Healing From a Narcissistic Relationship
50 Powerful Quotes About The Struggles and Triumphs Of Breaking Free
Written by Narcissistic Abuse Expert and Recovery Coach Randi Fine
Narcissistic Abuse Support and Guidance with Randi Fine
In the intricate dance of relationships, the journey from heartache to healing is a profound one. For those who have traversed the tumultuous waters of a narcissistic relationship, the path to recovery can be arduous yet enlightening. Here we gather a collection of fifty quotes for moving on and healing from a narcissistic relationship; quotes that resonate with the struggle and triumph of overcoming a narcissistic relationship. These words of wisdom serve as comforting beacons of hope, reminding you that healing is not only possible but necessary for your well-being.
In a world where self-worth can sometimes be overshadowed by the insidious presence of pathological narcissists, finding the courage to break free from their grip can be both daunting and liberating. This journey of liberation is not just about physically leaving, but also about reclaiming your sense of self and rediscovering the light within you that might have been dimmed by the narcissist's shadow.
Recognizing the Narcissist's Web
Pathological narcissists are masters of manipulation, weaving a web of control and deception that can be suffocating for their victims. It starts subtly, with charming words and grand gestures, drawing you into their world where everything revolves around them. As time passes, the mask slips, revealing their true nature – one that thrives on power and thrives on diminishing your self-worth.
Navigating the tumultuous waters of a narcissistic relationship can be draining and overwhelming. It's a journey that is often marked by emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and an unrelenting sense of inadequacy. Breaking free from this toxic dynamic is a crucial step towards reclaiming your self-worth and rebuilding a healthier future for yourself. As you embark on this journey of healing and moving on, let these empowering quotes inspire and guide you along the way.
“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won’t happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.”
― Joel Osteen
“When your ex says “You’ll never find anyone like me.” Just smile and reply “That’s the point.”
― Unknown
"The loneliness that comes from leaving a one-sided relationship is rarely as painful as the loneliness that comes from abandoning yourself in order to stay."
― Carl Jung
― Randi Fine
“It’s better to be healthy alone than sick with someone else.”
― Dr. Phil McGraw
"Sometimes the person you'd take a bullet for ends up being the one behind the trigger."
― Taylor Swift
“I’ve learned a lot this year… I learned that things don’t always turn out the way you planned, or the way you think they should. And I’ve learned that there are things that go wrong that don’t always get fixed or get put back together the way they were before. I’ve learned that some broken things stay broken, and I’ve learned that you can get through bad times and keep looking for better ones, as long as you have people who love you.”
― Jennifer Weiner
"The narcissist wants you to feel low enough to never leave them even after they have done the worst things possible to you. When they just up and leave you're punished for just staying in the relationship and enduring their punishment. You end up devastated while you're with 'em or without 'em. Escape to freedom and put you first."
― Unknown
"Sometimes it's better to end something and try to start something new then imprison yourself in hoping for the impossible."
― Karen Salmansohn
“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”
― Steve Maraboli
“Relationships with narcissists are held in place by hope of a 'someday better', with little evidence to support it will ever arrive.”
― Dr. Ramani Durvasula
“If you’re in a relationship and all you do is cry, you need to stop and ask yourself, are you dating a human or an onion?”
― Karen Salmansohn
“Never let someone who contributes so little to a relationship control so much of it.”
― Unknown
“Dear Self: Stop re-opening your doors for toxic people, then calling it ‘seeking closure.’ Certain things don’t work out in life . . . and that’s ok.”
— Reyna Biddy
“You can’t possibly embrace that new relationship, that new companion, that new career, that new friendship, or that new life you want, while you’re still holding on to the baggage of the last one. Let go… and allow yourself to embrace what is waiting for you right at your feet.”
― Steve Maraboli
“Don’t light yourself on fire trying to brighten someone else’s existence.”
― Charlotte Eriksson
“You don’t let go of a bad relationship because you stop caring about them. You let go because you start caring about yourself.”
― Charles Orlando
"I know that you're waiting for me to break down and contact you. I know that you must be thinking that I'm miserable waiting for you to give me attention. But. You see. I am not the person I once was. You destroyed me over and over, but I built myself back up into someone you will never have the honor of getting to know."
― Najwa Zabian
“Recovery from narcissistic abuse includes grief. We didn't lose a great partner, but we are grieving what we though it would be, the time lost, the energy spent, and our hurt heart.”
― Jennifer Gafford
“Do not hold your breath for anyone, do not wish your lungs to be still, it may delay the cracks from spreading, but eventually they will. Sometimes to keep yourself together, you must allow yourself to leave, even if breaking your own heart is what it takes to let you breathe.”
― Erin Hanson
“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.”
— Bob Goff
"Staying in a relationship just because you love somebody is not worth it. Love is not all you need. Respect is what you need. Reassurance is what you need. Happiness is what you need. Knowing every day that you're their favorite person is what you need. Learn to love yourself instead."
― Unknown
“If you're too embarrassed to tell your family about their behavior, it's time to leave.”
