The Pattern Nobody Wants to Address About Power & Abuse with Daniela West [The Sacred Style Podcast-Ep. 7]

The Pattern Nobody Wants to Address About Power & Abuse by Daniela West

Read on Substack

❤️ YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE ❤️

PLEASE LIKE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL & HELP US SPREAD THE INSPIRATION

---

What we cover:

• 00:00 – The power of your story

• 03:00 – How abuse destroys identity

• 06:00 – Toxic systems & religious control

• 09:00 – Sociopathic leadership & global patterns

• 12:00 – Abuse as control mechanism

• 15:00 – Why silence sustains abuse

• 18:00 – Speaking out & reclaiming power

• 20:00 – Shifting from fear to love

• 23:00 – Rewiring your mindset

• 26:00 – Supporting the mission & survivors

---

The following is a direct transcript from the episode, edited for readability without ChatGPT to preserve the speaker’s original voice, authentic phrasing and emotional storytelling.

Daniela:

Hey beautiful soul, and welcome to the Sacred Style Podcast — a safe space where we get real and go deep to explore the intersection of modern spirituality, entrepreneurship, identity, and purpose.

Hosted by intuitive artist and entrepreneur Daniela West, join us as we explore the transformational journey of becoming more fully you: whole, healed, and human.

In this powerful episode, host Daniela West shares her lived experience of childhood abuse, narcissistic family dynamics, and growing up within a religious cult and controlling environment—while connecting these patterns to the larger systems of power and global leadership that thrive on control, fear, and manipulation.

This conversation explores narcissistic abuse recovery, emotional abuse healing, and the trauma healing journey, while revealing how these same dynamics exist in society at scale.

From toxic family healing to recognizing manipulative leadership, this is about seeing clearly, and choosing differently.

---

I've been thinking a lot around the power of story, the power of using your story to inspire hope and strength and to be a light in a very dark tunnel that really has become our world, more and more.

I know many of you probably feel afraid, especially with everything that's going on in the news with more and more conflict breaking out in the world, more and more disclosure around the Epstein files and all kinds of crazy things that I don't think anybody wanted to imagine. I don't think anybody wanted to imagine all of the darkness that has been the underbelly of humanity, of our planet, for eons. I don't think anybody truly wanted this to come to light, to see it right in your face.

Because to acknowledge that humanity is capable of such horrendous acts like what we're seeing in the Epstein files—the level of abuse that that goes on on this planet—it's truly unbelievable. It's truly sickening.

My story of childhood abuse that I shared in a previous episide, and how detrimental, insidious, degrading, dehumanizing those acts are when done to another human human being, and how multi-layered the the toxicity of this type of abuse is—it's just unbelievable. I know in my case, being sexually abused as a child by multiple men, multiple instances, it is something I realized completely eroded my sense of self, completely eroded my entire identity.

Because when another human being abuses you in any way, it's an act of damaging somebody—either physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, financially. Abuse is the act of harming another human being. It could be on one of these levels. It could be on all of these levels. It could be one instance of abuse. It could be a long-term dynamic of abuse with another human being.

And what I've come to find is it's truly about control. Because once you have abused another person, like what was done to me as a child and throughout my my family system, there have been multiple narcissistic dynamics throughout my life that I have found myself in, unable to recognize the signs and symptoms and how incredibly damaging it has been to my sense of self, my confidence. my self-love, my self-worth, my voice.

“When another human being is abusing you, it creates this imbalanced power struggle dynamic where you somehow feel that now you have to please them. Now you have to protect them. Now you have to do everything you can to try and get their validation, to try and get their approval, to try to somehow fix it—because somehow you believe that it was your fault that you were abused. That is the most twisted thing that I've experienced with abuse.

And I've experienced just about every form of abuse you can imagine, unfortunately.”

—Daniela West

It twists your entire perception of reality to think that, oh no, I must have done something wrong to deserve this. It must have been my fault that another human being would go out of their way to harm me emotionally, physically, psychologically, sensually, intimately, even religiously.

I myself, I grew up in a religious cult. I sure did. [laughter] Oh, wasn't that fun? I grew up in a religious cult and I have seen so many parallels between what the leaders of this religious cult caused my own parents who joined it when they were young, in their early 20s or so. I have seen firsthand the amount of brainwashing, indoctrination that the leaders of that cult did to my parents—did to everybody—every young adult that decided to join that church when it was first founded.

