Narcissus was a beautiful young person who rejected the love and humanity of others. One day, Narcissus looked into a pool of still water and became captivated by the reflection, not realizing at first that it was only an image.
Unable to turn away, Narcissus gradually lost connection with the living world surrounding the pool. The ancient story warns us about the danger of mistaking an image for reality, and of becoming so absorbed in ourselves that we can no longer see, hear, or care for others.
In our time, the story speaks not only about personal vanity, but also about leadership. When leaders become imprisoned by their own image, praise, power, and certainty, they lose the capacity to listen, accept correction, recognize truth, or remember that leadership is a sacred responsibility to serve the people.