So, this whole horoscope fiasco got me thinking about perceptions. I spent my whole life thinking I was a Pisces, and then BOOM! One day, some astronomer writes an article and my whole horoscopic identity is shattered…
Not even a water sign? What did this mean? Was I supposed to be someone else??
Dun, dun, dun.
Ok, horoscopes aren’t that serious. But many people, myself included, have read those traits associated with their astrological signs and thought, “oh yeah, that’s me alright.” (Then again, how many of us can’t find something that we identify with on every sign’s personality traits?)
And, like a lot of people, when I read about the whole new astrology thing, I looked up my “new” sign to see who the stars really thought I should be.
Then, astrologers stepped out and said none of it was true, based on the idea that Western astrology doesn’t have to do with placement of the stars on a specific date…or something. Anyway, at that point, I decided to stop reading my horoscope altogether. It was never something I based my life choices on anyway, and who has time to read and decipher two horoscopes, am I right?
Shortly after my astrological identity crisis (ha), I realized that none of that crap mattered anyway–the fact is, we define ourselves. We can choose to define ourselves with someone else’s dictionary, or we can write our own. And, I don’t know about you, but I would rather make my own choices, thank you very much.
So what do you think? Do you define yourself, or do you let someone else define you? Tell me in the comments!
Angela Atkinson is a certified trauma counselor and the author of more than 20 books on narcissism, narcissistic abuse recovery, and related topics. A recognized expert on narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder who has studied and written extensively on narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic abuse in toxic relationships since 2006, she has a popular narcissistic abuse recovery YouTube channel. Atkinson was inspired to begin her work as a result of having survived toxic relationships of her own.
Atkinson offers trauma-informed narcissistic abuse recovery coaching and has certifications in trauma counseling, life coaching, level 2 therapeutic model, CBT coaching, integrative wellness coaching, and NLP. She is a certified trauma support coach and certified family trauma professional. She also has a professional PTSD counseling certification. Her mission is to help those who have experienced the emotional and mental devastation that comes with narcissistic abuse in these incredibly toxic relationships to (re)discover their true selves, stop the gaslighting and manipulation, and move forward into their genuine desires – into a life that is exactly what they choose for themselves.
Along with her solution-focused life coaching experience, Atkinson’s previous career in journalism and research helps her to offer both accurate and understandable information for survivors of abuse in a simple-to-understand way that helps to increase awareness in the narcissistic abuse recovery community. Atkinson founded QueenBeeing.com Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support, the SPANily Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support Groups and the Life Makeover Academy.
She offers individual and group coaching for victims and survivors of narcissistic abuse here at QueenBeeing.com and at NarcissisticAbuseRecovery.Online.
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The study found that people who lie, cheat and act without empathy are more likely to get into gambling problems. And because they also tend not to use strategies that would keep them safe from such problems, making those issues worse – and making them more likely to ruin their own lives and the lives of anyone unfortunate enough to be close to them, including their closest sources of narcissistic supply.
Narcissists get away with shocking emotional and psychological abuse in their relationships, but why? In addition to the sense of entitlement that makes them feel they deserve special treatment, attention, and admiration….here’s why. Intermittent reinforcement can lead to trauma bonding….the narcissist’s need for control may only be exceeded by their desire to be recognized as superior—a trait that can manifest in controlling other people’s lives.
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