Comments on: The Cultivation of Inflation and The Culture of Narcissism in Personal Development http://beyondgrowth.net/social-criticism/the-cultivation-of-inflation-and-the-culture-of-narcissism-in-personal-development/ Exploring the Future of Personal Development Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:21:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joy Livingwell http://beyondgrowth.net/social-criticism/the-cultivation-of-inflation-and-the-culture-of-narcissism-in-personal-development/comment-page-1/#comment-1656 Joy Livingwell Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:50:10 +0000 http://beyondgrowth.net/?p=554#comment-1656 Excellent post, Duff. I like Chris's comment "...personal development could better serve us by helping us to undo the conditioning that created that feeling of lack, and showing us it's not part of who we are, so that the stuff we get or charitable acts we do are expressions of our preexisting sense of completeness rather than attempts to create it." I'm dealing with this issue right now. I recently realized that most of the "charitable" goals I had -- goals I was ineffective at implementing -- were driven by a sense of inner lack rather than abundance. As I become more whole, I become less certain about what I want, partly because the lack and unfulfilled needs which used to drive me no longer do. Now what do I want? Living in that question is a much more interesting way to live... Excellent post, Duff. I like Chris's comment "…personal development could better serve us by helping us to undo the conditioning that created that feeling of lack, and showing us it's not part of who we are, so that the stuff we get or charitable acts we do are expressions of our preexisting sense of completeness rather than attempts to create it."

I'm dealing with this issue right now. I recently realized that most of the "charitable" goals I had — goals I was ineffective at implementing — were driven by a sense of inner lack rather than abundance. As I become more whole, I become less certain about what I want, partly because the lack and unfulfilled needs which used to drive me no longer do. Now what do I want? Living in that question is a much more interesting way to live…

]]> By: P2P Foundation » Blog Archive » Against the deliberate cultivation of narcissism in personal development http://beyondgrowth.net/social-criticism/the-cultivation-of-inflation-and-the-culture-of-narcissism-in-personal-development/comment-page-1/#comment-575 P2P Foundation » Blog Archive » Against the deliberate cultivation of narcissism in personal development Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:06:05 +0000 http://beyondgrowth.net/?p=554#comment-575 [...] above is from a very important thoughtpiece by Duff McDuffee from the Beyond Growth blog. This “is a collaborative blogging project [...] [...] above is from a very important thoughtpiece by Duff McDuffee from the Beyond Growth blog. This “is a collaborative blogging project [...]

]]> By: Duff McDuffee http://beyondgrowth.net/social-criticism/the-cultivation-of-inflation-and-the-culture-of-narcissism-in-personal-development/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Duff McDuffee Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:58:51 +0000 http://beyondgrowth.net/?p=554#comment-531 Excellent points, Chris. You are exactly right--the feeling of lack (i.e. clinging, craving and aversion, existential anxiety, etc.) can just as much drive political involvement, praying for others' happiness, or self-focused goal-seeking. And yes, personal development can indeed help us to undo that conditioning. I think your work is helping to do just that. Excellent points, Chris. You are exactly right–the feeling of lack (i.e. clinging, craving and aversion, existential anxiety, etc.) can just as much drive political involvement, praying for others' happiness, or self-focused goal-seeking.

And yes, personal development can indeed help us to undo that conditioning. I think your work is helping to do just that.

]]> By: Chris Edgar http://beyondgrowth.net/social-criticism/the-cultivation-of-inflation-and-the-culture-of-narcissism-in-personal-development/comment-page-1/#comment-530 Chris Edgar Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:27:10 +0000 http://beyondgrowth.net/?p=554#comment-530 Thanks for this Duff. My sense about a lot of personal development material that's focused on acquiring material things, relationships, etc. is that it offers only a temporary distraction from the sense of lack many of us walk around with. Of course, the same could be said about many activities -- getting really involved in a political cause will not bring me the peace I'm seeking if I am only doing it to feel like I'm more righteous than others (to fix what I see as my inherent wrongness). Or, if I pray for others' happiness in order to feel less selfish and guilty (again, to fix the hole in my self-worth). My sense, which I think you're also expressing here, is that personal development could better serve us by helping us to undo the conditioning that created that feeling of lack, and showing us it's not part of who we are, so that the stuff we get or charitable acts we do are expressions of our preexisting sense of completeness rather than attempts to create it. Thanks for this Duff. My sense about a lot of personal development material that's focused on acquiring material things, relationships, etc. is that it offers only a temporary distraction from the sense of lack many of us walk around with. Of course, the same could be said about many activities — getting really involved in a political cause will not bring me the peace I'm seeking if I am only doing it to feel like I'm more righteous than others (to fix what I see as my inherent wrongness). Or, if I pray for others' happiness in order to feel less selfish and guilty (again, to fix the hole in my self-worth).

My sense, which I think you're also expressing here, is that personal development could better serve us by helping us to undo the conditioning that created that feeling of lack, and showing us it's not part of who we are, so that the stuff we get or charitable acts we do are expressions of our preexisting sense of completeness rather than attempts to create it.

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