What Is A Sense Of Entitlement?

In some cases, you've seen it manifest itself in people, who are so self-centered and arrogant, that they think they deserve to be treated better, than others simply because of their social status. You can only imagine how much worse it would get if they were actually successful.

This type of person will always have an inferiority complex and will never truly feel worthy of being treated as they should be. They're not really happy unless they're doing things for themselves, rather than helping others.

This usually manifests itself in some sort of competition for acceptance. The lesser will compete with other lesser of similar status, rather than trying to excel within their own. All of these traits eventually lead to infighting and power struggles. This would all lead to problems in the long run.

What Is A Sense Of Entitlement?

A sense of entitlement is the belief, that one deserves something, because they are better than others. It can be in a person's mind or it could come from an external source such as money, power, etc. The problem with this type of thinking is, that it leads to people not working hard and getting lazy. This can lead to them becoming complacent and losing their edge.

The other problem with this type of thinking is, that it makes you feel superior to those around you. While this may feel good in the moment, in the long run it is not beneficial. You will not be as successful and you will create enemies.

Instead of thinking you are better than others, try to think of yourself as an equal. This will make you a more inclusive person and open up more doors for you in life. You will also find that you work harder, since you are not thinking you get everything easily.

Signs Of A Sense Of Entitlement

There are a few different signs, that you can look for to see if you have a sense of entitlement.

• A need for instant gratification.

• Talking down to people who are less fortunate than you.

• Constant feelings of shame and failure.

• Destroying the things that people have worked hard for.

• Procrastinating on tasks that you should be doing.

• Asking for special treatment for yourself.

How To Overcome A Sense Of Entitlement

The best way to overcome a sense of entitlement is to realize, that you aren't better than others, you won't feel as if you are owed anything. This will create a positive mindset, where you will be more motivated to succeed.

You can also try to think of people you know, who have overcome hardships, who aren't feeling a sense of entitlement. The more positive individuals you can think about, the easier it will be for you to stay motivated.

Finally, you can try to identify the things, that make you feel entitled. Through journaling or talking to someone you trust, you can start to look at the roots of your entitled thoughts. By doing this, you can work on changing them into more positive thoughts.

Finding out what makes you feel entitled can be a challenge, but it is well worth it. Once you conquer those thoughts, your mind will be a lot stronger and you will be able to reach your full potential.

Inner-Joys Of Mindfulness

Mindfulness in itself is a good thing, but when it becomes an excuse to live in a place of entitlement, it can become a problem. If you find yourself with a strong sense of entitlement, it is important to take a look at why. Mindfulness can help you look at your situation in a new way, but it needs to be combined with other techniques as well.

One of the main reasons, why some people become entitled is due to their outlook on life. They see everything as either a blessing or a curse, when really life is a bit more complicated than that.

Other people become entitled due to their childhood. How you were treated as a child can greatly effect the type of adult you become. If you were harshly disciplined as a child for something you have no control over, that's one thing. On the other hand, if you were blamed for something you didn't do, that's another. In either case, the lesson you learned is, that you are not to be trusted.

When you grow up in a household, where it is always one argument after the other, it's easy to not want anything to do with marriage, because it seems like a chore. Those that don't grow out of this difficult stage are often the ones, who end up in relationships with whiny, controlling types.

There are many other reasons, why people become entitled, but the bottom line is that it is a habit and like all habits; you can break it.

How Is Entitlement Different From Mistrust?

There is a lot of confusion between mistrust and entitlement and they are not the same thing. Many people, who come into therapy are mistrustful. They don't trust others, because of a painful experience in childhood. They didn't get along with their parents or were abandoned by them.

Sometimes they were betrayed by someone they trusted, but most times this problem goes much deeper. They trusted an adult as a child, but that trust was broken. This caused them to feel pain. They didn't understand, why that person they looked up to would do this to them. They never got over the feeling that it was their fault.

Sometimes this type of mistrust can be so strong, that it causes physical pain. Typically, the more one is able to forgive the more this type of mistrust goes away, but in some cases, it never completely goes away.

Entitlement: Everyone dislikes being taken advantage of. Entitled people feel, that they are entitled to have things given to them, whether they have worked for them or not. This usually manifests itself in the form of stealing or other forms of fraud.

People who grew up in a home, with no boundaries often don't learn, that they can't just take something, that doesn't belong to them. If they can't control themselves, they will take things anyway.

The difference between the mistrustful type and the entitled type is that the entitled type truly believes, that they are owed something. They may not be able to articulate it well, but they believe it with every fiber of their being.

How To Cope With Entitlement

One of the problems with being entitled is that you start to believe it's normal. You don't realize how much of an advantage not being entitled gives you. Other people can take advantage of you, but you can't take advantage of them. If you try, they can take everything away from you.

You may have to set boundaries with people, and even limit your social interactions. You need to make sure, that you don't get caught up in dangerous situations, because you're trying to be nice.

One of the most important things you can do to help yourself is forgive and let go of any lingering feelings of hurt from your childhood. Forgiveness doesn't mean you have to like what happened, or that you have to continue a relationship with someone, because you're still traumatized from the experience.

Forgiving someone doesn't mean you're going to trust them again, and it certainly doesn't mean you're going to want to be friends with them. It just means, that you can no longer harbor a grudge against them. As adults we make our own choices, and we live with the consequences. You can choose to not be a victim.

Stop taking everything so seriously. People are not going to live up to your ideals, or even come close. In fact, you shouldn't hold anyone to those kinds of standards. You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.

Don't give away your power. If you give away your power, you're basically saying, that you're not capable of taking care of yourself. This will make others feel comfortable taking advantage of you.