Saying YES to Growth
Narcissists don’t just drain you—they shrink you. They chip away at your confidence, dim your light, and keep you small so they can feel big. They want you to doubt your voice, your choices, your dreams. And for a while, maybe you did.
But here’s the gift of leaving: you get to grow again.
The Shrinking Years
When you were with them, growth felt dangerous. Every new success was treated like a threat. Every new friendship made them insecure. Every ounce of joy that didn’t revolve around them came with a price.
So you got smaller. You stopped sharing wins. You second-guessed your own talents. You stayed in a box they built for you—tight, suffocating, and safe only for them.
The Risk of Expansion
Saying yes to growth in recovery feels risky at first. What if you fail? What if you’re not as good as you thought? What if someone new tries to dim your light again?
But here’s the truth: growth after narcissistic abuse is less about proving yourself to the world and more about proving to you that you can trust yourself again.
Growth doesn’t have to mean huge leaps. It can mean the tiniest cracks in the box:
Yes to trying that class you always wanted to take.
Yes to reaching out to a new friend.
Yes to applying for the job you thought you weren’t ready for.
Yes to hobbies that light you up, even if nobody else “gets” them.
Growth Isn’t Always Pretty
Let’s be real: growth is messy. You’ll stumble. You’ll second-guess yourself. You’ll hear their voice in your head when you take a risk. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re stretching.
Think of growth like new shoes. At first, it feels uncomfortable. You wonder if you made the wrong choice. But the more you wear them, the more they fit. And eventually, you can’t believe you ever walked without them.
The Ripple Effect
Every yes to growth creates momentum. One small step leads to another. Suddenly, you’re laughing more, connecting more, trusting more. You start to see that your life isn’t just about surviving anymore—it’s about expanding.
And the ripple doesn’t just stop with you. The stronger you grow, the more you inspire others who are still stuck in their own shrinking years.
Why This YES Matters
Narcissists want you small because small is controllable. Growth is the ultimate rebellion. Growth proves they didn’t break you.
Every yes to growth is a middle finger to the story they tried to write for you. Every yes is proof you’re building something bigger than their shadow.
The Truth
Saying yes to growth is terrifying, awkward, and sometimes painful. But it’s also exhilarating. It’s how you reclaim your life, your voice, your future.
The narcissist may have clipped your wings, but they didn’t destroy them. Say yes to growth—and watch yourself fly.