The leaders of this system, this religious system, completely broke them down. Every member who joined, their identity was stripped bare. They were gaslit till the cows come home. Everyone who joined was gaslit into believing that they had now joined a family that was going to protect them and that they had joined this new tribe, and that their entire loyalty, their entire reality, was now going to be devoted to this tribe in exchange for protection, in exchange for a sense of belonging, in exchange for a sense of safety.

But what was really happening was abuse on all just about every level you can imagine.

The psychological abuse that was done to my parents, to everyone who's joined this church, to most people who have been raised in the church like I was. I never chose it. I was born into it. I've experienced firsthand how subtle the brainwashing is. But when it happens over years, decades, let's say, you really start to believe that you are supposed to be like everybody around you in this system. You start to believe that you're all meant to talk the same and dress the same and think the same. You're all meant to slave away as these good citizens, as these “good people.”

You're meant to give up everything. You are meant to strip yourself bare in devotion to this cause, in devotion to this community, in devotion to a system that claims to protect you, when really, they are abusing you. This is a system that you actually need protection from.

And doesn't this sound familiar? Doesn't this sound familiar, when we think about the global stage, when we think about the turmoil that's happening more and more across our world, especially in the U.S. When we think about our global leaders, who—I believe—most of them are sociopaths.

I recently found a very interesting interview where the woman being interviewed was a clinically diagnosed sociopath and she was asked to answer the questions honestly.

She said that being a sociopath is someone who has no they have no empathy, no remorse, and no guilt.

She said their main goal—all they really care about—is material gain. They care about efficiency. They care about profit. They care about status. And they don't care whose neck they have to snap in order to get that. They don't care whose back they have to break in order to claw their way to the top.

That's a sociopath. No empathy.

And suddenly I realized, “Wow, that sounds familiar. That sounds like a lot of leaders in this world.” Because look what we're seeing on a global scale. We have created systems that are founded by sociopaths, by human beings who lack empathy—whose only real motive and goal is material gain and to keep amplifying their sense of power, their sense of control over others.

So, my brain starts to make all these different connections around the abuse that I've experienced—religious abuse, physical, emotional, psychological. I've found myself in many different systems, abusive systems, that are actually designed to harm over over a long period of time.

These systems are designed to brainwash you, to harm you, and to keep you questioning your sense of identity, your sense of self, your intuition, your inner knowing, what your body is actually telling you feels right or feels wrong.

If something feels off, our society has been designed to keep us questioning these inner feelings, to just give in to the status quo, to just go along with the sheep, to just go along with everybody else's doing, to just buy into the illusion that the systems that were created to protect us and support us are actually systems designed to control us.

That is truly the danger of abuse. And it can be very hard to spot and recognize the symptoms of being abused when you find yourself deeply embedded, deeply enmeshed, in these systems.

“I think the irony of our society and these types of abusive systems, communities, people, relationships, leaders, global leaders, is that they claim to take care of us, but really they're just taking advantage of us.”

—Daniela West

If we have a world that is largely largely being controlled by sociopathic leaders who who lack empathy, who lack remorse and who lack guilt, whose only real goal is to amplify and maintain their own power by keeping others afraid of them, to have material gain because that enhances their sense of personal power—then we have no business electing these leaders in the first place.

“I think the world would be a far better place if we, on an individual level, learn to first recognize the signs and symptoms of someone who's a narcissist, a sociopath, someone who truly lacks empathy. Learning to discern what it feels like in your body to interact with someone like that . Learning to discern the signs of when you are being manipulated.”

When someone is lying to you, when someone is mirroring your own behavior as an empath—if you are an empath like I am—when someone is actually faking care, compassion, or empathy. It’s important to learn to discern these signs for yourself instead of believing that, like I once did, everybody has a good heart like I do, that everybody genuinely cares about others and their well-being like I do.

When someone lacks empathy, that means they don't give a sh*t about how you feel, about what you want, about what you need. They don't give a sh*t about who you are as a human being. When you are being abused by another human being, by a system that was set up by abusive human beings, it slowly strips away your entire sense of dignity, your entire sense of self, your entire sense of worth because engaging in abusive dynamics—abusive systems and relationships over and over—it just completely invalidates who you are as a human being.

It gives you the message in so many ways that your voice doesn't matter that your feelings don't matter, your needs don't matter, your experiences, your stories, your family, that the impact of the abuse does not matter.

