Can narcissists actually change? You know, it seems like everyone these days is quick to label difficult people as narcissists, like it’s the ultimate insult. Can people who are self-centered and walk all over others actually turn it around?
Timmerie totally pushes back against the idea that narcissists can’t change (even though some therapists, Catholic and secular alike, say otherwise). She believes, and I think we’d agree, that with God's grace, anyone can change! After all, our faith is built on the idea that transformation is possible through the sacraments and God’s love. Just look at saints like St. Augustine or St. Francis of Assisi. They didn’t exactly start off with halos!
Enter Bree Solstad, a living example of this transformation. Bree opens up about her own story, admitting she was once the textbook definition of a narcissist. She was crushing it financially, making insane amounts of money (like $100,000 a day), but it came at the cost of stepping on others to get what she wanted. It wasn’t until she encountered God’s grace that everything changed. And now? She's a Catholic convert and says her old narcissistic self is practically unrecognizable
Bree mentions the difference between being egotistical (all about me, me, me) and being a true narcissist (me + stepping on others). And while some therapists say narcissists are a lost cause, Bree’s story shows just the opposite. God’s grace is real! She explains how her husband’s prayers, gentle nudges toward Catholicism, and seeing joyful, humble role models like nuns helped pull her out of her self-absorbed spiral.
So, what’s Bree’s advice for anyone dealing with a narcissist in their life? Don’t be an enabler. Stand up (lovingly) and hold them accountable. Of course, pray for them. Because as Bree says, if she could change, there’s hope for anyone.
No one is beyond God’s transformative power, no matter how deep they are in their own ego.
Check out the full hour here!