Meditation and mindfulness were linked to narcissism in a recent study, and I feel personally attacked.
I consider myself to be a very spiritual person, and I rely on sleep and walking meditation methods to get centered. I follow a lot of "mindfulness" Instagram accounts to aid my "enlightenment." I've worked with a spiritual coach for years. I live and breathe this stuff!
But, all of this might be because I'm seeking approval and respect of others. And I might be a narcissist? That's what a recent study says.
According to the Daily Mail, a study linked narcissism and "feelings of superiority" to forms of spirital enlightenment. Researchers found the connection through studying surveys taken by 4,000 people.
When meditation, self healing, and the like are supposed to separate people from their ego, researchers found that these practices actually enhanced their need to feel more successful, more respected, and more loved.
It should also be noted that, out of the 4,000 the survey respondants, a whopping 3,700 admitted they'd never had any form of spiritual training before. Hmm...ok.
Read more about the study here.