Is Vanity something bad?
I’ve finished publishing the first 12th chapters of my new book The Winner Stands Alone (I published nearly 1/10 of the book on line). The final chapter – on line – is about vamity. King Solomon starts the Ecclesiastes saying : “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity”. Somehow vanity can destroy a person but can also puch a person to become a better human being.
So nothing is absolute and I would like to hear your opinion on that. Mostly about your experiences with the good side of vanity.
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The Process.To have something happen,to go for the result,without noticing how it was done,as bad,as the way round.To have the both in mind(the result and the way of achieving) is more complicated,but slightly better.To go further,another interesting thing can be found:to do the result and the way to it as much efficient,as less noticeable your participation in it,as you are not looking for the reward.That gives you freedom-when you can meet with both success and failure and treat those two imposters as the same.I like to be behind “the curtain”,nothing to do with me,it’s just the country I am grateful to,which made it possible.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5vu7w_vanitypride_shortfilms (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Paulo,the good side of my personal vanity,was in the last year,when I was honorated by the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso State,through of the deputy Sérgio Ricardo, on the World Woman Day.Me and another hundred women, received the title”enterprising women” because we contributed and continue contributing for the development of my state.I always work with social causes,in spite of to be a civil engineer.And now i’m working in a great group of engineering,doing basic sanitation and doing more for the people.
Before she died, my wise, old and very beautiful grandmother told me that there was nothing wrong with being vain.
Since her death I have suffered severely from an eating disorder.
She was in her 80′s and I am just turned 20.
Possibly: Vanity is a tool for self-esteem that I have not yet learnt to use. A tool is manipulated by the user.
Our bodies are temples and beauty can be a sign of health. Vanity motivates us to be beautiful but must be used wisely and in connection with the spirit.
In regards to vanity of external appearances:
If you consider that there is no – or at the most – lukewarm spirituality within quite a large population, the actual need to look good for others – vanity – can enslave us. The reason being, when the soul is neglected, we tend to increase our efforts to make our external appearance more presentable because we feel ugly inside. Vanity, if not because of concupiscence, will serve as the taskmaster to look well externally so as to avoid appearing poor internally. Refusing or through ignorance, to see that we must take care of the soul first, vanity will then enslave us.
Does this mean people striving to become holy out of love of God will stink and look poorly? No. The reason being is that when you FIRST take care of the soul, it’s like the base of making everything else well. If a flower bulb is planted in poor soil, then it will never flower as it was created to flower. No matter how much you water it, try to prune it, or treat it externally, the roots of the flower are starving. You have to feed the flower at the root level – take care of that which makes the soil poor where the flower is planted.
Looking well should radiate outward with the source of beauty being the soul. Properly taking care of our soul, prioritizing our effort to be pleasing to God, by coming to know, love, and serve Him, will always spawn the fruit of looking well externally to others and properly love others. In this way, vanity does not even come into question.
So as with everything, we must fix things at the core level. Otherwise, it’s like applying a bandaid without treating the infection.
May the Peace and Love of Christ be with you all,
Tim
Dear Mr. Coelho
What a hazard! Yesterday, I wanted to write you an email, to ask you for your opinion. But I thought it would be sensless, because you receive so many emails per day, that you surely wouldn’t read it personally. By accident (I was googling for something else!) I clicked on your site again today. How surprised I was, when I saw, that you are looking for our opinions! First I couldn’t believe, I thought it’s an old video. I would be very glad, if maybe I could help you in a way, by telling you, what I think about vanity. You gave me so much with your great books, I would like to give you something back, if I can.
In my opinion nothing is just good or bad. Things, that seems to be hundred percent good, have also something bad in it (and if it’s just a half percent). The same I think for things that seems to be hundred percent bad. Everything has advantages and disadvantages. Really bad are just things, that persons are practicing in an excessively way. The art of living is, to avoid exorbitance. Everywhere. A glass of wine is good for the health. Three bottles are poison for the body.
But first of all I want to define the meaning of vanity, how I understand it. Every person has an other definition of a word. That’s why so many misunderstandings are happening every day.
