This Is the Christian Solution to Vanity

Vanity is not what many people think it is. It can come in many forms, and is not necessarily an infatuation with yourself. Vanity is an inordinate preoccupation with what other people think about you—which is different.

It’s important, to an extent, to care what others think about you. It can even be charitable. But when this care becomes unbalanced, it leads to neglecting more important things.

Wanting to be noticed can be vain, but not wanting to be noticed can also be vain. When you shrink back and don’t want anyone to look at you, it can be a form of vanity or false humility; because not wanting to be seen can be an indication that you care an inordinate amount about what people think of you.

Vanity can also cause an unwillingness to share the Faith. Many times we think sharing the gospel will make people think less of us. How many times has the thought of what other people think prevented you from sharing the Faith?

Balance is pertinent in every aspect of vanity, and the best way to achieve that balance is to care about what God thinks of you above all.

These sayings about humility really sum it up well, since humility is the antidote to vanity:

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less” (Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life).

“If you meet a really humble man … He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all” (C.S. Lewis).

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[gwendolyno.]

" Dont think less of yourself, think of yourself less" C.S.Lewis

[brycemitchell]

I've been a Protestant my entire life, but Father Mike Schimtz is seriously making me rethink it. I can't stop watching his videos.

[cassie]

Me, with low self esteem and thinking vanity was the least of my problems, after watching this: 👁👄👁

[IONov]

It is so difficult to realize the only opinion whose matters is Christ's.

[emiliob]

I just finished praying and asking Mary to pray for me to help me with not being afraid to share my beliefs... then this video pops up.


Couldn't be more perfect.

[TiffTheTyrant]

I wish you could see the painful grimace I am wearing on my face right now at the thought of how I feel this message was directly for me lol UNCOMFORTABLE.

[carolherm]

Wow, I just asked God to reveal my faults and boom, you did it. Thank you Jesus. I'm the quiet one that wants to hide out alone bc I'm so afraid of what people think of me. I thought I was shy but no, I'm inordinately concerned about what others think of me. Mercy Jesus.
God bless you Fr. You are in my daily prayers. You brought my girlfriend back to the Catholic church.

[dg]

" I am as I am in the eyes of God. Nothing more, nothing less." St. Francis of Assisi
Thank you, Father Mike, for making this understandable and doable. I needed to hear this! Especially since I am an introvert. Really makes me think. I want to care about what God thinks!
Blessings!

[men.]

Dang I'm a very vain man. Someone pray for me.

[smarie]

King Solomon talks about vanity also being linked to worrying about what happens to your life’s work, earnings, and home.

[danielh]

Social media is making vanity even worse. I deleted my social media platforms when we (the UK) went into lockdown, on 16th March. I feel much better for it and feel more connected to reality. Best move I've made. Won't be going back to it. Stay safe everyone.

[crenshaw]

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven”

[pnevill]

I have started Imitation of Christ. Chapter 1 - Vanity. Found your short discussion on vanity. I appreciated your definition and illustration.

[justinjustinjustin]

Nope. Not a problem for me. Installed it all by myself no problem right under the new bathroom mirror.

Oh that kind of vanity...

[maryk]

Loved this. I had to do a self-examination a few months back because I am a creative person and enjoy dressing with bright colors and some makeup. I really questioned myself if it was in vanity because many religious people dress the opposite of that. But I did it in the way you described the person with the hair in the video - left the house that way and didn't really think of it again. Shifted my focus on thoughts of what God thinks about me overall and that is what I believe helped decrease my vanity, not changing the way I dressed if it was modest and appropriate.

[ivanortega]

hahahahaha great intro with that joke Father!

[Richie]

Little but lethal, that is what makes vanity a fatal flaw of our conduct.
Thank you, Fr. Mike, for explaining so well.

[oza]

Oh my gosh. That just blew my mind. Being the Center of Attention AND not wanting any attention both come from the same source; caring too much about other people's attention. That's a truth bomb.

[abbyimmanuel]

I can't tell you how much these videos mean to me and how encouraging & insightful they are. Thank you Fr. Mike!!

[cubife]

Hi peeps ! I'm having a very nice day today ! God bless us all in this situation of weird and strange times.