Name calling & Labeling

Narcissist

In the last couple of years I've been hearing this word more and more. Unfortunately, it's been said mostly by women talking about their ex-husbands. While they may use it loosely, I believe it's a diagnosis and goes beyond having an ego and being self-centered or self-serving.

I've often wondered why it’s become such a popular word to describe people that have treated us poorly. In modern day society, it gets thrown around so frequently that I no longer take it very seriously as a descriptor.

In a way, it seems like the definition has shifted to mean a person who has hurt someone else or has been a jerk to someone they used to be nice to. One day recently I took the time to look up the true definition so I could better understand the word, and here's what I found:

"A person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves," and "Narcissists think the world revolves around them.”

I believe words are extremely powerful and we must be very careful when we put labels on other people or ourselves. Sometimes people treat us poorly and it hurts, but I'm not sure it truly makes us feel any better by name calling or placing labels on them no matter what some might claim.

When people are hurting, especially in relationships, it's easy to treat one another poorly, label the other person, and call them names. This week I encourage you to speak kindly to those, and of those, in your life even if you're going through a hard time with them. Words and labels have power beyond measure and I wish kind words upon you, and spoken from you, in the coming days.What does living your exceptional life look like to you?

Have you heard this term used loosely? What was your conclusion?

What labels have other people put on you? How has that impacted you?

When you're upset with someone how do you remind yourself to speak kindly of them?