My understanding of a vain person is: Somebody, who is taking care of hisself inside and/or outside and who is neat, in a way, that will be noticed by other people. If other people wouldn’t notice it, they couldn’t say, that somebody is vain. The person would be standart. A vain person is neat. Everything is perfect, the nails are well-manicured, the hair-do is perfect, the clothes are, too. They know they are neat, and they show that they know it. For me vanity is a behavior. Beeing neat is a state. You can be neat, because you love yourself and your body, and you’re tending yourself because of you. When somebody starts to be neat because of the others, or somebody is tending hisself to be better than the others and to stand out from the crowd, that would be vanity in my eyes. You can recognize and distinguish people who love theirselves or who want to get attention from the others, if you watch enough carefully. But still vanity don’t has to be bad. It can help you on. It has not to be bad, if somebody wants to be different. Or nicer dressed. Or better. But nobody should think he’s better in a human meaning. That he’s more worth, when he’s neat, than somebody who’s not neat.
I think, the problem is, that the word “vanity” has a bad touch. Thats because of history and religious overdelivery, and because of the behavior of the most vain people. Vanitiy is not far from arrogance. It’s like always a question of dosage and of the point of view. If you are too vain, you could start to thing, that you are better than the others. Because you feel better, when you look good. When you look good and neat you have more self-confidence. This self-confidence could, if it becomes too extreme, change into arrogance.
I think, vanity can be positive or negative. It depends on the defintion of the word. Maybe it would also help to ask people about their understanding and definition of vanity. That differences give a lot to discuss!
I hope, I didn’t bore you all. If I could help you in some way I would be really very happy. I’m so sorry for my bad english. I hope, that I didn’t wrote something, that nobody understood! J If so, please let me know. This for the moment, if something new should come to my mind, I’ll let you know.
Kind regards,
Olga
Quase todas as religiões, pregam que devemos anular as nossas vaidades. Inclusive no catolicismo, a vaidade, é tido como um dos pecados capitais. No entanto, creio que quando bem dosada, ela é altamente positiva. Digo até que ela é nescessária no mundo competitivo em que vivemos hoje.
Se apresentar bem, tentando causar uma boa impressão física e intelectual; são qualidades que automaticamente irão atrair outras pessoas.
Ah, the dance of sacred/profane!
In our solar plexus our ego/pride/vanity pulses, and we are sternly cautioned against taking it seriously (atleast, we are told, it is wise to be considered about that which is powerful). In the same place, at a deeper level is the Spirit of Who We Are – the original impulse of why we came to be here, now. This is our urge to action and life.
It seems to me that when our Spirit pulses from this deep place of connection it activates our ego or vanity (because it comes from the same place) and so we say to Spirit: No. I cant do that, or Arent I super?
Either way it is a trivialisation of the real impulse to be amazing, just the way we are meant to be. We are afraid of our power and so we make it into a sin and then waste precious time wrestling forever with ourselves between the ego and Spirit.
Be proud, claim your vanity – you are beautiful and wonderful and absolutely gorgeous. And this amazingness that is you is not sperated into good and bad. You are wonderful because you are and that is why you are here. Now, get on with your purpose and live your life!
For many years my work has been an organic color specialist/hair designer. I have lived and breathed surrounded in this realm of seemingly place called Vanity. And when all is said and done, I can only say this….95% of the people that have sat in my chair care not so much of what I have created for them on the outside, but rather,how beautiful it makes them feel on the inside. So Vanity like everything else is perception and nothing is good or bad…as thinking makes it so.
Live*in*Love, Jules
Vanity is to look at every thing, every event from one’s point of view and not being able to appreciate the other point’s of view.Nothing wrong if I think I am beautiful. It is a fact. But if I refuse to appreciate the beauty in others, that is vanity. Nothing wrong if I desire to dress well, but i must know I am not my appearance or body alone. I am larger than that. Nothing wrong If I want that luxury car when I worked hard to be able to buy it, but If I can’t be compassionate to the less fortunate ones. That is vanity. To what degree we can get rid of our vanity depends on many factors. Family is a natural balancer. It teaches one that there are many things that are of more importance than oneself. We stand infront of mirror and think we are so big, but are like microorganisms in relation to the universe.Both( we are big and we are small) are true in their own sense. Not getting attached to any one reality is the key.
