Entitlement

Are we entitled to have something for sure? Are we even entitled to think about our entitlement?

TL;DR

We rarely examine the basis of our entitlement. While some entitlement can fuel creativity, unchecked entitlement breeds disappointment and self-importance. Perhaps entitlement is just another label that, once questioned, frees us.

Is there a good amount of entitlement that we need to have? Can it be an exaggerated feeling of self-importance?

A study has shown that some amount of entitlement is linked to increased creativity.

When we think we are entitled to something, what is the basis on which we are making that assumption? How can we validate that assumption?

Can we avoid disappointment if we just avoid the feeling of entitlement? Are we even entitled to the necessities? The things that we take for granted – does it make sense to rethink those? Especially with the pandemic, which forced us to rethink many things.

Is entitlement another label that we carry, which on removal gives mukthi for us?

For more reflections like this, see Thoughts.

FAQ

Q: Is some entitlement healthy? A: Research suggests a small amount of entitlement can be linked to increased creativity – it gives you permission to think you deserve to try new things. But it becomes destructive when it turns into an exaggerated feeling of self-importance or when it sets you up for chronic disappointment.

Q: How does entitlement lead to disappointment? A: When you believe you are entitled to a specific outcome, any deviation from that expectation creates disappointment. Reducing the feeling of entitlement does not mean lowering your standards – it means loosening your grip on expected outcomes.

Q: What did the pandemic reveal about entitlement? A: The pandemic forced a rethinking of things we took for granted – basic freedoms, health, social interaction. It highlighted that even the necessities we feel entitled to are not guaranteed, which is both humbling and clarifying.

Q: Is entitlement a label we carry? A: Yes. Like other labels, entitlement can become part of your identity in ways that limit growth. Removing it – questioning whether you are truly owed what you think you are owed – can be a form of liberation, or mukthi.