Executive Summary: Introspection ok, narcissism ok, over-introspection = also narcissism but that word is over-loaded. "am i being too narcissistic" is like asking "is this company too powerful" which is contrary to human nature. It helps to look at what your introspection does to yourself and those around you.

Is introspection narcissistic, and is too much introspection bad?

First let's define:

• Introspection: act of self-reflection.
• Narcissism:
  • Today it's "i don't like you" plus "i am really smart and use big words"
  • but the word actually derives from the ancient Greek word narke. ### Narcissus left Echo on read and swiped right on himself

Narcissus's beauty made him attractive to nearly everyone who saw him and both men and women pursued him, but he rejected all advances.

One of his admirers, a nymph named Echo, fell so madly in love with him that, after he rejected her, she wasted away until only her voice remained.

The goddess Nemesis, taking pity on Echo, convinced Narcissus to gaze into a pool. Upon seeing his face reflected in the water, Narcissus fell in love with his reflection.

Because he was unable to embrace his reflection, Narcissus too wasted away and in his place grew the flower that bears his name, the narcissus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis_of_Narcissus

In 1914, Freud noted a certain level of self-absorption isn't a character flaw; it’s a vital, necessary part of human development.

When does too much introspection become narcissism?

For some things it's easy to know when you're doing them too much. Like water. Or gravity. or friction.

but with abstract things, what is too much? what is too much structure? what is overcategorization?

it's when it stops working for you.

I could end this essay with one sentence and Freud would probably agree:

"you're introspecting too much if it stops you from getting laid"

But what if we wanted to take the scenic route and introspect our own introspection?

Introspecting Introspection

How do we balance empathy for others with unconstrained self-ambition?

The Federal Trade Commission has joined the Group Chat

"am I over-introspecting" is a question and the answer rhymes with how the FTC approves certain types of mergers.

We could spend a few years writing a dissertation on "is a company too powerful" but I actually like how the FTC would answer: "to figure out if you're introspecting or over-introspecting, look at what effects it has on the American consumer."

It's a moot point of a company is "too powerful" or not. It leads to concepts like "too much economies of scale" and it's kind of a dead end. Plus, I think asking "is this entity too powerful" is anti-competitive and against basic human nature.

So instead of "is this company too powerful" it's "will this merger make things better or worse for the consumer."

Taking it back to introspection and narcissism - let's just simplify and say that all introspection is narcissism (since we defined it above) - "does it make life better or worse for me and the people around me?"

Focus on the consumer

What does your narcissism do for the consumer? And what if you're wondering if you're too self-focused?

Nobody understood anything.

Regulatory bodies had to scratch their head for a minute, that nobody at Connex or Killeen was at fault.

But this merger is so balance-positive for American consumers that ultimately, Justice wants it.

Federal courts want it.

Everybody wants it.

Our real client, after all, is us, the American people.

— Bennett Holiday, Syriana

The consumer is: you and other people in your life. Family, friends, foes, your partner, your parents, your peers. Even other parts of yourself.

Balance-positive narcissism: you thrive because you create genuine value for the consumer.

Market Dominance

To be human is to have an ego and to exist in relationship that evolves (is not static), it helps to pause and look at our own reflection.

The question is not if we have market power, the question is not if we're working too hard to acquire more market share. It's how we wield it.

Is over-introspection a liability?

Tempting to say it is, "action over words," the sadness of the "lone genius," or man who thinks himself into a corner:

But what if that corner turns out to have the best vantage point of the entire map?

You stare at that liability hard enough, and before long, it'll turn into an asset.

Btw: if you're reading this and you own the license/rights to this movie and prefer I take down these clips, let me know and I will: omar@omarish.com.