Abstract/TL;DR: Bragging refers to the act of constantly boasting about one’s achievements, skills, or abilities. It can leave others feeling inadequate and frustrated. Sharing out of genuine happiness is preferable to seeking validation through false humility and bragging. Excessive bragging often stems from insecurity, low self-esteem, or a constant need for validation. It can be a defense mechanism or a result of a competitive nature. Dealing with bragging requires focusing on personal growth, self-confidence, and not allowing it to define one’s worth.

We’ve all encountered them: braggers! As soon as you read the title of this post, someone likely popped into your mind. It’s challenging to genuinely celebrate someone’s joy when they incessantly brag. Authentic happiness is far more appealing than fishing for compliments through feigned humility.

Being belittled by a bragger is an experience that can leave one feeling inadequate and frustrated. I’ve encountered my fair share of individuals who seem to take great pleasure in constantly boasting about their achievements, skills, “blessings,” and abilities. They always seem to find a way to make every conversation about them and their superior life. It’s as if they have an insatiable need to prove that they are better than everyone else.

It can be incredibly disheartening to be on the receiving end of relentless bragging. Their words seem to be meant to chip away at others’ self-confidence, trying to make everyone around them question their own abilities and accomplishments. Every time they showcase their successes, it feels like a direct challenge to my worth and capabilities. They thrive on comparison and revel in the feeling of superiority that comes from making others feel small.

What makes the situation even more frustrating is that these braggarts often lack the ability to see beyond their own self-centered perspective. They fail to consider that their achievements might not be the sole measure of someone’s worth or that there could be different areas where others excel. It’s a narrow-mindedness that perpetuates their need to constantly one-up those around them.

In response, I find myself torn between two conflicting emotions. On one hand, I feel a burning desire to prove them wrong, to demonstrate that I am just as capable, if not more so, in certain areas. I want to challenge their assumptions and show them that their self-proclaimed superiority is not as absolute as they believe.

On the other hand, I also recognize the futility of engaging in a never-ending competition with such individuals. Their need to constantly be on top is insatiable, and no matter what I do, they will find a way to overshadow my accomplishments. It’s like playing a game that has no winning condition, and I realize that my self-worth should not be determined by their validation or lack thereof.

In the face of such belittlement, I try to remind myself of my own strengths and accomplishments. I focus on cultivating self-confidence and finding satisfaction in my own progress, rather than seeking external validation. I refuse to allow their bragging to define my worth or make me question my abilities. I use their bragging as a reminder to look for an opportunity to be an encouragement to those around me, to make others feel validated and important.

Excessive bragging often stems from underlying insecurities, low self-esteem, or a constant need for validation. Individuals who engage in constant bragging may use it as a defense mechanism to mask their deep-rooted fears of inadequacy. They may struggle to empathize with others, focusing solely on promoting their own achievements. Furthermore, a competitive nature and the belief that life is a constant competition can also contribute to the compulsion to brag. Addressing this behavior requires self-reflection, developing genuine self-confidence, and learning to appreciate others’ accomplishments without feeling threatened.

At the end of the day, being belittled by a bragger is an unfortunate part of life. It’s an encounter with individuals who find joy in tearing others down to elevate themselves. But by staying true to my own values, focusing on personal growth, and not succumbing to their need for comparison, even though it is not easy I can rise above their attempts to diminish me. I need to remind myself that my worth is not determined by their words and that I am capable of achieving great things on my own whether I brag about them or not.

Just a few quoted wise words about bragging:

“The most beautiful women I have known had one thing in common apart from beauty: humility. It’s a shame that those with less to boast about do it the most.”
― Donna Lynn Hope

“A good deed is not a good deed if you brag about it”
― Jeffrey Bernardo Copiaco

“If roses could talk, they would not boast of their beauty, because they know that they have always been beautiful.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover

“A session of boasting won’t attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

“When you flaunt your success, you’re setting yourself up for ridicule. Things can always go wrong. Your career stalls, fancy cars get repossessed, you lose your home. Unfortunate events magnified by your shameless boasting. Nothing in life is foolproof. The only thing bragging will accomplish is prove you’re the fool.”
― Carlos Wallace

“Some of the people who are showing off their speed are headed in the wrong direction.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Here are some “wise” words from the king of bragging himself Donald Trump “I know words. I have the best words.”