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously…. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
Jane Austen (1775 – 1817), Pride and Prejudice, 1811
Since I moved back to Brazil after being in California for 18 years not only I realized how important vanity is here, but we also have to learn to deal with it in our daily lives. It has not been easy for me because I left Brazil very young, but in a positive side It has given me the opportunity to take better care of myself, and my health. I must confess that I have been back to CA twice in a year just to breath air of no vanity preasure! lol
Vanity…
Yes. nothing is absolute but love… the infinite source of love.
i experience almost everyday.
i have a great thing. a gift from love. so if love wants,… you will come to me and see the miracel that needs you.
There few quotes that I admire on vanity.
If one has no vanity in this life of ours, there is no sufficient reason for living.
Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910)
When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.
Dale Carnegie
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously…. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
Jane Austen (1775 – 1817), Pride and Prejudice, 1811
Vanity is a double edged sword you have to be very careful and have high self awareness to use it for the greater good in the world. But on a surface level it will always let you down in the end if you believe in it 100%. So i say be vain use it well but dont let it use you!! X
Well, `vanity`…it makes me think to a film “The Devil`s Advocate” with two very good and beautiful actors :Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves, and a extraordinary actress Charlize Theron!In the ending sceene Al Pacino said:”from all the human sins,Vanity ist the one I mostly like!”
It is dificult for us, special we,womens,to love beauty withought to be vain!
I have a lot of Vanity!!!I love beautiful things and luxury and I love the natural beauty or the beauty inside ,or the non superficial beauty!
I think a few gram of `Vanity`it `s like salt in food.I meen ,for a good ´ degustation` we need a few drops of it.It depends with whitch kind of intention we use it in the right moment.
Love
Mirela(the woman in elevator)
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that “vanity is the fear of appearing original: it is thus a lack of pride, but not necessarily a lack of originality.
love ,vesna
Paulo,sometimes we are and sometimes we aren’t vanity.”To be and not to be” depend of the ocasion.
Have you heard about “eneagrama” (word in spanish), it is based on a theory that says that people’s behaivor can be divided in 9 groups or types, and each group is motivated by something special; for example, the group identified by the number 3, are motivated by admiration, and their sin is vanity. What motivates you to do what you do? (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Vanity is the reason why I have been doing sit-ups, been walking and been a little bit more careful with my diet for the last 2 1/2 months. I have lost 4 kilos and fat has turned into muscle. The good side of my vanity is that I can use clothes that I had outgrown – clothes that are perfectly OK for everyday use. I also have more energy, feel like exercising more, I’m happier, feel better about myself, and my health is getting better by the day. So vanity – stay with me until I have reached my goal of loosing 10 kilos.
Let me start by saying that everyone is vain, to a different extent. Just look at Facebook, what is it about if not Vanity? People boast with their friends, relationships, families, nice homes, cars, nice vacations. It actually becomes a competition – who has more friends, a more successful life and so on.
So, on the point of the good side of vanity, yes, it makes us all feel good to get attention. Attracting envy? I myself would not want to do that.
A couple my favorite paintings on the subject of vanity, which has been a popular theme in many artists’ works throughout the ages:
“Les beaux jours”
(Golden Days)
by French surrealist, Balthus
http://artchive.com/artchive/B/balthus/balthus_golden_days.jpg.html
“Into the World There Came a Soul Called Ida”
by American artist, Alvin Albright
http://www.cegur.com/Albright/Ida.html
And thanks so much for all the supportive comments above!
Savita
I guess when you are proud of what you have done or you are is not vanity…or I will not call that vanity. I will call it vanity when goes more to “the other side”: feeling better than others, etc. I would use Salomon sentence to mean: well, lets put things in perspective…people is always suffering somewhere in the world just right now…so….don’t care too much about what you “have done” if it is not on behalf of others.
In the other hand we need to be able to appreciate and use our potential and develop to grow as the best human beings we can be. This is not vanity
The good thing about vanity is waking up from it and realize all the beautiful things you didn’t see before in a person. It is liberating.
Lovise
“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” ~ Jane Austen
In this sense, I can see how pride and vanity differ from each other and also how each could be a motivating factor…but hopefully when they are not taken to extremes.
Savita Vega, I’m so sorry that you lost your “friend” over the blog. I honestly think that what you write here is not vain or self-righteous. When I read what you write it feels honest. And to me you are brave to share all of this with us. I am barely comfortable sharing my own thoughts with my own self, but the more I write, the more I see that when I’m comfortable with myself, the more I feel willing to share with others.
