After that, keep your poker face on. The more you can control your feelings, the better. Don’t give them even the slightest glimpse into your thoughts and feelings. For your own safety and the safety of those you care about, you should keep that information secret. Not to throw one’s pearls in front of a pig, as the saying goes. In order to humble a narcissist, it is best to remove all the things they can use against you. When they do something you don’t like, you have to act as though it’s no big deal. Even if they are intentionally hostile to you, you will not be harmed by their passive-aggressive actions, nor will you fall for any of their tricks.
When a narcissist realizes they have no power over you, they are humiliated. The mere fact that you don’t react to their actions shows that you can read them well. You couldn’t care less about what they are up to; they don’t even somewhat matter to you. You find them nothing interesting or motivating. The fewer resources they have to work with, the less likely they are to make repeated attempts to annoy, trouble, or harm you. When you aren’t paying attention to them, they can’t play the games that keep them thrilled. Don’t pay any attention to a narcissist, as they’ll take any attention at all—positive or negative. Just sit tight, and everything will work out.
Third, setting clear and confident boundaries will serve as a big wall for a narcissist. Narcissists often believe that they are entitled to more than they are. They won’t understand, but you will. The word “no” can stand alone as a complete sentence. “I’ll think about it,” “I’ll get back to you,” or saying you need time to think are healthy, mature, and responsible ways to respond to a narcissist’s requests, demands, and expectations. Don’t succumb to the pressures of guilt, shame, or any other form of bullying. It’s important that what you say and mean are congruent.
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