I never thought I’d end up in therapy. But I spent three years seeing a therapist who charged $450 per session — and I didn’t truly take advantage of his help until the last few months.

At first, I was skeptical. “This is a waste of my time,” I said to myself. But I was wrong. What my therapist saw, that I couldn’t, was that I was completely burned out. I had given myself an insanely punishing schedule without realizing it.

In my last year of medical school, I spent a month leading trauma clinics in South Africa. Then I decided to go into psychiatry. After my first year, I got to research cultural competency, which meant traveling across the globe to understand how different cultures approached mental health. I had traveled to 30 different countries.

It felt so normal to me to work this hard that I didn’t even realize I was risking my health in the process.

After about five sessions, my therapist looked me in the eyes and said, “We’re not supposed to use the term ‘masochism’ in therapy, but it applies to you, and you need to do something about it.”

It was life-changing advice not just personally, but in the way I approached my work as a psychiatrist.

The word “masochism” tends to make my patients uncomfortable. They immediately think of handcuffs and safe words. Masochism, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of self-defeating behavior.

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But by 1994, when the next version of our medical bible, the DSM-IV, came out, this definition was nowhere to be found. The editors were concerned it could be seen as victim-blaming, suggesting that people were “choosing” mistreatment and “inciting” hurt and humiliation.

I’m not using the term to blame a victim. I’m using it to help you identify and ultimately let go of self-sabotaging patterns. But to take control of your life and find happiness, you first need to understand the different ways masochism shows up.

1. In your relationships

Masochism can present itself in the form of self-sacrificing behavior, whether with co-workers, friendships or romantic partners.

When you’re constantly in people-pleasing mode, you will attract people who take advantage of you in friendships, romantic relationships, or even with family. And if you’re giving, other people are going to be taking.

This can manifest in someone taking on all of the household duties, for example, or parenting work in a romantic relationship.

2. In your career

This level of masochism can manifest itself in the quest for advancement or accolades that we think will bring us happiness.

You can see it in any field where employees are overworked and undervalued and still don’t feel like they’re doing enough. Think about public defenders working for no pay to represent the people who need them the most. Or journalists reporting from war-torn countries, risking their lives to deliver truth to the world. Or agricultural workers, non-profit employees or people in the military.

It can even be the entry-level employee at the finance firm who gets stuck with 80-hour workweeks and sacrifices any semblance of a social life for the dream of someday making it to the corner office.

The good news is that masochism isn’t destiny — it’s a choice, and you can always choose differently once you recognize the patterns holding you back.

1. Listen to your body

You might notice that your heart is beating a little faster because you’ve been downing coffee all day in order to keep up with work, and you’re over-caffeinated.

I tell my friends that if my nails are chipped, that’s a sure sign I’m burned out and need to slow down for some self-care.

2. Listen to your friends

Sometimes the sacrifices we make force others in our lives (like our lovers, friends, co-workers, neighbors or kids) to make sacrifices as well.

I take cues from my team, my friends and even my daughter. If they’re hinting that a project timeline is too ambitious or I’ve been staring at my emails all night instead of paying attention to them, I don’t brush it off. I take it seriously and change my behavior.

3. Listen to your heart

Take a pause before you say “yes” or “no” to a task, and ask yourself if you really want to do it. Very often, there’s a small voice inside of us that realizes we’re too burned out to work all weekend or that we don’t want to do our partner’s laundry today.

That favor you twist yourself into a pretzel to execute may go unnoticed by the other person, and ultimately it doesn’t increase your value or your worth — two things you already have without needing to do anything.

Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and researcher who specializes in mental health and trauma. She is the author of ”High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy.”

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Adapted excerpt from ”HIGH FUNCTIONING″ by Dr. Judith Joseph. Copyright © 2025 by Dr. Judith Joseph MD MBA PC. Used with permission from Little, Brown Spark, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

People with narcissistic traits often have an inflated sense of their own talents, achievements and significance in the world. They’re sensitive to criticism and struggle to have any empathy or appreciation for others.

This self-centered focus on their own needs is usually at the expense of everyone around them, which makes communicating with them challenging. You may be left feeling dismissed, criticized or invisible.

