We can start small, trying to take the spotlight off ourselves. Would it be difficult, for a single day, to let our actions speak for themselves, without defending ourselves when we suspect others are being critical? How hard would it be not to look in the mirror at all, or store windows, or reflections, and to refrain from asking others about our appearance? Could we listen to others, while refraining from conversation about ourselves—without telling stories about ourselves, recounting our own version of events, or offering an account of our own feelings? Reflecting when the day is over can reveal how much mental effort and conversation and activity we devote daily to enhancing our image in the eyes of others or calling attention to ourselves to make others approve of us. Are we engaging in activities from a desire to win recognition and renown or because we think they are genuinely important and worthwhile in themselves?

Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies
Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung