Arrogence

I don’t know if you have given the concept of arrogance much thought. Personally this is something that I intensely dislike in others. For some or other reason, it really gets my back up.

I came up with the following concepts of arrogance, by no means a comprehensive or correct list of properties. It is that self important inflated sense of self. The self assured attitude that one is right and that nobody else’s view point really matters. The treating of other people as it they are insignificant. It is pride. That sense of superiority, where one knows that one is important. That love of self above all else.

A couple of weeks back, I found out to my horror that a good friend considered me to be arrogant. What? Me? Never! I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to work through the fact that I possibly could be arrogant. All I can say is that this was some honest feedback that was incredibly difficult to take. The mirror has been held up to my own personality and I find myself rather lacking. It is quite amazing how disappointed I feel in myself.

Thomas Moore writes about the shadow sides of our personality. If I remember correctly, those traits that we most dislike in others are the very same traits that we most fear within ourselves. And for me, this makes a great deal of sense!

So what to do now?

With a bit of help and support, I can try and reduce this blind spot in my psyche. One would have thought that with all of the work I have done on myself this year, I would already be a far better person. Perhaps I am, but then again blind spots are those things that we just cannot see within ourselves. This particular blight has probably cost me an incredible friendship. I hope and pray not. Then again I know how I cannot stand this trait in others, so I can understand how others may feel the same about me. It is all rather sad!

This has been a humbling experience, but I hope that I have found a new awareness of self that will help me in all my relationships in life. I am also going to stumble along the way but I am counting on you guys to gently push me back!