Gift yourself time with an understanding friend or family member, or book time with a counsellor, to unpack and make space for your past pain. This gifts you not only processing time and self-compassion, but also the ability to separate out past pain and present need. You can feel more empowered to enter negotiations or boundary work focused on your desired outcome in the PRESENT – and you aren’t going to let the narcissist in your life drag you under with pain from the past again and again.
Clarity comes when you are able to focus on what you need NOW, and stands strong in the face of gaslighting, smoke-screening, emotionally triggering behaviour. Gifting separate spaces to past pain, and present need can help you move forward into the life you want.