Wouldn’t we all love to remind a narcissist that they are nowhere near as special as they think they are?
It’s a bug bear of so many of you, and I totally agree. It’s like they need that tap on the shoulder followed by a direct reality check that puts them back in their place.
There are 9 ways to humble them without even saying a single word, so if you want that upper hand, you’d better get ready.
#1 Roll your eyes
When a person rolls their eyes at another, it shows they’re completely dismissive of whatever it is that the other person is saying.
It displays a level of intolerance, annoyance, and the obvious desire for them to stop talking.
So if that other person is a narcissist, and you roll your eyes at them, you’re telling them that whatever they’re saying simply isn’t important.
It’s not interesting. It’s boring, possibly even tiresome. So while they’re trying hard to prove their presence and speak the loudest, you’re pushing the narrative that they’re speaking ineffectively.
It’s a great tool to use when you want to give the narcissist the impression that they aren’t special, and their words don’t matter. Remember, you don’t always need words.
#2 Leave the room when they’re bragging
So the narcissist starts telling you about something wonderful that happened to them. They’re bragging about who they bumped into, or who they know.
They’re showing off about their pay rise, or their new car.
What they want is people to flock around them like sheep at a trough, but instead, you turn your back and leave the room.
Not only do you leave them standing alone, you make a fool out of them with your absence.
Oh, I’m sorry, were you saying something important?
Were you showing off yet again?
Who cares? Leave the room. Show them you don’t care and make it as obvious as you can.
#3 Keep a calm smile
Listen, no matter how much the narcissist tries to rile you up and get a reaction out of you, you check in with yourself and you offer nothing but a calm smile back.
In fact, it can be one of those lingering smiles that makes other people feel really uncomfortable if you want it to be.
Calm smiles prove that you are an immovable force of nature, rather than somebody who swaps and sways according to how the narcissist is treating you.
You are not at their emotional beck and call. You are your own person, and you deserve to silently own that in any circumstance.
Sure, it’s humbling for a narcissist to be treated that way, but tough.
#4 Assert neutral body language
When it’s tempting to fold your arms, or run over to them and beg them to listen to you and treat you well, I would advise the opposite.
Give nothing away. Give yourself the opportunity to remain neutral during times where you might usually throw your boldest moves out there.
The narcissist is expecting you to pander to their every demand, but this is the point where you have to remember who’s boss, and that person is you.
Neutral body language proves that you refuse to be intimidated by them, and you certainly won’t be following their orders like you usually might.
It’s time you show the narcissist what you’re made of!
#5 Maintain strong eye contact
Narcissists love nothing more than to make you feel uncomfortable, and the more you fidget, the more they know they’re winning.
You can avoid this altogether by remaining fixated on them when they’re talking to you.
Where you’d once shy away and pull back on the eye contact, you can and should humble them by not allowing yourself to feel intimidated.
You’ve got to hand it to them, narcissists really think they know how to look powerful and be the ones who love that control. You know how to make that backfire?
Just stand up and really look into their eyes with a newfound determination to not be silenced or made to feel small.
#6 Radiate composure
Oh, this is a good one, and of all, I’d say a real foundational tool to use for narcissists. Everything else, I believe, is built on this very point, which is why I couldn’t leave it out.
Your composure is priceless. It’s honestly worth its weight in gold and then some. Everybody except a narcissist likes and appreciates a calm composure.
Remember that’s the whole point of narcissists; they’re around you like beads to honey to drag you down and make you feel as though you’re losing your mind.
When you react, you become the problem, and that’s all it will be about.
You don’t want that, so instead of reacting, remain calm and steadfast, but do it in a way whereby you are so determined to win.
This will prove to the narcissist that you aren’t to be messed with, and that you can show up for yourself when it matters.
#7 Withdraw your attention from them
A big ouch! As narcissists need your attention like they need air to breathe, this one is bound to hurt and humble rather than please.
Take it away. Take it all away. So far since you’ve known them, the narcissist has relied on your attention to feel good, to feel important, and to feel like nobody can mess with them.
Every time you offer a shred, you’re reaffirming to them that their ego is unmatched.
It’s about time you took that away and proved that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Undo the work they’ve done thus far, and walk with pride knowing you didn’t even have to say a single word.
#8 Offer them a slow clap
I mean, what do they want, a medal? All narcissists would love it if they had a group of cheerleaders lining the streets wherever they go, cheering for them if they could.
What I really want to see is the opposite – the slow clap – because I know how humbling this kind of move can be for these egotistical toxics.
A slow clap, or in other words, a sarcastic, “Wow, clever you,” is the ultimate shutdown, and it will wipe the smile from any narcissist in quick speed. And guess what? You don’t even have to say a single thing!
#9 Keep a relaxed face
Every little behavior pattern will show up in your face like regular clockwork when you are in the company of a narcissist.
They will know the exact minute you change how you feel based on their treatment of you, and it’s what they’re constantly on the lookout for.
To prevent this, I suggest a relaxed face at all times. Never let any of your annoyances or pain show. When you do, they’ve immediately won.
Instead, humble them. Prove nothing they say will provoke you. Don’t give them that kind of power because they won’t stop there, they will just want more and more of it, which means less and less of you.
There are better ways to empower yourself and humble them, starting with your facial expressions!
