navel gazing
Obsessive inward focus
Navel gazing is excessive self-absorption or introspection—contemplating one's own concerns while ignoring the broader world.
The image is of someone staring at their own belly button as if it held profound meaning.
Often used critically: The film festival devolved into industry navel gazing.
Also spelled navel-gazing.
- bellybuttonCord attachment remnant
- belly buttonCord attachment remnant
- introspectObserve one's own mind
- self reflectionExamining one's own thoughts
- buttonDisc through a hole
looking inward · belly · umbilicus · mindfulness · lost in thought · meditative · reflection · self-analysis · contemplation · soul searching · lint · self-obsession · skin · axis mundi · breath · silence · inner wisdom · personal growth
- contemplationcontemplation, meditation, reflection, pondering, musing
- introspectionself-examination, self-reflection, self-awareness, self-analysis, introspection
- personal writingdiary, journal, autobiographical essay, memoir, memoirs
- frettingworrying, fussing, fretting, stewing, hand-wringing
- foolishnessfoolishness, silliness, foolish, stupid, folly
- ways of lookingstaring, peering, gawking, glaring, watching
navel gazingsocial engagement
Involvement in community life
worldliness · altruism · civic engagement · community involvement · global awareness
navel gazingaction
Process of doing
activism · engagement · taking action · doing · rolling up one's sleeves