Smug as a bug in a rug
I've decided that the personality trait I dislike most in others is SMUGNESS. I can deal with (by ignoring) annoying, rude, mean, condesceding, and catty people. What really gets me though is when someone is smug. I have an aquaintence/friend who will remain nameless that is exhibiting this personality characteristic with increasing frequency. I am at the point that I no longer want to call her, or hear about her life because our conversations always seem to be coupled with this insidious and petty one upsmanship.
Of course I have also secretly felt smug and compared myself favorably to someone else. I look better than she does! I am smarter! I make better choices than other people!
However, I am also humble. I know I am also dumber, more irresponsible, lazy, and average looking than tons of people. I think keeping a positive self image is different than feeling positive about your self because you think everyone else is less important, less wealthy, less attractive, less intelligent, and less of person than you are.
Since a lot of our success today is measured in how much money we make, it is particulary galling when we are compared to others by our checking account balance. I know another individual who quotes her yearly salary every time we have her over to dinner. Why does she do this? Does she think she is a better person because she makes more money than I do? This is the same reason I hate materialism. I don't want my clothes, car, and possessions to define who I am. I like beautiful things as much as the next person, but I hope I never think that because I have more of them I am better than someone who has less.
Of course I have also secretly felt smug and compared myself favorably to someone else. I look better than she does! I am smarter! I make better choices than other people!
However, I am also humble. I know I am also dumber, more irresponsible, lazy, and average looking than tons of people. I think keeping a positive self image is different than feeling positive about your self because you think everyone else is less important, less wealthy, less attractive, less intelligent, and less of person than you are.
Since a lot of our success today is measured in how much money we make, it is particulary galling when we are compared to others by our checking account balance. I know another individual who quotes her yearly salary every time we have her over to dinner. Why does she do this? Does she think she is a better person because she makes more money than I do? This is the same reason I hate materialism. I don't want my clothes, car, and possessions to define who I am. I like beautiful things as much as the next person, but I hope I never think that because I have more of them I am better than someone who has less.
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