In these blogs I have discussed several aspects of narcissism and how a narcissistic partner or parent can have a negative impact on a relationship.  However, today I want to touch on narcissism as a good thing and that not all narcissists are bad.  As with most everything in life, there is a continuum on which a mood, behavior, or trait lies and how much it impacts someone’s life can vary.  Narcissism can run on this same continuum and there are people who have traits of narcissism that are beneficial to their functioning and not damaging to those around them.  Not all narcissists are bad.

Narcissistic personality traits include a sense of entitlement, grandiosity, and feelings of superiority. Many people have a little bit of these traits and they are present in various aspects of their life.  These traits become an issue when the narcissistic traits impact someone’s functioning and relationships and the person meets criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  It is important to note that just because someone has narcissistic personality traits, it doesn’t mean that they have a personality disorder. 

People with the traits of a sense of entitlement, grandiosity, and feelings of superiority are found to be successful in their jobs and often get promotions or are CEOs. They have the courage to takes risks and the resilience to bounce back from perceived failures.  The narcissistic traits act as a buffer to life’s stressors and keep them motivated for change.  Failures are not viewed as setbacks, but as ways to re-evaluate what didn’t work and to take a new approach. 

Narcissism as a good thing is often seen in people who can take their narcissism traits and use them to better theirs and others lives.  They are confident and not susceptible to damaging narcissistic injury that leads to destruction of those around them.  They can garner their energy into meaningful change and not destruction to those they encounter.  People with healthy narcissism can draw people in but this trait is not used to manipulate. 

When someone has narcissistic personality traits, there is a fine line between thinking you can do it all while making progress, and burning out because you refuse to recognize that you can’t do it all and those around you aren’t your means to an end despite the consequences.  This is a balancing game they must continually assess in their lives. 

Even people with healthy narcissism can fall prey to the downsides of narcissism.  A narcissist, healthy or unhealthy, struggles with empathy, a desire to always be the best, and is sensitive to criticism.  Although they may not have Narcissistic Personality Disorder, it doesn’t mean they aren’t vulnerable to these areas that impact how they function in their daily life. 

A little bit of healthy narcissism can help grow a company and create great leaders. However, it is a certain type of person who can posses the traits of a sense of entitlement, grandiosity, and feelings of superiority and use it  for the betterment of society versus a means to destroy people around them who they don’t agree with.  There are several different theories on why someone develops Narcissistic Personality Disorder and nothing is definitive at this time.  However, if there is someone in your life who has some of the traits of a narcissistic personality and they are not detrimental to those around them, these may actually be strengths they can use to find success in their life. 

At Mindset Therapy we provide mental health services in Texas and Washington from trained professionals, via telepsychology, which allows you to attend the appointment from the location most convenient for you. Visit Mindset Therapy at https://www.mindsettherapyonline.com/ to learn more about the services offered and make an appointment.  Also visit our YouTube page, Mindset Therapy, PLLC, for the Mental Health Minute series that provides quick pieces of information for common mental health issues.