As a Harvard-trained psychologist, I’ve found that there are seven phrases you’ll hear from highly narcissistic people:

Narcissists see themselves as special and better than everyone else. They believe that other people should feel grateful to be in their orbit because they are all so flawed in comparison.

Similar phrases: 

• “You don’t deserve me.”
• “You should feel relieved that I haven’t cut you out of my life.”

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Many narcissists are chronically disappointed by others. In response, they may put those people down with cutting, hurtful and mean-spirited insults.

Similar phrases: 

• “You’re such a loser.”
• “No one else would ever want to be with you.”

Narcissists often resort to manipulative tactics like threats or intimidation to keep people invested in the relationship because they feel safer maintaining control, rather than sharing power.

Similar phrases: 

• “Be careful or you’ll push me away.”
• “I’ll ruin you if you cross me, and no one will want to be associated with you.”

It’s hard for people with narcissistic traits to empathize with others. As a result, they rarely see the other person in a relationship as an independent individual with their own thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Similar phrases: 

• “My feelings matter more.”
• “I’m usually right.”

Narcissists have a strong desire to feel superior to others. One way they do that is by putting people down. They tend to make negative comments about everyone else — friends, family or even unknown acquaintances — to build themselves up as part of a separate, special kind of person. 

Similar phrases: 

• “Your friend is lame. Why do you hang out with them?”
• “These people have nothing to offer me.”

When a narcissist is upset, they’ll blame others for their feelings instead of acknowledging their role in the situation. Rather than holding themselves accountable, they’ll complain about how unfair other people are.

Similar phrases: 

• “If you just did what I asked you to do, I wouldn’t be so upset right now.”
• “I wouldn’t be yelling if you didn’t make me so angry!”

People with narcissistic tendencies are good at stonewalling — cutting off communication to show how upset they are. They will pretend to not be affected, while giving you the silent treatment.

Similar phrases: 

• “I’m fine. What are you even talking about?”
• Saying nothing at all.

The best way to respond to a narcissist is not to react at all. Pause in the moment, but don’t leave the conversation entirely. Don’t yell or become defensive.

After a deep breath, you can say, “I need to think about this before I respond, so I’m going to need a minute.” This will give you time to collect your thoughts and notice your emotions. More importantly, you’ll be less likely to say something you might regret later.

Then, set clear boundaries. Here are some examples:

• “I hear you, I just don’t agree with you.”
• “Thank you for sharing your perspective. When you’re open to hearing mine, I can share it.”
• “It sounds like you’re having a lot of feelings right now. I am here to listen if you’d like, but if you put me down or intentionally try to hurt me, I am going to walk away because it isn’t healthy for me to be called names.”
• “I want you to know that I see you and I hear your perspective. I just have a different one, and that’s okay with me.”

Remember, while a narcissist may continue to communicate in harmful ways, their words can’t have power over you unless you let them.

Their most common communication tactics are manipulation and control. That is a reflection of who they are and how they experience they world, not a reflection of you and your values.

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, is a board-certified psychologist and author of the new book “Letting Go of Your Ex.” She specializes in romantic relationships, addictive behavior, and honesty. She received her clinical training at Harvard Medical School after earning her doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University. Follow her on Instagram @DrCortneyWarren or Twitter @DrCortneyWarren.

Do you want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Pre-register today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025.

Over the course of my career as a writer and host of The Richer Way podcast, I’ve interviewed over 100 millionaires.

I started the podcast because I wanted to help people take more control of their finances. My goal is to share advice from highly successful people about how they dealt with setbacks and came out stronger on the other end.

Getting to know these entrepreneurs, executives and industry leaders, I’ve had a chance to learn about what sets them apart. These millionaires are charismatic and commanding, know how to delegate and have razor-like focus. They don’t sit around waiting for anything, certainly not luck, because they make their own.

Here are four habits they all share:

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson told me that one of the biggest lessons he has learned over the course of his career is: “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”

DON’T MISS: How to change careers and be happier at work 

Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran agreed. She said “you must learn not to second guess yourself.” She often uses a “fake it till you make it” mindset to work through her biggest fears.

Similarly, Kim Kiyosaki, an entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Rich Dad Company, recalled being fired from her first job at an ad agency. But rather than take it to heart, she realized she wasn’t meant to work for someone else, and devoted herself to building a career in real estate. 

