Drowning in Our Own Reflections

The fact is, Narcissus was never punished for his inclination to love himself, he was punished because his self-love got in the way of his ability to love others. His affinity to arrogance mirrors the way that selfishness has permeated into the values of our most superficial generation. 

Simply put, we have become too content putting ourselves first when others are in need. One example of this trend has emerged through the abuse of the behavioral limits we call "boundaries." For instance, it isn't a 'boundary' to not support your friends when it gets in the way of your 'self-care time;' it is being selfish and not showing up for the people in your life. This is not to say that boundaries aren't important– they are often what allows relationships to grow in a manner that is safe and comfortable for each individual. However, it’s easy for the line between what makes people feel safe and what is actually just impractical for them to get blurry over time. I’ve noticed that this weaponization of boundaries is increasingly used as a tool to avoid going out of your way or doing things that make you uncomfortable.

Another example of this trend pertains to a kind of' 'cut off game,' where it has become popular to 'protect your peace' or even completely exile parts of your inner circle because they are no longer catering to your every whim. The value of inconveniencing yourself for others is progressively losing its place in our society, and as a loneliness epidemic upsurges, lacking support systems can contribute to growing feelings of isolation. We have all felt this at one point in our lives. In fact, this happened to me this past summer with my sister. I was going through a distressing period, but, due to her self-instituted bedtime of 8:30, she would not rally and be there for me when I needed her most. Her inability to adapt for my sake demonstrates the trajectory our generation is taking today.

Another aspect of Narcissus's story–his vanity–is also reminiscent of the superficial ecosystem I see on social media. As harmful 'looksmaxxing' trends and blackpill content continue to grow in popularity, it is becoming harder to distinguish the differences between the myth and its modern equivalents. Narcissus sacrificed his own livelihood, starving himself, in order to perfect his image of himself. I can't help but draw parallels between his self-starvation and the modern fads of peptides, ozempic, and 'bone-smashing' that are taking the internet by storm. People are increasingly sacrificing their wellbeing for their appearance, and it indicates the mess that has become of our generation's values. 

So, when did this shift come? A lot of it has to do with social media and a constant need for validation from our peers. Right now, when attractiveness and material items are met with immense praise online, it is hard to avoid a desire to 'improve' oneself. But, although times may look bleak, there is still hope. If people look inward and ask themselves what they truly value in life, we can begin changing the definition of what it means to 'improve' oneself. By doing this, we could even use this craze of personal-development to benefit society. If trends of helping others and fostering generosity flooded the For You Page, would our obsession with narcissism be as extreme? 

The myth of Narcissus is a cautionary tale, and we need to start treating it like one. But, even if our path continues to converge with the tale, let's not forget the moral of his story: excessive pride and vanity only leads to destruction and isolation, a fate that even the most self-obsessed would like to avoid.