How to reclaim your boundaries after narcissistic abuse by using your values

7 minute read

Are you struggling to reclaim your boundaries after narcissistic abuse? Perhaps even unsure what boundaries are at this point? You are not alone.

Often codependents and victims of narcissistic abuse, find themselves at a loss in knowing what their boundaries are. Check out ‘What the hell are boundaries? Overcoming legacy of abuse and narcissism’  & Narcissists love boundaries: Exposing the fallacyto understand more about why this could be the case for you. 

The importance of boundaries, of what does and doesn’t work for you mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, cannot be overstated.

These limits are your intuitive protective mechanisms, and guides to pursuing your best life. Your boundaries are also intrinsically linked to your identity, and when expressed give voice to your truth and true self.

Narc Wise is focused on providing you with proven, practical tools to use on your journey to freedom as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, and in recovery from codependency. In this article one approach is offered for rebuilding your boundaries by tapping into  your personal values.

Values shine the light on your boundaries, as well as serving as an internal magic 8 ball for any future sticky decisions that come up that test what is and isn’t OK for you. Your values will fortify your boundaries and protect you from those who get a kick out of endlessly emptying your tank of precious you-ness. Get your boundaries on now!

What are values?

Personal values are part of the unique fabric of what makes you, you. They are your stable guiding principles, standards, or goals about what is important to you in life. They are the lens with which you perceive yourself and the world, hence they influence your behaviour and decision making.

When living in alignment with your values and what you hold precious, life is experienced with fulfilment, meaning and purpose. When values are not honoured, a deep sense of discontent overtakes, reminding you to re-evaluate the situation, take action to change course, and get back on track.

Values are powerful tools in navigating life’s journey paying homage to your true self.

Now for the nitty gritty…time for you to claim what’s yours!

Your values…

A big, fat, juicy list

You may know instinctively what really matters to you, with your values easily springing to mind now as you reflect on the concept.  It may also be a bit trickier, and never more so than if you have endured narcissistic abuse.

If this is you, grab a pen and paper and start building a big, fat, juicy list of things that are super important to you. Jot everything down.

Here are some thought sparkers for you…: security, knowledge, achievement, altruism, wellbeing, power, accountability, freedom, peace, community, truth, determination, family, integrity, positivity, respect, faith, creativity, courage, love, wealth, independence, pleasure, loyalty, intelligence, equality, openness, adventure, independence, curiosity, fun, ambition, consistency, fun, patience, growth, self-awareness, wisdom, justice, fairness, responsibility, modesty etc.

Do any of these resonate for you? What else comes to mind as you read these? If you need some more ideas, do some googling and you’ll find a bunch more.

You’ll know when you’ve found what rings true for you. They will be the concepts that grab your soul and your inner voice will yell throughout your being “THIS, this matters to me; I believe in this”.

You could also try approaching your ‘big fat juicy list’ by reflecting on the following questions.

• When were you most happy or full of joy?
• When were you most proud?
• When have you felt like you’ve lost track of time and been in your ‘flow’?
• When were you most angry?
• When were you most disappointed?

Unpack your immediate responses to find the ‘why’ behind your answers: what happened, and what was the underlying value linked to the situation.

For example, a ‘being in flow and losing track of time answer’ could be ‘when I paint’. Creativity, expression, growth, achievement, knowledge etc. are all possible values being tapped into in this situation. Only you will know what it means for you!

Top 5

When you get started and notice the things that really matter to you, you are likely to find a whole heap of values that are super important in living your best life. Working towards knowing what are your top 5 (ish) is the next step.

To do this, you could compare pairs of values and decide which one trumps the other for you, until you have whittled down to your absolute priorities.

In this process, you are not forsaking the others, these remain part of what really matters to you. Sorting out your strongest motivating values however, is about putting in place your inner magic 8 ball that you can refer to and rely on for decision making.

These guys will be your anchor and compass when you face tricky situations that are less than black and white, showing you the answer that will work best for you and your values.

Claiming your boundaries

So, here’s where we get to the link between values and boundaries.

I use this approach with people recovering from narcissistic abuse and codependency and it works a treat in rebuilding boundaries.

Values are about what’s important to you. Boundaries are about what works for you. The two intersect, in that what works for you, is also be linked to what’s important to you. Whilst boundaries may be elusive for survivors due to the effects of abuse, values are generally not.

The reason for this is that values are tied to your enduring beliefs which are deeply ingrained in your being. They are a part of who you are. Although they may become obscured through the wounds suffered from abuse, they remain within you and can be reclaimed easily (for more on how the pathological narcissist decimates your boundaries read Narcissists love boundaries: Exposing the fallacy). 

As values are stable and innate to your true self, they are forever part of you and cannot be taken away by anyone. Even if you have been berated, coerced, and manipulated into thinking you are wrong, or should adopt the values of your abuser, NOONE can take them away from you. They are yours.

