Am I a Narcissist? 4 Signs + Why Confidence Advice Is Backward

The Dr. Leaf Show

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Mental Health, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 8 July 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS

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Summary

Self-focus is one of your most powerful tools for change, but there's a point where it quietly turns into a wall. Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down the difference between healthy self-focus and narcissism, the 4 signs to watch for, and why nearly all popular confidence advice (affirmations, power poses) is neurologically backward, then gives you 5 research-backed moves to build real confidence. What you'll learn: - Why self-focus is a neuroplasticity tool, and the moment it becomes a wall - The 4 signs your self-focus may be sliding toward narcissism - 5 ways to rebalance: the relationship audit, directed outward attention, the clean apology, and more - Why affirmations like "I am enough" measurably made people feel worse (2009 University of Waterloo study) - Why the famous power-pose finding was retracted by its own lead author - What confidence actually is: a signal your brain generates, not a personality trait - Albert Bandura's gold standard for building confidence: mastery experiences - 5 moves to build confidence from evidence, not claims - Why a 2024 meta-analysis of 108 studies found women are less confident, and what to do Resources: 🔗 drleaf.com 🔗 NeuroCycle Certification (opens September) — Clinical: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification · Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist 🔗 Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app 🔗 The self-focus article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/signs-you-think-about-self-too-much_l_6a344d76e4b057a50ced3bbd Support the sponsors: Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP-1's the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order. OSEA: OSEA's Hyaluronic Body Serum is multi-layer hyaluronic-powered hydration for the entire body. And right now we have a special discount just for you. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com. SHOPIFY: With Shopify, nothing stands between your idea and a real business. So go make it one. Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/leaf Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3-year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money-back guarantee. AG1: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last. Betterhelp: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. Which of the 4 signs hit closest? Tell me in the comments.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Summer means full calendars and a lot of time in transit.
0:03.0	The routines that keep you grounded at home are usually the first to fall apart when you travel.
0:08.0	A G1 is the one thing I don't negotiate on, even when I'm living out of a carry-on.
0:12.0	One travel stick, that's it.
0:14.0	What sold me was the research.
0:16.0	Four peer-reviewed clinical trials showing AG, one next-gen fills common nutrient gaps, even in healthy
0:22.2	eaters, improves key nutrient levels within three months, is clinically shown to enrich the gut
0:27.7	microbiome and that key nutrients are absorbed quickly. That's the standard I look for. I notice
0:33.4	it in gut comfort on travel days and in the consistency of showing up for what matters, even when the schedule doesn't cooperate.
0:40.4	Visit drinkage 1.com slash leaf and for a limited time get a free AG one travel case with seven free AG one travel packs in your welcome kit with your first AG one subscription order while supplies last.
0:52.0	That's drinkage 1.com slash leaf.
0:54.4	Have you ever wondered if you may be too self-centered?
0:58.6	Or have you ever worried that self-focus is maybe crossing over into narcissism?
1:03.6	And did you know that most of America's advice on confidence building is neurologically,
1:10.6	totally backward? This is what I'm going to be
1:13.2	discussing in today's podcast. Just before we begin, I want to tell you about my certification
1:24.2	courses that I am launching this September, I'm very excited about
1:28.4	these. For years, you've been asking me, how can you help people with the neuropsychal,
1:33.5	this way of managing your mind and directing neuroplasticity to make changes in your life?
1:38.9	Well, you can do it now. We are launching my neuropsychal certification process
1:44.3	in September this year and there are two tracks.
1:47.5	So the one track is for therapists, clinically trained,
	...

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