Focusing Too Much on “Me” Can Lead to Depression
Self-awareness is an important part of happiness, but you have to be careful not to focus too much on yourself – to the point where you begin to confuse “self-awareness” for what is actually “self-indulgence.”
Self-awareness is a non-judgmental form of introspection that seeks to better understand yourself. But self-indulgence is a judgmental form of introspection that seeks to feed and protect your ego.
Both are forms of reflection, but they come from very different perspectives.
When your introspection comes from a place of “self-indulgence” it can turn into negative rumination – addictive and excessive thinking about ourselves that leads to depression, frustration, anger, and apathy.
If you want to be happier in your life, pay attention to the happiness of others.
Depressed people often think a lot about negative, self-oriented things:
- “Look at all the bad things that happened to me.“
- “Look at all the people who don’t like me.“
- “Look at all the ways I didn’t get what I wanted.”
- “Look at all the things I did wrong.”
How often do you notice these kind of statements in your own self-talk or in your conversations with others? These may be things to be more mindful of if you are someone who suffers from anxiety and depression.
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