― Unknown
“We can deeply love our poison. We can love the taste of it, the scent of it, the comforting weight of it in our belly and find ourselves woken in the night with stabbing cramps, arms around porcelain toilet bowls, hurling every last bit until collapsing on bathroom tile, limp from dehydration. Sometimes parting with love is essential for survival. I’ve found the most tragic aspect of losing loved ones wasn’t the big boom of the fallout, but realizing later how much healthier I was without them.”
― Maggie Young
“You have to speak to be heard, but sometimes you have to be silent to be appreciated.”
— Unknown
“You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve, would’ve happened… or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move on.”
― Tupac Shakur
"Just because it's explainable doesn't mean it's excusable."
― Unknown
"There comes a time in your life when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right; pray for the ones who do not. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”
― José N. Harris
“Sometimes, your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.”
— Unknown
"Reclaiming your life after narcissistic abuse is a journey of resilience and self-discovery. It's okay to have setbacks along the way, as healing is not a linear process. Be patient with yourself and trust that you have the strength and courage to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Remember, you are worthy of love, respect, and a life free from abuse."
― Randi Fine
"The moment you feel like you have to prove your worth to someone is the moment to absolutely and utterly walk away."
― Alysia Harris
"Your value does not decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth."
― Unknown
"There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go."
― Unknown
“You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them…but still move on without them.”
― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass
"You don't ever have to feel guilty about removing toxic people from your life. It's one thing if a person owns up to their behavior and makes an effort to change. But if a person disregards your feelings, ignores your boundaries, and continues to treat you in a harmful way, they need to go."
― Daniell Koepke
"Love is many things, but it is never deceitful. Nothing toxic comes from genuine love. Remember that."
― Unknown
"What do you do after you've given all that you have and you have nothing left to give? After you've tried and you've tried; after you've cried and you cried and that day finally comes when you realize that this is not how you want to live your life...what do you do? You see, sometimes it's not about having the strength to hold on, it's about having the courage to let go."
― Unknown
“Respect yourself enough to say 'I deserve peace,' and walk away from people or things that prevent you from attaining it.”
— Jerico Silvers
"It's a dark journey that will throw you into spells of depression, rage, and loneliness. It will unravel your deepest insecurities, leaving you with a lingering emptiness that haunts your every breath. But ultimately, it will heal you. You will become stronger than you could ever imagine. You will understand who you are truly meant to be."
―Jackson MacKenzie, Psychopath Free
“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.”
— Daphne Rose Kingma
"Love is interactive. Narcissists are not. If you love a narcissist you are a supporting narcissistic cast member. The narcissist is the star. They need you to make their world go round. Nothing else. It's not about who you are."
― Unknown
“Lots of things can be fixed. Things can be fixed. But many times, relationships between people cannot be fixed, because they should not be fixed. You’re aboard a ship setting sail, and the other person has joined the inland circus or is boarding a different ship, and you just can’t be with each other anymore. Because you shouldn’t be.”
― C. Joy Bell C.
"There will come a time when you'll see them for who they really are. You'll stop excusing them for their behavior and you'll know they don't deserve another chance, and when that time comes, you'll know that you deserve so much more than what they can ever give."
― Anne McCrea
"At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.”
― Tara Westover
"There is nothing authentic, true, or wholesome about being in a relationship with a narcissist. Though it may appear to be a typical relationship, it is not. It is a predator/victim situation."
― Randi Fine
“Don’t confuse “familiar” with “acceptable.” Toxic relationships can fool you like that.”
― Steve Maraboli
"Grieving the end of an abusive relationship is a unique process. Unlike mourning the loss of a healthy relationship, you are not only saying goodbye to a person but also to the shattered dreams and broken promises that came with the abuse. It's important to give yourself permission to mourn not just the person you thought your abuser was, but also the time and energy you invested in the relationship."
― Randi Fine
"In the aftermath of a toxic relationship, find solace in the knowledge that you are capable of rewriting your own story."
— Grace Mitchell
"The journey of healing allows you to transform your pain into power, turning your scars into a testimony of triumph."
— Daniel Thompson
“Toxic people will not be changed by the alchemy of your kindness. Yes, be kind, but move on swiftly and let life be their educator.”
— Brendon Burchard
Conclusion
Breaking free from a narcissistic relationship is a profound act of self-love and empowerment. As you embark on the path to healing and moving on, let these quotes serve as beacons of hope and inspiration, guiding you toward a future filled with self-discovery, growth, and inner peace. Remember, you are worthy of love, respect, and happiness, and your journey toward healing is a testament to your strength and resilience. Stay strong, stay hopeful, and trust that brighter days are on the horizon.
Randi Fine is an internationally renowned narcissistic abuse expert and recovery coach, and the author of the groundbreaking book Close Encounters of the Worst Kind: The Narcissistic Abuse Survivor’s Guide to Healing and Recovery Second Edition, the most comprehensive, well-researched, and up-to-date book on this subject. In addition to helping survivors recognize their abuse and heal from it, this book teaches mental health professionals how to recognize and properly treat the associated abuse syndrome. She is also the author of the official companion workbook Close Encounters of the Worst Kind: A Comprehensive Workbook for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse. Randi Fine is the author of Cliffedge Road: A Memoir, the first and only book to characterize the life-long progression of complications caused by narcissistic child abuse.