Module 8: Grandiosity

Important: Before you study this lesson please watch this video, “Why?“.  Example:  If you or your client are in a relationship and the other person displayed an attitude of not being “Truthful”, you’ll need to master, and you’ll need to educate your client the following: “Confront and Level!”,  “Assertive Communications!”, as well as “I Feel Good, PST!”.

Make sure to answer the questions at the end and follow the instructions for submission!

Optimism is one of the attitudes everyone advises everyone to cultivate. After all, a positive attitude can help you combat unlimited challenges and can enable you to overcome hurdles in life. A positive attitude is also linked to happiness and success and psychologists all over the world believe that an optimistic mindset can help a person improve his physical and mental well-being.

But what happens when people become too optimistic? So optimistic that they start lacking self-awareness and put a halt on their own growth?

There is no doubt that people who practice optimism lead more satisfying lives. But for some people, too much optimism can be self-destructive.

This happens when people start believing that they are superior to everyone around them, and they lose touch with reality. And there is a term that describes this behavior perfectly.

“Grandiosity” is considered a fragment of narcissistic personality disorder where a person lives in his/her own bubble, believing that he is better or superior to everyone else. “I am a good employee” becomes “I am one of the best employees the company has”. “I am good at driving” becomes “I am one of the best drivers in my friend’s circle”.

Signs of Grandiosity:

There are several signs that signal that you might be experiencing grandiosity. Some of these signs are listed below:

• Every conversation starts with you and ends with you.
• You keep boasting about your large as well as small achievements.
• You don’t see your flaws and you fail to acknowledge your mistakes.
• You are overly critical of other people, and you pinpoint flaws in others.
• You fail to see other people’s points of view and get all worked up when people don’t agree with you.
• You daydream about being one of the most powerful, intelligent personalities with an abundance wealth status, and a high reputation.
• You fail to see how your actions impact other people.
• You think very high of yourself and believe that you belong with certain people with special or extraordinary characteristics.
• You deny your failures.
• You impose your demands on others and taking advantage just seems normal to you.
• People around you tell you that you sometimes come across as arrogant and rude and you should consider toning things down.
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Why do we experience grandiosity?

There could be several reasons hidden behind this thought process. Some of the reasons are:

Defense Mechanism: One of the reasons why people indulge in this behavior is the defense mechanism. They protect themselves and hide their weaknesses as well as mistakes by thinking they are better than everyone else.  

Inflated self-esteem: When someone thinks they are better than others, it inflates their self-esteem even when all facts state otherwise. Not only it makes them lose touch with reality but deteriorates their perspective.

Hidden inferiority complex: Sometimes, people indulge in this behavior to make up for feeling inferior. They remedy the situation by indulging in the opposite, that is, by acting superior.

Inability to admit failures: When some people fail to achieve their goals, they cope with their failures by telling themselves that they don’t need to accomplish petty goals. They tell themselves how they are above their failures and are meant for bigger things.

Personality disorders: Grandiosity is not only connected with narcissism but also with mania and psychopathy. If you feel that you are unable to let go of grandiosity, talking to a professional can help you make positive amendments in your behavior. 

Dealing with Grandiosity:

Rectifying thinking errors takes time but with practice and patience, these can be corrected. Below are some steps that can help a person overcome grandiosity and make positive changes in his/her attitude. But if the problems still persist, talking to a therapist can help them better.

Introspect: The very first step is to introspect. Why exactly do you feel that you are better than others? Is it because you actually are, or are you trying to compensate for something? Is it because you possess some special qualities or are you just trying to avoid facing the truth? Answering these questions and being honest with yourself will not only give you clarity but will also help you see the actual reasons and help you know yourself better.

Practice empathy: People who indulge in this behavior fail to see other people’s perspectives. They get so absorbed in themselves that they develop a complete disregard for other people and their ideas. They even sometimes end up imposing things on others and also get upset when others don’t go along with them which results in tarnished relationships. Practicing empathy not only helps you in understanding other people’s perspectives but also enables you to form better and stronger relationships.  

