Tag Archives: entitlement

Gratitude and Thanksgiving Foster Character

conscience, Entitlement, Integrity, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, Spirituality, , , , , , ,

Thanksgiving means more than a single holiday. Responsible people render it daily in their undertakings. But in this age of rampant narcissism and entitlement, cultivating gratitude is difficult. So, far too few give thanks with their actions. Rather, they take, use, exploit, and injure – all for their own gratification. And they do such things without compunction because they feel entitled.

I have much for which to be grateful. Your validation and promotion of my work has always inspired and sustained me. It’s impossible to say how much such support means to me. So, from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you!”

Heartless Characters Think Differently

Abuse, empathy, Entitlement, Personality and Character, Psychology, Relationships, , , , ,

Relationships with heartless characters follow a typical course. You get seduced by the tremendous interest someone shows in you.  And most importantly, you mistake the interest for caring. Only later do you realize how utterly expendable you are, especially once you’ve outlived your usefulness.

Charming Narcissists Manipulate Well

Abuse, empathy, Entitlement, Lying and Deception, Manipulation, Manipulators, Narcissism, Neurotics, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Psychology, Relationships, Self-Esteem, , , ,

Brash and vulgar narcissists naturally offend us. So, we naturally want to keep our distance and watch our backs. But charming narcissists are in some ways more dangerous. Like I say in In Sheep’s Clothing, dealing with them can be like getting whiplash. You only fully realize who they are and what they’ve done to you after the fact.

Our Culture of Entitlement Impedes Character Growth

Abuse, Entitlement, Mental Health, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, , , ,

Researchers now know the reason disturbed characters have a hard time developing a healthy sense of obligation. When you feel entitled, you simply can’t feel obliged. You have to feel indebted before you can feel obliged. And you have to be deeply grateful before you can feel indebted.

Culture and Character Impact Each Other

conscience, Entitlement, Integrity, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Responsibility, Social Issues, , , , , ,

Culture and character have an intertwined and interdependent relationship. And they impact each other in some very dynamic ways. More character-impaired individuals now populate the culture. And they have “enabled” the erosion of principles once widely revered and promoted.

Characters Who Use and Abuse

Abuse, conscience, empathy, Entitlement, Infidelity, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Social Issues, , , , ,

Grandiose narcissists so wantonly use and abuse because they have little heart. They lack empathy. And they have little shame. And the more lacking they are in these things, the more easily they exploit.

Living in the Age of Entitlement

conscience, empathy, Entitlement, Integrity, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, , , , ,

We live in an exhibitionistic, self-aggrandizing, and self-indulgent society. It’s also largely an everyone for himself or herself society. It’s hard to become a conscientious, obligated, civil, and generous person in such an environment.

Feeling Thankful

Entitlement, Mental Health, Personality and Character, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, , ,

I’ve worked with thousands of person’s struggling to understand and deal with various disturbed characters in their lives. And it’s been most rewarding to equip these folks with both the understanding and tools they needed to empower themselves. I’ve also worked with thousands of disturbed characters. And to have witnessed many of these individuals become better people has been the blessing of a lifetime.

Thinking First, Impulse Control and Mindfulness

empathy, Entitlement, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychopathy and Sociopathy, Relationships, , , ,

Mindfulness as a character quality is more than a particular practice like meditation. It’s a state of being and a way of living. Being mindful is about keeping ourselves maximally aware of both our inner world and the outer world, as well as the impact of our choices on those worlds. To be of sound character, one has to be mindful.