{"id":20614,"date":"2020-12-18T12:37:52","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T16:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=20614"},"modified":"2020-12-19T17:44:27","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T21:44:27","slug":"visions-of-grandeur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/visions-of-grandeur\/","title":{"rendered":"Visions of Grandeur: People Who Think They’re Special"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you know someone who has visions of grandeur? Or maybe you find yourself struggling with this false idea of yourself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of visions of grandeur. In general, people tend to be grandiose, meaning they think they’re special or that they deserve success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about visions of grandeur and why people are grandiose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

People With Visions of Grandeur<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the previous law, we learned about narcissists who have malformed self-images. In this law, we\u2019ll look at people who have inflated ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grandiosity is our natural tendency to inflate our self-image and assume that we\u2019re more skilled than we actually are. <\/strong>It increases as we age\u2014the more we experience successes, however small, the more people confirm our grandiose self-opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of grandiosity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Fantastical. <\/strong>This grandiosity is divorced from reality\u2014we think that everything that goes right is due to our superior skills, and anytime something goes wrong, it\u2019s someone else\u2019s fault. We focus more on our dreams and wishes than on actually getting anything done. Fantastically grandiose people<\/a> see themselves as gods.<\/li>
  2. Practical.<\/strong> This grandiosity acknowledges that our success comes from our work and our skills.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    First, we\u2019ll study the development of grandiosity and why people have visions of grandeur. Then, we\u2019ll use this law to manage toxic types and to control our own nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Study the Law: The Development of Modern Grandiosity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Grandiosity develops in early childhood. As we realized that we were separate beings from our mothers, we also realized that we were dependent and powerless. In response to this realization, we fantasized about being great and powerful<\/strong>\u2014for example, by imagining we had superhero powers like flying or seeing through walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As we grew up, most of us experienced a second realization\u2014that we\u2019re small and powerless in other ways besides depending on our parents. We have limited skills, we\u2019re one of the billions of people on the planet, and there\u2019s a lot we can\u2019t control. These realizations also make us fantasize about having power and feel grandiose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most people alternate between these two states, feeling small and feeling grand.<\/strong> However, children who don\u2019t experience the second realization\u2014for example, their parents spoil them so they never have to come to terms with the fact that they\u2019re powerless\u2014spend more time thinking about power, and this makes them more susceptible to grandiosity and visions of grandeur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Expression of Grandiosity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Grandiosity can be expressed in many ways, though there are fewer outlets today than they were in the past. In older times, people met their need for grandiosity with religion\u2014gods and spirits allowed us to be part of something bigger and grander than ourselves\u2014or by following a leader with a strong cause\u2014<\/strong>if a leader did something great, their followers shared in the success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now that fewer people believe in something and there are fewer great leaders, we have to express our grandiosity in some other way. Many of us turn to worshipping ourselves,<\/strong> most commonly by trying to get social status through doing something prestigious or helping people. This works to some extent for talented people\u2014they will have success and get the admiration they crave\u2014but they\u2019ll eventually get involved with projects that are beyond their abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, people try to cope with their need for grandiosity and visions of grandeur by doing the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n