Send us a textIf you’ve ever blamed yourself for how someone mistreated you, this episode is for you.Najwa dives deep into the emotional aftermath of narcissistic abuse: how it distorts your reality, erodes your self-trust, and leaves you questioning your worth. She explains why gaslighting, love bombing, triangulation, and emotional confusion are tools of control, not love. And she reminds you of the most important truth:You were never hard to love. You were simply hard to control.This episode offers three powerful healing strategies to help you stop blaming yourself, find closure without their apology, and reclaim your power, your clarity, and your peace.Timestamps & Show Notes:00:00 – “It wasn’t that bad” – how we gaslight ourselves after narcissistic abuse 01:00 – Why naming the harm matters more than labeling the person 03:10 – Love bombing is not love - it’s control wrapped in affection 04:50 – The slow emotional erosion: how you ended up in a drought 06:00 – Why narcissists teach you to minimize your own pain 07:10 – What gaslighting really is - and why it leaves you doubting your reality 09:00 – When you start gaslighting yourself to keep the peace 10:00 – The invisible contract: love offered, control delivered 13:00 – Word salad, deflection, and emotional confusion as tools of manipulation 17:00 – You weren’t too attached - you were attached to the wrong person 18:50 – The marionette effect: how narcissists condition and control you 20:00 – Stop blaming yourself for their decision to hurt you 22:00 – Closure doesn’t come from them -it comes from truth 25:40 – Triangulation: when they gave others what you yearned for 27:00 – Clarity is your healing. Confusion was their goal. 28:00 – You were never hard to love. You were hard to control. 30:00 – Reclaim your reflection, your voice, your power 33:50 – This is your closure. You didn’t deserve any of it.
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002- The Power of Saying Nothing
Send us a textWe often believe we need to speak to be heard. But sometimes, silence is the most powerful voice we have.In this episode, Najwa explores five moments where choosing not to speak is not weakness, but self-respect. Whether you're being dismissed, unfairly accused, or stuck in spaces where your words are used against you, this episode teaches you how to reclaim your power without saying a word.You don’t owe everyone a response. You owe yourself peace.Timestamps & Show Notes:00:00 – When dismissal becomes normal: how silence protects you 01:07 – Why responding isn’t always empowering 03:09 – 5 times when silence speaks louder than words 04:47 – #1: When you're being devalued, dismissed, or insulted 07:20 – The emotional cost of tolerating the silent treatment 10:19 – What happens when words are used to chip away at you 12:01 – The moment you stop defending yourself 14:48 – “If it’s not your poop, don’t clean it up” (therapy wisdom) 17:05 – Why you don’t need to defend your goodness anymore 18:04 – #2: When you're accused of something you didn’t do 22:13 – #3: When your words don’t have a safe space to land 25:12 – How to protect yourself in unsafe emotional environments 27:39 – #4: When you don’t know what to say, pause instead of proving 30:19 – Don’t confuse people by staying in confusion 31:27 – #5: When it’s not your story to share, walk away from gossip 34:52 – Hold yourself to the same standard you want from others 37:12 – Recap of the 5 moments when silence is the answer
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001- How to Forgive What You Can't Forget
Send us a textWelcome to the very first episode of Beyond Words, with Najwa Zebian.This episode explores one of the hardest things we’re asked to do: forgive someone who never apologized. Najwa gently walks you through five powerful strategies to process pain without internalizing blame, to stop seeking closure from those who won’t give it, and to choose yourself in the aftermath of betrayal. This is a conversation for the empath, the over-giver, the person who’s been stuck waiting for an explanation that may never come.Forgiveness doesn’t always mean peace with the past, but it can mean freedom for your future.Timestamps & Show Notes:00:00 – Why forgiveness can feel impossible 01:07 – The core question: how do you forgive what you can’t forget? 02:05 – Strategy 1: Forgive without an apology 04:24 – Strategy 2: Feel the pain without blaming yourself 08:23 – Strategy 3: Stop running from the storm of emotion. Face it 11:20 – Strategy 4: See their pain, but don’t excuse their behavior 13:18 – The trap of revenge and needing others to “see your side” 15:04 – Their karma is who they are—not your responsibility 17:29 – Strategy 5: Set yourself free—don’t wait for them to do it 21:25 – Begin by forgiving yourself 24:06 – Choose people who see your light, not dim it 26:55 – You don’t need to confront them—they know what they did 28:58 – Why authentic people make liars uncomfortable 30:17 – Focus on your healing, not their actions 32:59 – You can move on without offering forgiveness 34:54 – Holding people accountable without hate 36:53 – Reflect: What’s one word that means forgiveness to you?
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000- Intro to Beyond Words
Send us a textLet's use the power of words to heal.
New Zealand