Breaking Free from Entitlement and Narcissism: Reclaiming Your Power

If you’ve been following along with the podcast, you know I touched on the subject of entitlement and narcissism. And today, I want to take you on a journey—a journey of recognition, boundaries, and ultimately, reclaiming your peace. Because let’s be real, we’ve all encountered someone who expects special treatment without putting in the effort, right? And if you’ve ever been caught in the toxic cycle of entitlement, you know just how exhausting it can be.

So, let’s talk about it. What exactly is entitlement? And how does it connect to narcissism? More importantly, how do we free ourselves from people who feel like the world owes them something without them lifting a finger?

The Personal Wake-Up Call

Let me start with a little story. I recently received a message from someone who—let me be clear—was not entitled to the things they were demanding from me. Yet, there they were, expecting me to bend over backward simply because of a title they held in my life. The message was laced with an expectation that I should automatically comply, no questions asked. Now, if this had been a few years ago, I might have played into it. I might have let guilt creep in, over-explained myself, or even compromised my peace just to avoid confrontation. But not this time. This time, I did something different. I set a boundary. I made it clear that their title alone didn’t grant them the right to make demands. And let me tell you—it felt powerful.

Understanding Entitlement

Entitlement is the belief that one deserves special treatment, privileges, or recognition—without earning it. And trust me, entitlement doesn’t always come from a place of confidence. Sometimes, it’s insecurity dressed up in self-importance. Psychologists have found that entitlement is often linked to childhood conditioning. When kids are raised with excessive praise but little accountability, they grow up believing the world revolves around them (Twenge & Campbell, 2009). They expect success without effort, respect without mutual regard, and love without reciprocity. Sound familiar?

Here’s the kicker—entitlement isn’t just an annoying personality trait. It can be downright destructive. People with entitled mindsets often:

- Expect others to meet their needs without reciprocating effort

- React negatively when things don’t go their way

- Manipulate or guilt-trip others to get what they want

- Struggle with relationships because they lack empathy

And when you mix entitlement with narcissism? Whew, that’s a dangerous cocktail.

The Narcissism Connection

Now, let’s break this down. Narcissism and entitlement go hand-in-hand. Narcissists believe they are superior, and entitlement fuels that fire by making them think they deserve special treatment. When you challenge a narcissist’s entitlement, they don’t take it well. They gaslight. They guilt-trip. They create drama. If you’ve ever dealt with a narcissist, you’ve probably seen this play out. One moment, they’re showering you with praise and affection (that’s called love-bombing). The next moment, they’re making you question your own reality. Narcissists have a way of flipping the script so that you feel like the villain—even when you’re just standing up for yourself. And let me tell you something: You do NOT have to play into that cycle.

Setting Boundaries and Reclaiming Your Peace

If you take away one thing from this post, let it be this—boundaries are your best defense against entitlement and narcissism. You do not owe anyone your time, energy, or emotional labor simply because they feel entitled to it. Let’s talk about what that looks like in real life.

1. Recognize Manipulation – Pay attention to how people react when you set boundaries. Do they guilt-trip you? Do they twist the story? If so, that’s a red flag.

2. Be Clear and Direct – Don’t leave room for misinterpretation. If someone is overstepping, say, “I am not comfortable with this,” or “That doesn’t work for me.”

3. Enforce Consequences – Boundaries mean nothing if they aren’t enforced. If someone continues to disrespect your limits, step back. Cut access. Protect your space.

And most importantly—don’t feel bad about it.

The Power of Walking Away

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is walk away. Not every relationship is meant to be salvaged. Not every entitled person will “get it.” And that’s okay. Your job is not to fix them. Your job is to protect your peace. When I set my boundary in that recent situation, I knew it might cause a reaction. But I was ready for it. Because I’ve learned that every time I choose my peace over someone else’s entitled expectations, I reclaim a piece of myself. And that’s a win every time.

Entitlement and narcissism are exhausting. But you don’t have to carry that weight. Recognize the signs, set your boundaries, and give yourself permission to walk away from situations that drain you. Because at the end of the day, protecting your peace is the real power move. So tell me—have you ever had to deal with an entitled or narcissistic person? How did you handle it? Drop a comment below, and let’s talk about it.

Until next time, stay strong and protect your peace.

References:

- Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2009). *The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement.* Free Press.

- Zitek, E. M., & Jordan, A. H. (2019). Psychological entitlement predicts failure to follow instructions. *Social Psychological and Personality Science*, 10(2), 172-180.

- Miller, J. D., Widiger, T. A., & Campbell, W. K. (2015). Narcissistic personality disorder and the DSM-5. *Journal of Abnormal Psychology*, 124(3), 532-544.