“Entitlement” is one of those words that can feel harsh. Many people hear it and think, *selfish, spoiled, narcissistic.* But in real life, a sense of entitlement is often more complicated—and more human. It can be a protective response to stress, insecurity, burnout, or old wounds. The goal isn’t to shame it. The goal is to understand it and respond in a healthier way. ### What a sense of entitlement actually means A sense of entitlement is the belief that you *should* recei