Competence changes how people speak to you. They become clearer, more respectful, and more careful, because they know you can spot nonsense and fix what they cannot. You stop needing to argue for your worth, because your work has already done that argument in advance.
People play games, but never admit it. Some play victim to gain control. Others play savior to conceal dominance. Every “authentic” interaction is laced with motive. You don’t win by being honest, you win by knowing which game is being played, and by whom.
God illumines the mind and shines within it. One cannot know God by means of the mind. One can but turn the mind inwards and merge it in God.
Ramana Maharshi, Gems from Bhagavan
Someone calling you out for being narcissistic, having too high of standards, being unrealistic, etc is a massive shit test from the universe.
Guaranteed those are the exact traits that already make you great if you’re trailblazing and that you gotta lean way harder into.