Being Narcissist.

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I am a Narcissist. I asked a certain friend to define Narcissism. 'Self-obsession' came the quick reply.  I tried it with others, things didn't go well with them either. However similar both the terms maybe, I feel the latter too harsh a term to define the former. Go to the Wikipedia Page, and they enlist it also as a social or cultural disorder alongwith being an Axis II problem. I didn't take the pain to read further about this disorder..

Okay, a little backdrop. Why all this random blabber on Narcissism, you ask? Well, while talking to an old friend recently, who happens to be tormented by her boyfriend, I concluded the discussion saying 'If you ask for my opinion, Narcissism is the ultimate capsule to euphoria.' which eventually led to another discussion.

Anyway, returning back, I always see people perceiving Narcissism negatively and equating it with selfishness. However there is a thick, fine line of difference between the two which more than often, people seem to overlook. Narcissism is not being obsessed about yourself. It is not thinking you are the most superior kind there is, but loving yourself for whatever little/big deal of a person you are. It is appreciating your choices and your decisions. It is not waiting for others to approve you. It is the belief on yourself that whatever you did, was the best of your wisdom and you will never loath yourself for the same because what you did was the best of the possibilities and choices at that point of time. Narcissism however, does not include the element of looking down at other people and their choices. That maybe an element of self-obsession but not Narcissism. Narcissism, as far as I understand it, concerns you and your own self only. A narcissistic person can very well be happy with the choices of other people as well.

Narcissism to me, in one word is self-contentment. Yes, it is a peaceful compliance with yourself. Yes, it is falling in love with your own self. And, no it is not being too blinded by you and your own self only. It is not related to self-pride, as most may say. Narcissism is the path between self-loathing and self-obsession. Narcissism is taking charge of your own happiness and not depending on others for appreciating you. As far as I believe, a Narcissistic person won't be bothered of  people hating him/her or being judged, as the personal opinion has much more weightage than the society and its opinions. All the negatives attached to Narcissism go into the category of being, let's say, over-narcissistic or, self-obsessed.

Narcissism is the acceptance, inner contentment and being happy with who you are. This might be a narrow perspective of Narcissism but, this is how  I understand the term and the concept.

SELF LOVE DOES NOT EQUAL SELF CENTERED!