daffodils

The idea of narcissism comes from Greek mythology.

Narcissus, a beautiful youth, spurned the nymph Echo then fell in love with his own reflection in a spring. His reflection was unapproachable so Narcissus gradually perished and became the flower narcissus or daffodil.

The myth illustrates that if you are overly egotistic or care more about yourself than others, it can lead to bad things.

That’s my cliff note version. To read the full story click here.

We’ve all met narcissistic people. People with an inordinate fascination with themselves and who make excessive reference to themselves and their accomplishments in conversation or writing.

Life is all about them and they let you know.

What surprises (and doesn’t surprise me) is the fact that narcissism is on the rise in the U.S. according to Dr. Kelly Neff.

Has social media contributed to this rise? Think about it, doesn’t the very idea of a “selfie” imply a degree of narcissism. Methinks it does.

Dr. Neff talks about the correlation in her article, 7 Things You Need to Know About Narcissists, From A Psychologist’s Perspective

We all exhibit narcissistic traits from time-to-time. It’s called positive self-esteem and self-esteem is not a bad thing.

However, dealing with a true narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) can drain your energy. They are manipulative and skilled at getting what they want out of people.

If you’re not sure someone you know is a true narcissist, watch for these other characteristics:

1. Exaggerating their abilities and achievements
2. Constant need for attention, affirmation and praise
3. A strong sense of entitlement
4. An expectation of special treatment

If you have a narcissist in your life (like I do), check out these two articles:

How to Deal With A Narcissist and Dealing with a Narcissist

Personally, I’m going to be positive and picture in my head the flower that Narcissus became  whenever I encounter my narcissist.

Or maybe I’ll model a character in my next book after the narcissist culprit in my life then kill him off.

That’s one of the perks of being a writer.