of narcissism and its consequences. However,
the present moment – full of invitations to folly - also
presents situations of less impact in this sphere, but
no less worrying. I even think that there is in our
midst today a considerable contingent of creatures
touched by the deeply exacerbated ego. Creatures still
averse to the realization of higher ideals in the inner
dimension and the eminently responsible theme of the
immortal Spirit. Individuals who have not yet realized
that "All human beings exist to achieve inner growth,
their individuation", as reasoned by the Spirit Joanna
de Angelis. [3]
As the said benefactor well explains:
“Over the millennia, upon reaching the state of
humanity, the heritage accumulated in the millions of
years that have elapsed in the process of continuous
transformations, triggers the preponderance of
egocentrism, initially, following the path of egotism
exacerbated until the moment when the change of level
occurs from the consciousness asleep to the awakening,
responsible for more enriching emotional acquisitions”. [4]
Returning to the above reasoning, it seems to us that
the present times have been favorable to the emergence
and exaltation of individuals with disorders of this
nature. Referring to this particular moment in which
logic and common sense seem to be absent, Joanna de
Angelis ponders that:
“We live in the age of having and having power, showing
off and enjoying, without the consequence of inner
harmony and spiritual enrichment.
Appearance replaces reality, and the important thing is
not the inner being, but the exalted ego, which causes
envy and competition on the stage of illusion.
In a way, the existential meaning, the purpose of life,
the transcendent focus of self-realization has been
lost. As a result, the pathologies of behavior increase,
and the banquet of the masked takes on a dark aspect…” [5]
Thus, we see people from all social classes, professions
and ages exhibiting narcissistic behaviors, and
expanding, by extension, the lack of peace in the human
environment. One sees, by the way, creatures profoundly
distilling pathetic attitudes of self-loathing and
exhibitionism by all possible means. As well as the
mental pathologies they carry on the imo of
being, their unbalanced behaviors, in addition, bring
enormous damage to the earthly psych sphere. The
unhealthy behavior that they exude in no way helps to
fill the huge void of the soul of many who blindly
follow them. In a world where bad examples prevail, many
believe themselves to be greater than God. Few realize
the evils they harbor within themselves for embracing
distorted views and perceptions of what they really are
in intimacy.
The Spirit Emmanuel also addressed the topic, even
stating that “[...] in the Earth's Crust, where the
overwhelming majority of people are paralyzed souls,
with regard to virtue, rare men know the disharmony of
spiritual health that concerns them, aware of their
undisputed needs”. [6] Consequently, without the
possession of health in their Spirits, the highest
levels of human development are not reached. [7] At
this point, it is important to emphasize that earthly
science has endeavored to understand the real meaning
and impact of spiritual health on human creatures.
Scientists have proposed that spiritual health
encompasses a universal dynamic, developmental,
conscious and multidimensional process, which induces
the attainment of spiritual awareness, personal capacity
and transcendence. In addition, they are associated with
relevant attributes such as: the feeling of
completeness, moderation, establishment of harmonious
interconnection, purpose, meaning of life and faith. As
a result, it is theorized that spiritual health would
produce physical, psychosocial and spiritual well-being,
in addition to moral development. [8]
Therefore, individuals with narcissism, obviously, need
treatment to acquire their spiritual health. It will not
be something fast and not easy to achieve, especially to
those who devote exaggerated adoration for themselves
and / or their deeds. It requires considerable effort to
have an exact understanding of its underlying pathology,
as well as to recognize the need to walk in the path of
self-discovery (awakening consciousness).
In fact, the simple awareness of the anomaly generated
by narcissism, gives the sincere creature to improve
enough elements to start his self-healing process. In
this sense, it is vital to have the moral courage to
examine your own actions in the light of the framework
outlined by the Master of Masters. From then on, as the
Spirit Joanna de Angelis prescribes, for example: “[...]
if you dedicate yourself to intimate transformation,
which reflects in changing other behaviors for the
better, you will be able to achieve the true goal of
psychological maturation”. She adds that: “With this
deepening of the spiritual self, full health will be a
friend in the great proposal that takes you in search of
personal and human fulfillment”. [9]
Furthermore, the most effective remedy, it seems to me,
for being narcissus is the assimilation of humility as a
behavioral pattern. Embracing humble behavior - the
antithesis of narcissism - as therapy is challenging for
the individual inclined to pride and conceit. However,
the Spiritist Doctrine has a vast literature to offer to
people interested in acquiring this sacred virtue.
Stories and reports abound on the pages of the spiritist
works of characters - some historical, such as the case
of Paul of Tarsus, Mary of Nazareth, Mary de Magdala,
Joan of Cusa, Francis of Assisi, not to mention the
unforgettable medium Francisco Candido Xavier - who they
completely stripped of the harmful sting derived from
narcissism and pride by embracing Christian ideals body
and soul. The therapy resulting from reading this
abundant and rich material seems to be an adequate
starting point, coupled, obviously, with the sincere
desire of the individual to change his convictions and
understandings. In short: help yourself and Heaven will
help you.
Notes:
1. Brazilian Coaching Institute. Signs
that you are a narcissistic person. Available at: LINK-1 -
(accessed on 12 / march / 2021).
2. Vera, D. and Rodriguez-Lopes, A.
(2004). Humility
as a source of competitive advantage. Organizational
Dynamics, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 393–408.
3. Franco, D. P. (dictated by the Spirit
Joanna de Angelis). (2005). Existential conflicts. Salvador,
BA: LEAL, p. 20.
4. Ibid.
5. Franco, D. P. (dictated by the Spirit
Joanna de Angelis). (2020). Empty lives.
Salvador, BA: LEAL, p. 18.
6. Xavier, F. C. (dictated by the Spirit
Emmanuel). (1978). Way, truth and life. 7th edition.
Rio de Janeiro, RJ: FEB, p. 173.
7. Hawks, S. (1994). Spiritual health:
Definition and theory. Wellness Perspectives,
Vol. 10 No. 4. Available at: LINK-2 (accessed
on 13 / February / 2014).
8. Jaberi, A., Momennasab, M., Yektatalab,
S. et al. (2019). Spiritual health: A concept analysis. Journal
of Religion and Health, Vol. 58 No. 5, p. 1551.
9. Franco, D. P. (dictated by the Spirit
Joanna de Angelis). (1998). Moments of health. 3rd edition. Salvador,
BA: LEAL, p. 127.
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