That “no-longer-friend” of yours was wrong. We are real, living and breathing human beings from all walks of life who have come together to share. We are not just speaking with the air…
If it is vanity or pride that brings me here, so be it. I’m just happy to be part of this global blogging “community.”
Nanci
Dearest Thelma,
The Symposium I was not familiar with. I’ve been reading this on line tonight. I absolutely love it! The men sit together and discuss the meaning of love. So far I think Agathon brings the most light, when he implied love creates justice, moderation, courage, and wisdom…*
Thank you, “Love and Joy”
Hello there Paulo Coelho :)
wow, there’s so many comments here, I hope you see mine.. .
I’ve read your books, and through my teenage years growing up, they’ve really helped me think about life. I’m glad I thought about life, cause now I see things differently than everyone else. I do my very best not to take anything and especially anyone for granted.
So….. :) I’ve got a little something for you on my blog page. Thank so much for writing. You really made a difference.
=)
Like so many things in life I believe that all excesses are bad on the long run. A good dose of vanity maintain us properly groomed and healthy, at least that is what I believe. When you care about your appearance in a way you are loving yourself enough, just what we are asked to do; love your neighbor as yourself.
I listen to the rain
And I still feel the pain
My aim is to undo the chains
and feel humane again
As tears are welling down from my brain
I hope this has not been in vain
I listen to the rain
I just wish to be with my soul again.
Olá Paulo, sou eu novamente!
Bom, pensei no assunto e cheguei a uma idéia:
Acho que a Vaidade pode ser positiva no sentido de lhe conferir o amor próprio e auto estima necessários para guiarmos a nossa vida no dia-a-dia. Você não pode contar com as críticas e elogios dos outros, apesar de que sempre é bom ouvir elogios e ruim ouvir críticas… Então acho que uma certa vaidade pode ajudar na auto-motivação, porém chamar isso de vaidade é estranho.
Bom, acho que é isso, qualquer coisa voltarei a escrever,
Abraços grandes!!
RECUERDO QUE JESUS FUE PROBADO POR EL DEMONIO, ESTANDO EN UN LUGAR ALTO LE DIJO MIRA TODO LO QUE VES PUEDE SER TUYO.
SI EL HUVIERA SIDO VANIDOSO HUVIERA CAIDO EN LA TENTACIÓN. LA VANIDAD SOLO SIRVE PARA SER UTILIZADA POR OTROS EN TU PERJUICIO. SER VANIDOSO ES SER DEBIL DE ESPÍRITU.
LE VEO MAS LA PARTE POSITIVA A LA AMBICIÓN, AL ORGULLO QUE SON ENERGÍAS QUE TE PROTEGEN A VECES Y BIEN UTILIZADAS TE PUEDEN LLEVAR AL PROGRESO.
un beso
Definition:
Vanity: Excessive pride in one’s appearance or accomplishments; conceit.
Pride: A sense of one’s own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
However, excessive pride turns into conceit or vanity.
Thus, I think vanity is bad but healthy pride is good.
I think vanity can transform one’s personality to something grotesque, as you might take pride in false values.
Ferenc Kölcsey (Hungarian poet) had a poem with the title ‘Vanitatum Vanitas’. If you speak Hungarian I recommend it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK9Gcs1O71I&feature=related
Dear Catherine, is this the Hungarian Dance by Brahms? Why ‘in response to vanity’?
A transcription by Cziffra!
LOVE,
Thelma
oh – again, in response to vanity…
Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance, NO.5 in G Minor
Hi Paulo, Now thats thats vanity “the Graeme” hey theres only one of me, just like everybody else…anyway if you get to read this, am currently developing a TV series and would like to run it past you, ive a couple of ideas before heading into the murky waters of TV,agents, etc and publishers, is there a secure point we could liase??
Warmest Regards
The Graeme!! x
P.S. Pay no reference to the email (am not a loved up fan!!) moved to Italy from andulicia a month ago and currently using the email for my good lady.. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
ghana is a developing country but not the poorest in Africa by any means…
hairdressing, dressmaking and mobile phones are all essential elements to the culture of youth, women etc.
I am literally AMAZED by how long and how much time and money is spent on these three things..
