not narcissism

From: Further Assessment of the Construct Validity of Four Measures of Narcissism: Replication and Extension. by P.J. Watson
Source: The Journal of Psychology, 1 May 2001
Via: HighBeam™ Research

• Self-reported narcissism also has proven to be difficult to define. One theoretical model suggests, for instance, that self-reported narcissism reflects a defensive self-esteem (e.g., Raskin, Novacek, & Hogan, 1991a, 1991b).
  

Oh, I get it. It's really just defensive self-esteem. Well, gosh, that's a whole different story. Why didn't you say something?

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cosmic connie

If you look over in the in the left sidebar blogroll here, you'll see Connie Schmidt listed. She goes by "Cosmic Connie" on her blog, Whirled Musings, which just celebrated its six-month half-birthday. Thanks and a big tip 'o the hat! Connie is on a mission to enlighten the masses as to the true motives of what she calls the New Wage crowd. In her recent post, Help! my paradigms are shattered, she goes after Gregg Braden, author of the the two books you see pictured to the right: The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief, and The God Code. The latter was one of the first books that got me truly worked up about the current wave of charlatan spiritual hucksters. Long before I realized that their pedigree stretches back into the 19th century -- and even into the 18th, if you begin (as many of them do) with Swedenborg. However, in that same post, Connie connects our paradigm-shattering Mr. Braden with another favorite target here at Mystic Bourgeoisie: Abraham Maslow and his so-called hierarchy of needs. Go read it by all means. I am especially glad that "Cosmic Connie" got in touch after finding this blog. All too often, I feel that I run the risk of seeming the classic misogynist. So much of the crap I have railed against here does appear to fall out along gender lines: the Goddess "movement," Wicca, and all manner of empowering "spiritual" uplift from the likes of Marianne Williamson, Starhawk, Caroline Myss, Barbara Marx Hubbard -- the list goes on and on -- not to mention old-timers like Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant. So it is gratifying indeed to have encountered an intelligent modern woman -- a Texan, no less! (she lives there anyway) -- who is equally disenchanted with this sort of patent nonsense. Here's to many more birthdays for Whirled Musings.

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better together

"Are you happy with the relationship you’re in today? Or are you frustrated, knowing that no matter how hard you try, the open-heartedness that first drew you and your partner together seems awfully hard to win back? Perhaps you’re in a difficult relationship that needs substantial change, or perhaps you are in a good-enough relationship that could be made better. Maybe you’re looking for a new relationship that doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. In any case, if you are reading these words, chances are you feel that something has been missing. It may be tempting to avoid acknowledging that feeling, but I’d like to ask you to trust your instinct. Twenty-five years of helping couples change and grow has taught me that if you feel things could be better, you’re probably right. A lot better, in fact." ~ Terry Real The first rule of marriage: whatever happens in the marriage stays in the marriage. ~ Tyler Durden

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