A narcissist is a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves. They are too self centered and they tend to believe that the entire World revolves around them and everything is all about them.
How do you know that someone is a narcissist?
Lack of empathy.
If someone does not have the ability to sympathize with other people, they could be a narcissist. We usually find ourselves empathizing with people who are in certain circumstances. If one is unable to sympathize with those around them, chances are, this person doesn’t feel the least bit of empathy (that’s right, a narcissist)
Entitlement
No one feels as entitled as a narcissist. They believe that the World revolves around them remember? So in a nutshell, they feel they deserve special treatment (even when they don’t even deserve it!)
Attention seeking.
As I said earlier, everything is about them so they want as much attention as they can get. This is majorly because narcissists survive on feeling important and being uplifted. If they feel attention is not on them, that is quite a blow on their self esteem.
Controlling and demanding.
They always want things to go their way (since the entire universe rotates around them, right?). They have the urge to control everyone and everything around them because the feeling that they are in control boosts their ego and makes them feel validated (the audacity).
Monopolistic tendencies
Have you been friends or in a relationship with a person that always wants you to listen to them, even more than they ever let you talk? Then run! Narcissists have a monopolistic tendency even when it comes to conversation. They should talk more, be heard more (after all they think the World revolves around them and you exist only for them)
Simple ways to protect yourself from a narcissist
Setting your own boundaries
Narcissists always find it difficult to hold and respect healthy boundaries in both friendships and relationships. Crossing or ignoring the boundaries you’ve set, or acting as if they know better is their specialty. Set your boundaries and be firm about them. If you keep on compromising for a narcissist, you will be taken for a push over!
Avoiding retaliation.
The truth is, it is only natural for you to want to stand up for yourself when you feel someone isn’t behaving respectfully towards you. Narcissists however trap you using this same emotion you are displaying and instead, they play the victim, leaving you feeling worse.
Do not give them the kind of emotion they were expecting, instead, be calm and show no emotion (narcissists hate this). Try to calmly explain how you feel but if the other person isn’t receptive, you should most definitely end the conversation for your own good.
Cutting them off.
How best to run than to cut a narcissist off? This is you point blank telling them that they are not as important as they believe they are and you can live without them! So if you feel suffocated by this one person who believes everything is about them, it would be best to cut them out of your life.
Disengaging.
A narcissist will always want you to engage with them emotionally. This is because their power comes from controlling you using your emotions. That is one way they get you to lose focus on what is important and drag you into an argument with them. Do not engage with them emotionally on anything. This will save you a lot because nothing good will come of it as they lack true empathy, even though they might be good at acting empathetic.
Know their weaknesses.
Narcissists generally have a very weak fear and this is rejection and criticism. One of their most significant weaknesses is their inability to sustain emotional relationships.
In conclusion therefore, the best way to beat a narcissist at their own game is to calmly exploit their own weaknesses
