It is not Wise to Compare Ourselves with Others

Many people think that selfish narcissists "need" attention, that they somehow were starved of it as a child. My observation has been that narcissists more often than not were given too much attention. They were pampered and coddled to the point where they found it hard to live without the constant praise and attention.

The narcissists I have met were given so much attention that they were like an addict looking for their next fix. These people would become jealous and angry if they saw anyone else having attention over something they accomplished.

YES, needing the attention of others to exist is an addiction just like any other drug. After awhile the narcissist has no "self" at all left, everything he is and does is based on who will notice it.

Those who are confident have no need of constant praise and adulation, they are secure and joyful when no one else sees what they do.

Perhaps this is a measure of a strong secure person, the ability to enjoy life or circumstances when no one else is interested or noticing our endeavors.

The personality that needs the attention of others is empty inside when there is no attention. It is human nature to share our joys and pains, there is nothing wrong with that, but in the case of the narcissist they cannot function without continual encouragement through praise.

The narcissist is addicted to elevation above others. Whether or not they are elevated is not important as long as they "feel" it is so, that is enough for them. The Pharisees were of this sort. They were not happy being who they thought they were, good and righteous, they had to be better than others.

Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

When we know that no one is righteous, only Christ, then there is no excuse for comparing ourselves to anyone else.

2 Corinthians 10:12 "For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding."

The most joyful person is the one who measures themselves by Christ, seeing their unworthiness because of Him, they accept that only He is good and that He lives in them. What a joy that we do not have to pretend anything, we can be what we are and depend on Christ to work in us, He then gets all the glory. Hallelujah!!!!!