From Safety to Freedom: Embracing Growth Beyond Our Past Selves

 “For years, I believed that survival was enough. That staying in what was familiar—no matter how painful—was safer than the unknown. But what if safety was never the goal? What if freedom is where true healing begins?”

 For survivors of narcissistic abuse, safety often looks like staying small, staying quiet, and avoiding conflict. It’s the people-pleasing, the self-doubt, the hyper-awareness of someone else’s moods. But the truth is, safety isn’t peace. It’s just survival.

Healing begins when we step beyond what’s familiar. It’s not easy, but it is possible. And the proof? The brave survivors who have walked this path before.

The Illusion of Safety

For many survivors, the biggest challenge isn’t recognizing the abuse—it’s trusting that there’s a way out.

One P2P graduate shared how she spent years feeling confused, isolated, and questioning if it was all in her head. She didn’t realize the emotional manipulation she experienced had a name—love bombing—until she found a space where she felt truly seen.

“Joining the Passage to Peace (P2P) program was a pivotal moment in my healing journey. I got married at a young age to my former spouse, who seemed to know exactly what to say to draw me in. Through P2P, I learned that this manipulative tactic is called love bombing.

Being surrounded by Marcia, her team, and others who had endured narcissistic abuse created a space where I felt understood and supported. Our shared experiences built a sense of community—we leaned on each other, encouraged one another, and grew stronger together.”

The lesson? The abuse isn’t just in your head, and you are NOT alone. Finding community is the first step toward freedom.

The Turning Point: Choosing Growth Over Fear

Once survivors recognize the reality of their situation, the next step is often the hardest: believing they deserve better.

Many stay trapped in self-doubt, fearing that they’re overreacting or imagining things. That’s why finding validation and support is so important.

“P2P has been really fundamental for my healing from the issues I have been facing. No one has really been able to understand the issues I have faced: not friends, not family—until P2P.

I personally had a difficult time wondering if it was just me. This group provides a safe place to not be judged and to get the support we so desperately needed. I finally did not feel alone. Thank you, Marcia and everyone who helped make this group what it is.

I still have a long way to go, but with this group, I feel I have a chance.”

The lesson? Freedom isn’t just about leaving a narcissist—it’s about unlearning the lies they made you believe.

Walking Into Freedom

Once a survivor has recognized the abuse and found support, the real transformation begins. It’s the moment when they shift from victim to survivor, from surviving to thriving.

One P2P participant captured this perfectly when she said:

“Life with a narcissist is confusing in the beginning and completely devastating in the end. A person may believe that there is no way to break free from the cage they are in…that is until they meet other survivors.

Passage to Peace has been just such a place for me in my healing journey. There is hope for a future of freedom for those negatively impacted by a narcissist. Passage to Peace is just such a place.”

The lesson? Healing is real. Freedom is possible. And when you step into your true, empowered self—you never go back to just surviving.

Who Will You Become?

“Who you were kept you safe. Who you’ll become will make you free.”

If these words resonate with you, know this: Your past does not define you. Your survival was not a mistake. You did what you had to do to get through it.

But now? You don’t have to just survive. You can heal. You can thrive. You can take your first step toward freedom—just like the survivors who came before you.

Are you ready to step beyond safety and into the life you were meant for? Join us at Passage to Peace and start your healing journey today.