Narcissism: Healthy Narcissism Vs Narcissistic Disorder – Part 2
“I was married to a narcissist,” a woman says of her ex. “The President is a narcissist,” the pundit proclaims. What is a narcissist and why do we hear that term tossed around so loosely today when it is technically a psychiatric diagnosis?
First, let’s look at where the term came from. Narcissus was a character in Greek mythology who was very beautiful and fell in love with his own reflection in a spring. He sat there, pining away until he died. The flower that sprung up where he sat was named after him – the narcissus.
Eventually, the term began to be used to describe someone who loved only themselves. Actually, it is a psychiatric diagnosis to describe a disorder. Yet, few people actually undergo a psychiatric evaluation before their ex-wife, daughter, neighbor or pundit proclaims them a narcissist.
Narcissist Label
In our society, narcissist has become a label thrown around quite loosely by the media and average folk who read something about it in a book. If the label is slapped on you, you are now the villain. You can do nothing right, and you are instantly marginalized by anyone who buys into assigning you that label.
Did you know that psychologists actually say (and have books written about the fact) that there is such a thing as healthy narcissism? These traits are actually needed if you want to have healthy self-esteem and the confidence necessary to do great things. For example, you need a healthy level of self-confidence to tackle big visions and big dreams. World changers, who impact the world for good, usually believe there is something special and unique about them that qualifies them for the work.
In this segment of my interview with Dr. Linda Miles (a multi-published author and psychotherapist for over 30 years) shares the difference between a narcissist disorder diagnosis and healthy narcissism.
Learn more about Dr. Linda Miles at her web site www.DrLindaMiles.com and check out her book “Change Your Story: Change Your Brain” on Amazon.
Dr. Linda Miles is a leading expert on relationships and mindfulness. She is a psychotherapist, author, media expert and speaker. She has studied and worked in her field of counseling psychology for over 30 years and often speaks about mindfulness, stress reduction, mental health and relationships. Dr. Miles is personable and accessible in her books, articles and talks about how mindfulness and loving kindness can positively change your brain, your chemistry and your life. She can be reached at www.DrLindaMiles.com or followed on Twitter.
Marnie Pehrson Kuhns is a best-selling author and musician who helps subject matter experts leverage their wisdom and stories to create visibility, education, influence and sales in the marketplace. Whether she’s helping you distill your wisdom into books and information products or create visibility for your company, Marnie focuses on creating connection and loyalty.
Marnie helps her clients lead with their stories, connect from the heart, educate their market, and create loyal customers who send word-of-mouth referrals.