You know how I know this? Ask yourself these questions:

• How did it feel when you were told your values were wrong?
• How did you feel the times you found yourself acting in direct opposition to what matters to you?
• How did it feel to forsake your values for those of another?

Invariably the answer is ‘not good’ (to put it mildly…). Sad, angry/enraged, hurt, betrayed, anxious, frustrated, depressed – the list goes of triggered emotions goes on.

These reactions are proof that:

1. There is a steep price to pay when you forsake your values; and
2. Your values have been there all along and cannot be taken away by anyone. No matter how confused you may feel, these guys are stalwarts and will never leave you. You can trust your values will not let you down, i.e.: you can trust yourself and that you know what is best for you.

The emotions that get triggered when out of step with your values are your in-built alarm system going off, alerting you when something you value is being compromised, which is an indication of where your boundaries lie.

Let’s look at an example related to recovery and using values as a proactive and positive tool to identify your boundaries.

Let’s say that kindness is one of your top 5. Your boundaries, behaviours and decisions will reflect being kind to others. This should also mean that you value kindness being accorded to you.

I’ve used the example of kindness specifically because this value is common for victims  of narcissistic abuse with being kind to others a natural given. As an empath & through the effects of narcissistic abuse, receiving kindness however, often becomes more negotiable when it comes to you.

This happens because of your huge generosity of spirit and the narcissist’s campaign that targets this within you to continuously put them first irrespective of the damage this causes you.

In this way, they avoid accountability for how they treat you retaining full control over  you as their source of supply (for more on this dynamic read When hope is killing you: Narcissistic abuse & The narcissist’s ‘soul mate’ effect: How & why they do it).

Thing is though, that these double standards that kindness is super important for everybody around you, yet less so when it comes to you doesn’t really work for you, does it gorgeous one? And do you know how I know, that YOU know this?

Reflect back to the times when the manipulation and abuse almost convinced you that you are not worthy of kindness. How did you feel?

Yep, that’s right, your inner voice and values were either persistently whispering away, or outright hollering an enraged: This isn’t right! Kindness is everyone’s right! It is my right!

This, right there, is evidence of your boundary being crossed and value being violated. This is how your values inform your boundaries. Whatever behaviour is precipitating your response, is not OK for you. This is what you will not tolerate. This is your boundary.

So now you’ve done the work. You know which values are unequivocally important to you.

Keep your top 5 close and build them into your everyday life: put them on your fridge; pop them in your wallet; schedule them into your calendar to remind you every morning; stick them on your bathroom mirror.

Whatever you need to do. Do it. Get to know them well and why they matter to you.

Get to know what it would look like to be living your best life with your values leading the way. Reflect on the boundaries you need to implement and maintain to carry out your best life.

When things come up that you feel uncomfortable about, check in on your top 5 and ask yourself what values and boundaries are being compromised, and importantly, what you need to do or ask for, to get you back on your true path.

 

It is a practice, a daily one, worth every second you invest in integrating your values as your ‘go to’ inner magic 8 ball.

Honour your values and boundaries, and you will be honouring your truest self. This will gift you with clarity, strength, purpose, peace and freedom.

Rely on your values, they are your inner guides that protect you, that whisper (or holler!) your truths about living your best life. Get to it.

For more tools & knowledge building pieces on the issues in this article read:

• Narcissistic Invalidation: How to stop them erasing you
• Personal Bill of Rights for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
• Invalidation and narcissism: Why they slowly erase you
• What happens when the narcissist knows you’ve figured them out
• Emotionally unhook yourself & starve the narcissist of supply: Here’s how
• Getting past fear & leaving the narcissist
• How No Contact supports narcissistic abuse recovery
• Decluttering as a catalyst for narcissistic abuse recovery
• Blueprint for recovery from narcissistic abuse

As always, please share your thoughts, experiences, and insights on the issues in this article in the comments below. The more we share, the more we teach & help one another in reclaiming our freedom.

Let me know how you go!

With gratitude,

Maggie x,

Hungry for more info?

I can highly recommend three books on boundary loss due specifically to narcissistic parenting, and strategies on re-establishing them within narc relationships: Toxic Parents: Overcoming their hurtful legacy and reclaiming your life by Dr. Susan Forward, You’re not crazy it’s your mother by Danu Morrigan, and Will I ever be good enough by Dr. Karyl McBride. If you have experienced narcissistic abuse in your family of origin, you MUST read these. They will progress your personal growth monumentally.

I also recommend Melody Beattie’s Codependent No More. If boundaries are a mystery to you, chances are you may have other codependent challenges. There is a bunch of wisdom in this book that will be transformational for you in seizing freedom and joy!

(Note – if using link/s provided to purchase, you’ll receive free shipping and title heavily discounted. You’ll also be supporting my work in providing you free resources on this site, by earning a very small commission, at no extra cost to you – thank you 😊)

Bibliography

• Parks-Leduc, L., Feldman, G., & Bardi, A. (2014). Personality traits and personal values. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 19(1), 3-29.