We’ve all heard, and experienced, by now that narcissism is on the rise. We see bad behavior splashed on the front pages of our newspapers on a daily basis, are assaulted by unrestrained opinions on social media, treated callously in the professional workplace and “ghosted” in the dating and social scene.
While we may all act as if we can tolerate these behaviors with minimal annoyance, such actions wound our psyches and souls in ways we often don’t want to acknowledge.
For years now, I have been struck by how many clients seek out my services due to the pain of being in a close relationship with a narcissistic personality be it a parent, spouse, sibling, friend or co-worker. These relationships cause pain, confusion and human carnage. Sometimes the pain lasts a lifetime. It can often derail our health, finances, self-esteem, other relationships and overall zest for life.
How do we protect ourselves from the damage of narcissistic relationships and learn to thrive despite the rising prevalence of this phenomenon in our culture?
Has anyone else noticed that the world we are living in appears to be on the verge of a collective nervous breakdown? You’d have to be living in a cave or avoiding the news altogether to not be aware of the extreme levels of stress most of us are experiencing.
All of us want to live lives of meaning and purpose in which we are using our talents and gifts and making a positive difference. Yet how many of us are actually fulfilling this call? Perhaps a lucky few of us get up each day filled with energy and enthusiasm and a deep inner knowing that we are doing what our soul came here to do.
I’ve had a strange assignment the past seven years. It was a tough one of going into the darkness and chaos of having my life fall apart on so many levels I didn’t recognize myself or my life anymore. My self-identity was battered and bruised. I went through a divorce. I found myself living somewhere that didn’t feel like home on any level.