When I asked Jaspreet Singh, CEO of Briefs Media and founder of the Minority Mindset, about the secret to becoming a millionaire, he attributed his success to a sense of discipline. 

“It takes a lot of discipline to get up when you don’t feel like it, get to work before everyone else, stay after everyone else, and keep working when people say you’re working too hard.” Singh said. “But if you want a life that most people dream of, you can’t keep doing what the majority of people do.” 

Tax and legal expert Mark J. Kohler agreed. He told me that “a lack of experience or knowledge can be mitigated with hard work and passion for what you believe in.”

Two self-made millionaires I interviewed, Derik Fay, the founder of 3F Management, and Lynette Khalfani-Cox, who is known as The Money Coach, spoke candidly about their experiences overcoming adversity in their youth.

“I grew up in Rhode Island, lived in Section 8 housing, and endured extreme poverty and abuse,” Fay said. “For the longest time, I thought my childhood was going to define me as a victim. Then I discovered that the exact things I thought had destroyed me, once I embraced them, had the power to redefine me.”

“My family was quite poor when I was growing up. My dad was a shoeshiner, and my mom was a cashier and secretary,” Khalfani-Cox recalled. “Together, my parents had five daughters and they were always struggling financially.”

Today, Fay runs a company that helps other entrepreneurs grow their businesses. And Khalfani-Cox is dedicated to helping others achieve their own financial success. 

While their past shaped them, and in many ways informed the careers that they have chosen, they made sure that they never felt trapped or defined by it.

Author, financial expert and self-made millionaire Suze Orman told me that learning to confront unexpected challenges can lead to even more growth and success, even if in the moment, it feels like an impossible task.

In 2020, Orman had a major health scare. She learned that she had a non-cancerous tumor that had been growing on her spine for the better part of 15 years. She was scared, but she knew that in order to feel better and heal, she had to adapt and act. She didn’t let fear paralyze her.

When I interviewed her during a difficult time in my own life, she shared one of her favorite phrases with me: “Fear, shame and anger are the three things that keep you from having more.”

She was right. I took that advice to heart and it helped me transform my life for the better.

Jaime Catmull is a personal finance expert with over 16 years of experience. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, interviewed top CEO’s, celebrities and entrepreneurs, finding out their top investing and personal finance advice.

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If you’ve seen Warren Buffett comment on social media about President Donald Trump’s most recent tariff policies, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman and world’s 4th-wealthiest person wants you to know it wasn’t him.

“There are reports currently circulating on social media (including Twitter, Facebook and Tik Tok) regarding comments allegedly made by Warren E. Buffett. All such reports are false,” reads a Friday statement from Berkshire.

The statement didn’t mention Trump explicitly, but came shortly after the President shared a video on Truth Social that claimed he’s initiating a 20% decline in stock prices “on purpose.” (Trump later clarified that he is not engineering a sell-off.)

“And this is why Warren Buffett just said, ‘Trump is making the best economic moves he’s seen in over 50 years,’” the video’s narrator says.

Buffett said no such thing. But he has gone on record over the years about both topics. Understanding how Buffett, widely regarded as one of history’s greatest financial minds, thinks about tariffs — and about 20% drawdowns in the stock market — could help you navigate what has been a topsy-turvy market.

Here’s what he’s said.

Buffett’s most recent public comments on tariffs came in an early March interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, in which he said that duties tend to contribute to rising prices.

“Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the tooth fairy doesn’t pay ’em!” Buffett said. “And then what? You always have to ask that question in economics. You always say, ‘And then what?’”

Buffett likely has a good idea of what could come next.

For one, inflation. In 2018, when asked about Trump’s first, less severe round of tariffs, Buffett said that duties — including the ones on aluminum and steel — had driven up costs at some of his constituent businesses.

Back then, Buffett said he saw the potential for tariffs to hurt consumer budgets. Though he noted the presence of inflation before Trump imposed tariffs on foreign goods, he said, “The tariff situation will aggravate it significantly.”

The other potential ramification on Buffett’s radar: a so-called trade war in which the U.S. and its trading partners get into a tit-for-tat of escalating import taxes, which could slow down the global economy.

In his March interview, Buffett called tariffs “an act of war, to some degree.”

