How does healthy Narcissim Appear?

When someone refers to you as a narcissist, it is rarely intended as a praise. The name originates from the Greek tale of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own mirror and sat and stared at it until he died. Similarly, unhealthy narcissism is characterized by arrogance, insecurity, and an obsession with oneself at the expense of others.

However, is it possible to have a healthy narcissism? Yes, there is, according to contemporary psychology.

Healthy narcissism is about embracing qualities of oneself without arrogantly lording them over others. It benefits you and people in your immediate vicinity and lays the groundwork for strong connections.

Interested in learning more? Learn everything there is to know about healthy narcissism in the guide below.

What Is Appropriate Narcissism?

Both healthy and unhealthy narcissism refer to a person's level of enjoyment/liking of himself or herself.

Unhealthy narcissists have an inflated, overblown sense of their own importance. They regard everyone else as less valued than they are.

Healthy narcissism begins with an accurate view of oneself. It entails having an acceptable sense of self-worth and refraining from exaggerating it.

Additionally, it entails a sense of joy about one's own worth. Healthy narcissists take pride in their appearance and abilities; they take pride in a job well done. And they do so without demeaning others.

Who Requires a Sustaining Narcissism?

There are two categories of persons who can profit from healthy narcissism. They are on opposing ends of the self-worth scale.

Narcissists Who Are Unhealthy

Individuals who suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder believe they are more important than other individuals. These pathological narcissists have a distorted view of themselves. Additionally, they have an erroneous and harmful image of others.

This distorted perspective hinders their ability to form good interpersonal interactions. Additionally, they live in a depressing world where no one lives up to their expectations.

They are destitute and desirous of friendship, yet no one is "good enough" for them. As a result, they expel everyone.

On the other hand, they are drawn to harmful relationships as well. They take pleasure in the presence of enablers who bolster their overblown sense of self-importance.

How Is Healthy Narcissism Beneficial?

Healthy narcissism enables these narcissists to love themselves differently—in a way that does not require them to denigrate others in order to feel good about themselves. The feeling of self-worth of an unstable narcissist is based on comparison to other individuals. They feel better about themselves when they believe they are superior to others.

Narcissism in its optimal state eliminates this urge for comparison. It teaches one to appreciate one's own identity, personality, abilities, and other attributes in isolation from those of others.

This causes unhealthy narcissists to view people objectively and to recognize that everyone possesses something useful. This enables them to develop compassion and empathy for others, resulting in them becoming nicer, happier people.

Individuals With a Negative Self-Image

Individuals who have an erroneously low sense of self-worth are unhappy and more susceptible to being used and/or abused by others. Because they value others more than themselves, they allow others to run roughshod over them.

Additionally, they are readily misled by guilt. Others may use humiliation to compel them to do their bidding.

Without faith in themselves or their talents, they are unmotivated to attempt, carry out, or complete anything. They are prone to depression and anxiety and typically maintain a perpetually depressed state of mind. They may self-medicate through some form of addiction.

How Is Healthy Narcissism Beneficial?

Healthy narcissism has the potential to eventually eliminate these signs of poor self-worth. When you feel good about your abilities, your efforts, and your accomplishments, you begin to experience joy in your life.

You'll be motivated to achieve more as a result of your enjoyment of performing at your best. You'll become more industrious and begin dreaming up life objectives.

You'll feel more secure in your own skin and won't crave the approval of others as much. You will defend yourself because you admire yourself.

You'll cease to be manipulated by people who seek to guilt-trip you. Their hurtful statements will have less impact on you since you are content with who you are.

How to Develop an Appropriate Level of Narcissism

Here are a few practical techniques for cultivating your own healthy narcissism.

Pay Attention to Those Who Care About You

Each of us has numerous people in our lives who say a variety of things about us. Many of us have an unhealthy tendency to be more concerned with what is said than with who is saying it.

Someone with low self-esteem only receives demeaning messages and disregards any complements. A pathological narcissist disregards any criticism and takes only flattery seriously. Both of these are unreasonable and destructive responses to how others perceive us.

What matters is who is expressing an opinion. The only genuine praise or criticism is that which comes from someone who genuinely cares about you.

Those that care about you are intimately acquainted with you and are candid in their assessment. When someone tells you that you're talented or that you're incorrect about anything, resist the need to immediately dismiss what they're saying.

Ignore the Rabble

The other element of this is to pay little attention to competing voices. If an acquaintance or stranger remarks on your lack of intelligence, do not take it personally.

After all, what do they really know about you? Who are they to say what you should be or who you should be?

Rather than allowing it to consume you, consider people who care about you and what they think of you. What would they say in response to this remark? Would they concur or would they disagree?

Additionally, individuals that care about you have the ability to speak for themselves. You are not required to guess their responses; simply ask them!

Allow for Unconditional Joy in Your Life

Conditional joy is a significant impediment to healthy narcissism. That is, many of us will withhold joy unless certain circumstances are met.

Unhealthy narcissists require confirmation of their superiority over others in order to experience joy. Individuals with poor self-esteem never allow themselves to experience joy because they believe they are worthless. They believe they are not "deserving" of such happy emotions.

To experience true joy about yourself, you must let go of any "conditions" for joy. Abandon the notion that you require a reason to feel good. Allow yourself to experience joy for no cause at all.

This weakens the maladaptive pretensions that dictate how you feel.

Are You a Narcissist in Good Health?

You are valuable, and you should take pride in that fact. Keep in mind and apply everything you've learnt today. Discover the wholesome pleasures of healthy narcissism.