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Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#31
When I show this kind of behavior it’s usually because of a lack self confidence or depression. My Buddhist teacher told me that depression is literally a selfish thing because you are so busy worrying about yourself and don’t have capacity to think about others or to be generous.

Besides seeking professional help I think it helps to review the day in the evening and see if you did any of the behaviors you want to improve on. That way you slowly develop awareness and can start catching yourself from time to time when you do it. And be kind to yourself. Changing deeply ingrained behaviors is very hard.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#32
post #27

Seeing a therapist might be infinitely better than reading a book, and not just for narcissism. We're all broken in our own wonderful and unique ways. I've been seeing a therapist for 5 years now, and the positive impact this has had in my life and on my general self-awareness can't be overstated. As engineers and tech people we have one tool that has proven incredible useful in our careers: our brilliant rational mi…

What are examples of problems you couldn't solve with your mind?

Ever been in a relationship? There are a lot of problems you can’t just solve with rational thinking.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#33
post #27

Seeing a therapist might be infinitely better than reading a book, and not just for narcissism. We're all broken in our own wonderful and unique ways. I've been seeing a therapist for 5 years now, and the positive impact this has had in my life and on my general self-awareness can't be overstated. As engineers and tech people we have one tool that has proven incredible useful in our careers: our brilliant rational mi…

What are examples of problems you couldn't solve with your mind?

Any that involves interaction with multiple people; you cannot predict others, especially since most people don't always act fully rationally.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#34
It sounds like you've _had_ the epiphany.

The important thing now is to remember it, and apply it to your daily life.

This is much less fun, and much harder work. But basically, whenever you're about to do something, ask yourself if you're doing it for the right reasons.

After a while you'll have internalised this to the point where you're not having to correct course hardly at all, and it will be near-zero effort.

And then you can move on to the next thing ;-)

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#36
post #8

For book suggestions I would suggest the old classic: “How to Win Friends and Influence People” Talks about active listening, and remembering things about others. As for generally not being as narcissistic, I think you’re already on the right track. 90% of being aware of other people, is being aware that you’re sucking up the airtime. Conversations are dances, both parties need to be engaged

IMO it's really obvious when someone's applying the strategies in that book without addressing their underlying behavior. One of my bosses had the dark triad traits, and it was painfully obvious that he was following the book's advice to the letter. Referring to people by name often and the like doesn't mask narcissistic behavior, it just makes a narcissist appear dishonest.

I grew less distrustful of the book when I read in it that, in the author's view, the key ingredient to its advice was sincerity. Carnegie even makes the point that the advice is useful whether or not you are sincere, and calls out its danger.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#37
Chances are that if you are a truly narcisitic (I would check with a therapist before self-diagnosing a pathology) you might have a relationship with someone co-dependent on you, either work, friend or sentimental relationship, you could look into interpesonal conflicts, are you steping constanly into some else boundaries, for your own benefit?

Search on youtube about this pattern there are a couple of pshychologist talking about it.

If you are not hurting anyone, maybe your are not involed in co-dependet pattern with anyone, and all you need it's some mindfulness and social skills.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#38
Take a few minutes to skim the Wikikedia page summarizing "The No Asshole Rule:" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_No_Asshole_Rule

You probably don't fit the author's definition of "certified asshole."

No one's perfect. Learn from your mistakes and grow into a wise old person.

Re: Ask HN: How did you fix your narcissism?

#40
I'm not sure if using the word "narcissism" is helpful in this context. We are all self-absorbed to some extent and it's good to maintain a practice that keeps this at bay.

I found these two things particularly helpful:

1) Developing a practice of meditation

This helps to notice the self-absorbed thoughts and recognize them for what they are. I'd recommend in particular attending a silent retreat in Vipassana tradition https://www.dhamma.org/

These retreats are organized all over the world and are donation-based, so you can afford them regardless of your financial means. It only takes time and dedication.

2) Developing interest in other people

I was surprised that this can be learned, but it certainly can. I've often heard things like "assume everybody knows something you don't know" or "everybody can teach you something". I've found this advice to not be particularly helpful. It didn't offer a process for developing this interest.

The advice here offers a more practical approach: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-genuinely-interested-i... (tdlr; it's an exercise of writing down things that you appreciated about the people you've encountered).

My personal experience with this practice: a) I notice what I appreciate and find interesting about the person I am speaking to more frequently and sooner into the conversation. b) I notice afterwards that I derived far more satisfaction from conversations in which I was interested in the other person rather than when others were interested in me. However, during the conversation I still crave attention. I am starting to notice these cravings as they happen. It's a little like eating a healthy meal vs. eating a cookie.

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