The influence and ‘glam’ of the Western cultures is a big incentive to be fashionable and there is much immitation. However, the traditional dress is long-standing in daily culture and for all the deprivation, lack of opportunities etc that Africa faces – the women and men are always (well usually) exceptionally well dressed ; in designs with lace, bold patterns and colours, head dress etc etc…
and as for hair – well plaits and wigs are replaced weekly..
its an incredible social fix… and I admire how the women (and men) here in Ghana embrace colour and design for their tailored lives ;o)
Vanity may be seen as positive when urges one to change, to become better because he feels the need to, but not when one does something only because the neighbour have done it too. I am vain as all human beings. I want more and I ask for more from me and from the others. Yet I do all this because I am a perfectionist and not because I want something that the neighbour has. I have an innate vanity that propels me towards new horizons, that urges me to know more and to search for knowledge. It is a part of me and I do not think that it has harmed me so far.
I for one see the bad Vanity walking hand in hand with Envy and the good one hand in hand with a little Curiosity.
I just remembered how vain my cat is! If we lift him up and let him look in the mirror he starts to purr. And every time we take out the camera to take a picture of him he starts purring, he loves the camera. Well he is a Persian cat after all!
hi all
i can only ponder this as a woman in the age we are in now.such a relevent theme today vanity can and does destroy.when one is young the transition fron child to adult can be such a difficult one trying to fit a modern mould that not many can fit,im talking about being flawless.it seems that there is to much pressure on people to appear thin tanned hairless flawless wearing a certain label driving the right car etc we are in an age of choice ,too many choices it seems.it is getting harder to except ourselves as we are ,in our natural state.as we get older though and life bring challenges we, if we are lucky become more excepting of who and what we are .it is true that the soul is who we really are ,the body is just the vessel we journey in.i had a bi lateral mastectomy 3 years ago and had a skin sparring operation which means i am waiting on reconstruction,in others words simply i have folds of skin were once i had breasts.this has been a hard climb mentally excepting that i do not feel as sexual and yearning to free myself from my own vanity.as the teenager i would have been very insecure , my looks were everything.life is showing me that when i scratch my surface i am far deeper than my appearance. i do feel for the women of today with less and less value on our differences and societies obcession with perfection .i always say to my children look listen and learn plant seeds of love in their heads to they can harvest them when they are questioning themselves.vanity can be a struggle.x
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/JudgementParis.html
Dearest toni j, I have just found it in the ..wise Google! Very interesting.
LOVE,
Thelma
Dearest toni j, Eros is always in our mind. Our other … half! You know also Socrates’s'/Plato’s story in ‘The Symposium’.
Since I was a child and until now, I always was in favour of Paris’ choice!;]
Love and beauty! Maybe this is because I am from .. Cyprus!
Kypris the Aphrodite of Cyprus, the Cypriot Goddess.
LOVE,
Thelma
Dearest Thelma,
A beautiful story. What I love most is Paris had many choices offered by the goddess’s. He could be ruler of the entire world, the wealthiest of men. He would be the most wise and become a famous mortal. He chose a union to be with the most fairest of all women, he chose love. Which is beautiful itself, oh and the angel of love and joy is always near by!
Thank you for reminding me of this story…*
HOLA A TODOS, YO , PERSONALMENTE, APLICO LA VANIDAD EN MI VIDA DE UNA MANERA POSITIVA, ME GUSTA COMO ME HIZO DIOS, SOY PERFECTA, A DIARIO DOY GRACIAS POR ESO. SOY VANIDOSA DE MI ENTORNO, ME GUSTA, LO MEJORO, LO EXHIBO, ES BELLO, AUNQUE CUIDO DE NO CAER EN LA SOBERBIA; DIGAMOS QUE LA VANIDAD LA MANEJO DE UNA MANERA LIGTH, LOS EXTREMOS SON MALOS;SOY PERFECCIONISTA, PERO HE TRATADO DE RELAJARME, QUIERO QUE TODO SEA MEJOR, EN POCAS PALABRAS, EL MUNDO, Y SIENTO QUE TENEMOS MUCHO POR HACER. LEI “UNA MUJER EXQUISITA” DE GARCIA MARQUEZ, CASI ME CONVENCE, PERO ESTOS SENOS QUE CADA VEZ MIRAN MAS HACIA ABAJO, Y MI “TROFEO ABDOMINAL” CAUSA DE MI MATERNIDAD, ME HACEN PENSARLO DOS VECES, SOY JOVEN, NO QUIERO IRME AL EXTREMO, PERO TAL VEZ VISITE PRONTO A UN CIRUJANO PLASTICO, ¿SABEN? NO PARA AGRADAR A MI MARIDO, NI A LAS AMIGAS, NI A NADIE, PARA MIRARME AL ESPEJO, Y DECIR POR MUCHOS AÑOS MAS, SIGUES SIENDO BELLA. ¿ ES MUCHA VANIDAD?, PORQUE DE VERDAD, ME AMO, PRUEBA DE ELLO ES LO QUE HE CONSEGUID COSAS QUE ME HACEN TAN FELIZ, QUE ME LLENAN. ES UN DILEMA. FE, AMOR, Y TEMPLANZA.
