Super quick one on what we're seeing from Trump and what's likely to come next.
He's entering a different phase on the narcissistic cycle that tends to be extra unhinged, so might as well talk about it and prepare for it.
It's perhaps the most bonkers part of the cycle.
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He's entering a different phase on the narcissistic cycle that tends to be extra unhinged, so might as well talk about it and prepare for it.
It's perhaps the most bonkers part of the cycle.
1/
As I've written countless times, severe narcissists like Trump are utterly controlled by only two primary, driving impulses:
1) Avoid shame
2) Seek admiration and esteem
That's it. Everything else is derivative of those two. Those two drive the bus.
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1) Avoid shame
2) Seek admiration and esteem
That's it. Everything else is derivative of those two. Those two drive the bus.
2/
People naturally say "Shame?! The guy has no conscience and is incapable of shame!"
Yes and no. Trump has no moral compass. He has no sense of right or wrong. His entire existence focuses on how OTHER PEOPLE feel about him. He has no internal life. No insight.
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Yes and no. Trump has no moral compass. He has no sense of right or wrong. His entire existence focuses on how OTHER PEOPLE feel about him. He has no internal life. No insight.
3/
So, yes, it is true that Trump doesn't independently feel shame about his behavior and has no internal conscience.
However, he is entirely controlled by what others think of him.
He can't handle being looked down on him.
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However, he is entirely controlled by what others think of him.
He can't handle being looked down on him.
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To a narc, the knowledge that others are poised to see them in a very negative light - to see them as unworthy of admiration - or worse, worthy of contempt - is absolutely excruciating.
It's utterly excruciating to them to see that train coming and not be able to stop it.
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It's utterly excruciating to them to see that train coming and not be able to stop it.
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It is *literally* the worst possible thing that could happen to them.
Trump is right there in that spot now.
He absolutely knows that the walls are closing in on the worst public shaming of his life.
He can't escape it.
This is worth than a boiling death to a narc.
6/
Trump is right there in that spot now.
He absolutely knows that the walls are closing in on the worst public shaming of his life.
He can't escape it.
This is worth than a boiling death to a narc.
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When put in that position, narcs absolutely lose it. They flail wildly. They entirely lose the little emotional regulation they had and just swing wildly trying to beat away what's coming. They say utterly insane things. They accuse, attack, lie.
It's a freaking spectacle.
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It's a freaking spectacle.
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Trump is right there.
He is right at that moment where the narc goes entirely off the rails and blurts out endless craziness. Unhinged lunacy. Utterly devoid of reasoning or thought or logic.
It's like a drunken man swinging wildly in the dark.
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He is right at that moment where the narc goes entirely off the rails and blurts out endless craziness. Unhinged lunacy. Utterly devoid of reasoning or thought or logic.
It's like a drunken man swinging wildly in the dark.
8/
At the end of the day, it changes nothing. It doesn't stop the Shame Train from coming. It only makes them look utterly unhinged.
It creates a major scene but you needn't do more than step back and watch.
There's no point engaging.
Just observe with detachment.
9/
It creates a major scene but you needn't do more than step back and watch.
There's no point engaging.
Just observe with detachment.
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In this state, the narc is extra-bad at forethought. They can't think ahead. They're just mega-tantruming.
So, Trump couldn't hatch a cogent scheme of any kind right now if he wanted to. He's on tilt.
Right now - at this moment - just sit back and watch.
10/
So, Trump couldn't hatch a cogent scheme of any kind right now if he wanted to. He's on tilt.
Right now - at this moment - just sit back and watch.
10/
We're in for a barn burner of a meltdown.
1) He'll flail like a loco lawn sprinkler
2) He'll lash out at an endless array of targets
3) None of it will make any sense
4) He'll contradict even himself
...and then...
He'll go dark when he has punched himself out.
11/
1) He'll flail like a loco lawn sprinkler
2) He'll lash out at an endless array of targets
3) None of it will make any sense
4) He'll contradict even himself
...and then...
He'll go dark when he has punched himself out.
11/
For today... and until there's reason to do otherwise... sit back and watch the unhinged scene we're about to see in full technicolor...
...and remember as you're watching it:
This is what a narc does when they know they're caught and know that's about to come out.
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...and remember as you're watching it:
This is what a narc does when they know they're caught and know that's about to come out.
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To me, this phase is actually oddly comfortable and comforting.
It signals that narc knows he is entirely busted and can't escape it.
If there was any even potential escape, he'd be trying to manipulate his way out.
When they're melting down, they know they've lost.
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It signals that narc knows he is entirely busted and can't escape it.
If there was any even potential escape, he'd be trying to manipulate his way out.
When they're melting down, they know they've lost.
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It's easy to be freaked out by how volatile and out of control this all seems.
It's like the collapse of an old stadium they're tearing down though. It's an implosion. It falls in on itself.
We're OK. Just watch the show. The full nuttiness will be wild.
14/14
It's like the collapse of an old stadium they're tearing down though. It's an implosion. It falls in on itself.
We're OK. Just watch the show. The full nuttiness will be wild.
14/14
p.s. Sorry for the typos and redundancy. I write these super-fast, stream of consciousness with no editing, so ya gets what ya get.
