Stay away from THESE unpleasant people

If you were to look up the word narcissist in the dictionary, you'd likely find a definition along these lines:

A person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.

That being said, if I were to ask you to name words you associate with narcissism, you might mention the following:

Pride
Self-absorbed
Cocky
Conceited
Selfish
Egocentric
Full of themselves

Indeed, narcissists love being the center of attention. Getting compliments and "likes" from others further fuels their unbridled love of self. If they're not in the spotlight, it's a lousy day as far as they're concerned.

In the worst cases, narcissists are willing to stab someone in the back or throw them under the bus to get their way.

Perhaps you've witnessed this kind of behavior at work with a toxic boss or slimy coworker who takes credit for your work and never misses the opportunity to laud their "accomplishments."

Or maybe you've had an friend or ex who was so vain that it practically derailed the relationship.

Now, there's nothing wrong with loving yourself. As I've written before, you can't love others until you learn how to love, appreciate, and show compassion toward yourself. Happiness, after all, comes from deep within.

But these folks take it to a whole new level. They are wholly preoccupied with themselves, always looking for ways to upstage their peers and make themselves stand out. What's more, they can come of as rude, abrasive, and insensitive.

Here's a reality check for all narcissists:

The world does not revolve around them.
They're not better than anyone else.
If they want to endear themselves to other people, they'll get much better results by displaying kindness and humility.
Thinking you're the best of the best grates on others, even if they may not say or show it.
They have flaws, even if they're in denial about them.

If you can steer clear of all narcissists in your life, more power to you! If you can't (e.g., they're a coworker or relative), keep them at arm's length and never allow them to belittle you so they can inflate their ego.

The world needs more humility and compassion, and less selfishness and pomposity.

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How To Understand People

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