Yes, Fannu, you’re making a lot of sense to me!
Thanks for your beautiful and loving opinion about vanity.
I think the same and I agree with you.
Greetings from Brazil to all!
Marta
hi.. good day everyone especially to you mr. paulo coehlo. i wanna share my opinion about vanity.
i agree with u that vanity, somehow, can destroy a person but can also change them into a better person.it just really depend on the person’s characteristic.
in my case, vanity made me a better person.
before, people around me used to criticize me because of my simplicity. they believe that they could bully me easily. so, as i grew up, i slowly change. i am slowly beginning to be vain.
i made myself feel beautiful and smart enough to the people around me, and my confidence boost up.i started portraiting the real me. i am not hiding under my blankets anymore. im not afraid to my fello earthlings anymore. i am now socializing with new people, and i enjoyed their company so much. i am getting new ideas. i am learning a lot from them. and at the same time i am knowing myself too. i could express my feelings more. and i started exploring. but, somehow, it is not just about the good things..there will always be a bad side of it. i am more explored to the sins(which i choose!hehe), my ego, sometimes, is over used, and i believe that knowing a lot of people is knowing a lot of gossips too. but i still stand to my words.. i am me.. i am vain.. i changed.. and i changed into the real me.
so, i believe that being vanity is a choice. it is either u being vanity for such a good reason, which is being a better you, or u being vanity because you were driven by your ego, wellness of life, and portraiting someone your not.
that’s all..
thanksssss
godbless..
Blogging goeth before the fall?
**********************************************************
But this is how I feel about vanity:
Feline vanity, slinky vitality, I sing the song of youth.
Chest and face wizened by the sun, my conceit lies deep in every furrow, overlain with humor.
They spiral through every thought and action and reek of self: I am I am I am.
Is vanity something bad?
It seems, perhaps, this is not one question but two, or three, or more.
First, vanity means excessive pride in or admiration for one’s own appearance or achievements. So, we are not talking about normal, healthy pride/admiration, we are talking about ‘excessive’ pride/admiration. So, is being excessive in this way bad?
Second, vanity, by its very nature, involves another (even if the other is ones own self in the mirror) and is not self directed, but other directed. Is being other directed bad?
Third, is vanity not an occupation of insecurity? of growing or evolving? So is insecurity bad?
I think along the way, we see through the eyes of many others before we can see through our own; before we learn our balance, self-direction, and security.
sorry, i don’t have any philosophical views like everyone else,
but i am in a way vain. But i don’t overdo being vain, I make sure that I dress well, Perform well and attract all the right attention :)
It makes me feel secure and know that i’ve done my best for the day.
Vanity is bad. When your actions are against Gods will you end up beeing vain in you achievements.
If you are not thinking and acting by the truth, mercy, love and faith, you are in the vanity zone. Under no consideration vanity can help us to be better human beings.
Delusion is the word in the shadow. There are actions what you think will bring the results but you are wrong in the end. There will be actions what you think wont get any results, but in the end there will be.
It is all about the caracter of the human being and most importantly the knowledge between good and bad.
Best wishes
Attila
It’s a somewhat difficult question for me.
I grew up in a surrounding where the “law-of-Jante”
ruled pretty hard and I was bullied – partly because
of my own vanity.
Vanity is for me not a positive word, as it is too close
to the concept of making yourself look better than you
really are. It comes close to being dishonest.
On the other hand – when you’re a vain person and don’t
hide it, you are after all quite honest in showing which
qualities you have.
Vanity excists always in a social concept and I think it is
easier to see the good and the bad aspects together with
the social interplay.
Maybe it all comes down to how you act and in which situation.
It can feed your ego so it grows beyond what is good,
but it can also boost your selfconfidence and give you a sense of strength to deal with new difficult situations.
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