Keep an open mind: People who feel that they are superior often end up clinging to a limited set of ideas that serve their purpose. They get themselves so confined that anything out of the zone becomes a threat to their imagined identity. Hence keeping an open mind, being open to trying new things, meeting new people, can help you explore diverse ideas.

Admit your mistakes: This one could be a hard one as according to people who are better than everyone else never make mistakes. But is it so? We all make mistakes but admitting them becomes really hard for people indulging in grandiosity. Admitting mistakes will not only help you get in touch with reality but will also help you improve and learn.

Refrain from comparing: People who feel superior often feel the need to compare themselves with others just to give a boost to their ego. They even judge people around them to make themselves feel good. Refraining from comparing will help you in accepting people with their flaws and will also enable you to accept yourself with your own flaws.  

Enhance your friend circle: When people believe they are superior, it puts a halt in their learning process. But when these people hang out with people who are smarter and better than them, it helps them see that there is actually so much to learn and there are people who are actually better than them.

What steps did you or someone you know take to overcome grandiosity? How has admitting that you are not superior to others changed your life?

The essay

Please write an essay, up to two pages, about a past experience you or someone you know felt superior to others. Tell us in detail, who, what, when, where, why, to whom, the time, the place of what you did. The outcome! And tell us in detail how you could have changed that use from what you learned today so the outcome would have been good. Internalize this lesson. Make it become a part of you.  Share your story in the “Forums”

Our advice is for you to practice “Being Humble” for at least a week. Tell others around you to point out any event in which you didn’t. Have them hold you accountable. Visit the “Forum” and do a “CONFESSION”.

What is a “CONFESSION”? A CONFESSION IS WHEN YOU’VE DISPLAYED A WRONG BEHAVIOR AND WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, PEERS, OR EVEN BY YOU. VISIT THE “FORUM” AND TELL US ABOUT IT.  WE WILL GIVE YOU FEEDBACK! MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT “CONFESSION” FOR MORE DETAILS! FURTHERMORE, BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FORUM AND GIVE FEEDBACK TO OTHERS.  “That’s how you gain practice in becoming a CERTIFIED LIFE COACH!

Read the article? Time to introspect!

Q1. Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who practiced grandiosity? How was your experience?

Q2. Have you ever felt superior to someone? Why?

Q3. How do you feel when someone points out your mistakes? Do you feel irritated or do you welcome new suggestions?

Q4. Do you also find yourself imposing demands on others? Why do you think you do that?

Q5. What steps are you taking to overcome grandiosity?

Sources:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder.htm

https://www.verywellmind.com/grandiosity-in-bipolar-disorder-definition-and-stories-378818

This module includes the following:

• Introduction
• Why Become a Life Coach
• The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
• Healthy Relationships
• Respect in a Relationship
• What is Love
• Bad Relationships
• Neglecting Others
• Being Selfish
• Low Self Esteem
• Self-Pity
• Jealousy
• The Dominator
• The Bully
• Manipulating Others
• Grandiosity
• I am Better Than You
• Abandoned as a Child
• Abandoned by My Children
• Forgiving Others
• Letting Go of Resentment
• Attitude Check & Confession
• Confront and Level
• I Feel Good, PST™
• Why?

There is no way any relationship will survive without having the qualities mentioned above.

Make sure to read each article carefully at least three time. Print your workbook (will be available per lesson.)  Answer all questions and enter them in your workbook. Once you have completed this entire journey, you will be issued a Life Coach Certificate so long as you’ve been a member of the “Forums.”

Also, follow the instruction for sharing your story in our Forums as well as participating in our “Forums,” especially our unique “Confessions Forum” so you may gain practice, knowledge, experience, and expertise!

I am thankful that you have given me this opportunity to share all of this with you. May God bless you and bring prosperity and peace into your life.

Respectfully yours,

George Tannous, PhD