Dealing with Self-Centered People

Some strategies I’ve tried

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

How can you tell if someone is self-centered?

Here are some clues:

• If you tell her you lost 20 pounds, she brags about losing 5. She does not congratulate you.
• You show up to your weekly meetup with your foot in a cast. Other members of the group ask you what happened. She interrupts to regale everyone with how she sprained her ankle three years ago.
• You bring her cookies. She doesn’t say thank you. Instead, she tells you how much everyone loves her baked goods.
• She never runs out of things to talk about. If she has no stories to share about herself, she’ll talk about her family.
• When she shows up for group events, she wants to be at the center. She’ll take the best seat at the table or the best spot in the room. She feels this is no less than she deserves.
• Being with her is like being alone. Because, actually, you are.
• She wants to be in control.
• She can’t see your side. She will always insist she is right.

If there is someone like this in your life, what are your options?

• End the friendship. Because it’s not really a friendship if it’s one-sided, is it?