In 2019, amid tense U.S.-China trade tensions, Buffett was even more explicit. “If we actually have a trade war, it will be bad for the whole world … everything intersects in the world,” Buffett said in an interview with CNBC. “A world that adjusts to something very close to free trade … more people will live better than in a world with significant tariffs and shifting tariffs over time.”

The S&P 500 has suffered losses in the wake of Trump’s recent tariff announcement, but it has yet to officially close in bear territory — defined as a 20% fall from recent highs. If a bear does emerge, market analysts say it will likely be because investors are bracing for a trade war that could cause a global economic slowdown.

It wouldn’t be the first time Buffett’s navigated a worldwide recession. In 2008, in the midst of the global financial crisis and its associated bear market, Buffett penned an op-ed for the New York Times.

“The financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher,” he wrote. “In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter and headlines will continue to be scary.”

“So … I’ve been buying American stocks,” he continued.

Buffett acknowledged that he had no idea what the stock market would do next. And indeed, after he published the piece in October 2008, the S&P 500 wouldn’t find its bottom for another five months.

But as Buffett has pointed out over and over, businesses, en masse, have always found ways to innovate and increase their profitability over long periods, contributing to the historical upward trend in the stock market.

Many investors were hesitant to put their money at risk amid a financial crisis, Buffett said in 2008.

“But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense,” he wrote. “These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now.”

Buffett favors buying stocks when they’re relatively cheap, as doing so boosts your returns over time. If you have money to invest and decades to realize compounding growth in your portfolio, it makes sense to continue investing in a diversified stock portfolio through downturns.

“In short, bad news is an investor’s best friend,” Buffett wrote in 2008. “It lets you buy a slice of America’s future at a marked-down price.”

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Some people might consider snail mail subscription companies to be ancient history, which makes History By Mail somewhat ironic.

The business mails copies of historical documents — attempting to replicate the real documents’ look, touch and feel — and a context page to subscribers, once per month. “It seems like the core value proposition is that we are a physical good, snail mail, in the digital era,” founder Ari Siegel, 38, tells CNBC Make It. “That’s why some people, so many people, find it novel.”

History By Mail brought in more than $1 million in revenue in 2024, says Siegel, who launched his company in January 2019. The business is profitable, he added during Friday’s episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

On the show, Siegel said he got the idea while visiting the Library of Congress as a U.S. Senate intern. He saw a handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln and, inspired by it, decided to replicate it for friends and family.

“Their eyes lit up. I thought, ‘There’s a business here,’” he said.

At first, Siegel sent subscribers documents — “interesting letters that touch on relevant historic themes, or that are written by or to historic figures,” according to History By Mail’s website — on a biweekly basis, but found he was overwhelming readers.

“A lot of feedback we got was, ‘We love this, it’s just too much,’” Siegel now says. “You [have] to take 15 or 20 minutes to sit down and really dig in to it. [Readers would say], ‘We’re busy.’”

History By Mail now has 10 full-time employees, and Siegel asked the “Shark Tank” investor judges for $250,000, in exchange for 10% of his company.

“You get to do what you love, and you’re making a killing,” Mark Cuban responded. “You don’t really need our help to get to the next level.”

Cuban and Lori Greiner declined to make investment offers. Kevin O’Leary and Daniel Lubetzky each offered Siegel $250,000 for 20% of History By Mail. When Siegel said he wanted help with his social media marketing, Barbara Corcoran jumped in — offering to join Lubetzky’s offer, with each investor contributing $125,000 and receiving 10% of the company.

Both Lubetzky and Siegel agreed to the joint offer. After the show’s filming, Siegel’s business agreed to an investment deal with Lubetzky and his firm Camino Partners, according to a History By Mail spokesperson. Corcoran was not part of the deal, the spokesperson confirmed.

The “Shark Tank” effect was immediate, says Siegel. Daily sales surpassed the company’s previous record day within an hour of the episode airing, notes the spokesperson. (The company didn’t confirm any specific sales figures.)

“This was the best [sales] week we’ve ever had,” Siegel says, adding: “The mission is to allow more people to have access to documents that already belong to them, just not in their hands. This is American history.”

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank.”

Do you want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Register today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025.