I'm a narcissist
The story
I'm 31 and I'm starting to wonder if there's truth in what my family and coworkers are saying. They call me a narcissist. It's not exactly something you want to hear from the people around you, but I guess it must be true if it's coming from all angles.
I've always been direct, sometimes rude even. This industry demands strong leadership skills, and I've tried to embody that. But apparently, that's translated into being self-centered according to them.
My wife says I make everything about myself. During conversations with friends or family, I used to think sharing my accomplishments was engaging but now I see it might have come off self-obsessed.
Work colleagues think I monopolize meetings. In my mind, I'm guiding projects efficiently, but maybe there is some merit to their feedback. Perhaps I've missed out on the value of collaboration because of my own doubt about others' capabilities.
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Points of view
I wouldn’t comment much because I’m not a professional in any way, but I’m just saying things as a person who’s done a bit of research for writing:
First of all, calling someone a narcissist if not professionally diagnosed yet can be considered a bit impolite considering how easily you’re influenced by it. Just to put it out there, a real narcissist would be too self centred to even think about things from another person’s point of view. Of course, having strong leadership skills are important in this industry, but if you really talk too much and don’t give others a chance to talk, it might be considered as being really extroverted. A narcissist is a type of person who’d only care about themselves and won’t listen to other’s opinion because everything is right and they cannot be wrong. But seeing that you do listen to your surroundings I doubt you not, your anxieties might be false. Unless you want to go to a therapist to check it out. Just so yk, a great leader comes with great listening skills too. So when you talk with your family, perhaps ask them how their day was, doubting others is a natural reaction to me at least, a great leader would advise them or guide them through hardships
Thank you for your message!
i don't know if i fully agree that you're a narcissist. maybe more like just someone who needs better awareness? we all can be self-focused at times.