**\#️⃣ Tags:** #Psychology #Developmental > **🌱 Planted:** Wed 5 February 2025 --- [[Narcissism is a healthy part of being human, not a flaw]], so it could be said that the more our normal narcissistic needs are met, the less severe a [[Narcissistic Wounding]] we develop, and therefore the less likely we are to display defensive narcissistic characteristics. In this way, narcissism is, like many things in life, a spectrum, and this spectrum reflects back at us the development of our ego—the more our [[We all have normal developmental needs|normal narcissistic needs]] are met, the more our [[✦ Ego Development]] continues. Following in the footsteps of Freud's original view on narcissism, it is a common reflex in our society to label almost everyone a "narcissist," not recognising this truth that narcissism exists on a spectrum where most people fall within a healthy range (normal distribution). Many of these people wouldn't come close to meeting the DSM-5 criteria for "pathological" narcissism, even if some of their traits align. Further, the DSM doesn't fully consider that these traits might be triggered situationally, nor does it evaluate these situational triggers in a deep enough way that's truly meaningful. The places where these evaluations might be taking place are likely not seeing the person in front of them as a human being, also. Rather, these individuals are often carrying wounds from unmet [[We all have normal developmental needs|emotional needs]] during their formative years which has impeded their psychological development and left them struggling to protect what is deep down a wounded, hurt and fragile sense of self. --- **➡️ Next:** [[]] **⬅️ Back:** [[Narcissism is a healthy part of being human, not a flaw]] --- **🈁 See Also:** - #Later The human Psyche is self-traumatising. - #Later When we're able to see these kind of truths, we can move beyond concepts and labels to see the deeper, fundamental reasons for human pain and suffering. - #Later The more our narcissistic needs are met, the more we're able to have a healthy and stable sense of self (because our [[The loss of our personal subjectivity is passed on generationally|personal subjectivity]] has been validated). When you have a healthy and stable sense of self, you're not thinking about yourself. You're not self-conscious—you are secure. Need to contemplate on this some more but that's what it's like when we're in pure being or meditating. Where the subject-object distinction has collapsed. This process also kicks off the dissolution of the ego (as in the parts based ego), of which opens up to spaciousness ([[Presence]]).