VANITY
As with everything else, our sense of value differs. Those of us who are excessively vain are bound to get acquainted with all sorts of predicaments because among other things, we tend to incircle ourselfs and our circumstances with so many unnecessary accessories that others can be appalled.
Vanity is a regular millstone in our communication with others because it makesus favour worthless and precarious values. Therefore it is essential that we ignore completely the arrogant “glamour before goodness” point of view. Of course this is not to suggest that taking care of ourselves and keeping our outer and inner self in good condition is wrong. On the other hand it is literally inappropriate and precarious for our personal values and moral development, to focus all our energy and thought on some sort of “humbuck” and glamourous priorities that will in the long run prove themselves worthless and naive.
Worst of all is when vain and dependant thinking will lead us to spend excessivelyand go way beyond our budget. There is very little to gain in mastering our daily activities in such a way that they will only become hollow and stressfulbecause of the vanity and pretense that compell our actions. If we are so vain and influential that we believe that what we possess and can afford to indulgeourselves with is never enough, we are obviously in big trouble and moral danger.
Such circumstances will undoubtedly lead us to disappointment and anxietyrather than well-being and ease. It is quite constructive to remind ourselves that if ouraddiction to vanity and pretense is allowed to go to extremes, it will turn on us and is therefore not even worth considering. Nothing negative that clouds our happiness and human prosperity deserves attention.
Selfconsciousness and wordly materials should not be such a demanding aspect in our thought and surroundings, that it will make us feel poorly each time we are not able to indulge in what we fancy. It is a certain kind of self-torture to constantly want to lead our lives differently than our circumstances and finance allow. It is essential that we try to avoid everthing that hinders us from being honest and straightforward in demeanour. It is wise to train ourselves to emphasize equally on both our inner and outer valuables. There is nothing wrong with savouringthe fancy and “glittery” things of life, as long as it does not weaken our knowledge of the importance of strengthening our human spirit in a sophisticated and practical manner.
Excessive vanity and pretense that relate to arrogance and spiritual neglect, are unsuitable and precarious. That kind of attitude towards life encourages conflicts and destitude of the soul. Those of us who care for humane and understanding relations with others, should wish to eliminate unecessary complexities and tunnel vision from our daily lives. We should vote to value modest needs and behaviour over vanity and excessive pride, since we choose to take the responsibility for our own inner and outer well-being seriously.
Written by: Jóna Rúna Kvaran; 
Translated by: Nína Rúna Kvaran; 
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