Superiority

In counseling, in mediation, in life, it’s easy to think we’re better than others. Even low self-esteem requires a self-absorbed focus, an inverted form of arrogance in itself.

We don’t normally confess this superiority, or we  justify it by pointing out how others should stop being stupid, lazy, mean to us, etc.

Attempting to offset our shame, we might offer compassion to the less fortunate people. However, even the assumed need to feel compassion for others is a form of arrogance.

Someone once told me of their childhood poverty experience, “I grew to hate church people when my mom took us to their food pantry. They always looked at us with such pity even though they were nice.”

What are we supposed to do then? Being indifferent to the pain of others is not the solution.

Self-awareness helps. We believe our view of the world is accurate, true, and the right one; this perspective too often leaves us blind to the perspective of others.

It’s not a problem to solve, but it is a process to embrace. It’s what it means to be human. Accepting it’s existence in ourselves and others is how we move through it.