It’s hard to forgive other people, but it’s far more difficult to forgive ourselves. I know this is true, because I’ve struggled with it for years.
I listened to a podcast episode tonight about how victims of narcissists often lash out at other people in behavior that seems remarkably similar to the behavior that was done to them. I’ve known for years that this is true, but I prefer to avoid the subject.
Thinking about it makes me feel guilt and shame. I struggle to give myself the grace of self-compassion and forgiveness.
I’ve talked with you over and over about my struggles with coming to understand the narcissistic abuse I went through as a child. The thing I seem to have struggled with the most are my fears of having learned too many of my father’s dysfunctional ways. (Here‘s an example from about 18 months ago.)
As I listened to the podcast discussion tonight of how easy it is for victims to repeat some forms of what was done to them, I felt the shame return — and I was reminded that I still haven’t mastered how to give myself compassion and forgiveness.

Will I run for office? The short answer is ‘no’; the longer answer is ‘no way’
What do U.S. colleges sell today? Knowledge or just access to jobs?
Need for certainty is an internal tyranny that leads to the wrong path
Fear of potential loss is a terrible reason to stay in the wrong place
NOTEBOOK: Simplistic storytelling on TV news pushing nation to war
Inner peace requires breaking free of your defense mechanisms
How could we take responsibility but avoid self-destructive shame?