That is what someone who lacks empathy will do over and over again. That is the poison of people who lack empathy—like narcissists, like sociopaths.

This is a planetary poison that has pervaded humanity for eons.

And this is what is changing.

“This is what we as the people have to change. We have to change it. Abuse—and people in power who are abusive, and abusive systems that keep being perpetuated—they only keep existing because the people being abused keep tolerating it.”

—Daniela West

That's what happened in my case, in my survivor story. It's taken me 38 years to understand the signs of abuse and the impact of abuse on me as an individual and to be able to zoom out and then see how it's not just me. It's not just my story of abuse. I am not the only person in this world who's been abused. There are billions of people on this planet.

If you've ever experienced any level of abuse, let me know in the comments. Let's talk about it. Let's bring this to light.

Because as long as people being abused continue to tolerate it and keep their mouth shut and feel afraid to speak out, then these abusive people and systems and roles and societies will continue till the end of time. Then people in power who don't give a sh*t about you and your feelings, they have no sense of empathy. All they care about is material gain and remaining in power and maintaining the status quo by keeping people afraid of them—by making people feel worthless—because they keep abusing them, which strips them of their dignity. It strips them of their voice. It strips them of their belief that they actually have power to make a change by speaking up, little by little.

All it starts is with one voice like mine.

Change always starts with one person refusing to play into the abuse. It always starts with one person saying, “No more. No more. I am done. I refuse to participate in this abusive game anymore. I'm out.”

It starts with one person speaking out and sparking a chain reaction in another. It starts with one person, like me sharing my story of abuse and finding the courage to do that, which is the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. It starts with one person having the courage to speak up, to be honest, to share the experiences that have hurt them, and allowing at least one other human being to witness that.

That is key—because not speaking out, and keeping the abuse private, has absolutely no impact on anyone else. In fact, the secrecy will eat you alive inside. How will you ever spark a chain reaction if you keep all of these feelings, all of these stories hidden, even from yourself?

I truly believe it's time that human beings all stop attacking each other and it's time that we really step back and ask ourselves how can we begin to protect and support each other? Because once we all start to do that and see the world through that lens, we’ll realize that maybe we're not all here to compete and hurt and abuse each other and blindly move through this life in fear.

And if we're all doing that—not speaking out—how will anybody ever find the courage to break out of that system? How will anybody ever find the courage to stand up to those in power?

“Because this is the game. This is how the game has been designed all along—to keep us blind, to keep us in fear, to keep us feeling as powerless victims who have no voice, believing that it doesn't matter what we do—nothing will ever change. That is a lie. That is absolute bullsh*t. And if you're still here with me, you know that's true.”

—Daniela West

So, I want to encourage you today to make a change.

It starts with one person. It starts with one action. It starts with one shift in perception first.

So, think about how can you spark change today in your life? Smile at another stranger. Let's start there. Start small. Start with thinking about how you can shift the energy in your life today from fear to love. How can you do one action that is genuinely kind? Not for any other reason. Not because you’re expecting to get anything out of being kind. You just want to be kind because it feels good.

Start there. Choose one stranger that you pass by on the street or you interact with them in a cafe or or in a grocery store. Smile at them. Look them in the eyes. Make actual eye contact. That is something I have seen for so many years is missing in this world. When did we forget how to make actual eye contact with each other? Oh, I know. It's when the smartphones came out and we are all just completely distracted by technology and what's going on in the screen that we have lost human connection. We have lost in-person kind interactions.

So, I would encourage you to start there. Smile at a stranger. Say hello. Open the door for somebody. Give a stranger a compliment just because you want to. And mean it. Mean what you say. Mean the compliment that you give. Don't just do it empty. Actually mean the words that you say. Think about the words that you say. Think about the impact and your intention when you interact with people.

I want to encourage the world to think about how can we truly stop attacking each other every second of the day and start protecting each other? Because obviously the sociopathic leaders of this world are not going to do that for us. That's becoming more and more clear.

So we need to start taking back the power.

It starts on an individual level. It starts with shifting your perception from fear to love.

I know there's a lot of things to be afraid of in this world, but if you're focusing on fear, you'll be paralyzed forever. You'll be paralyzed to ever take any action that's ever going to change how you feel in your everyday reality.

“Real change is about changing how you individually are feeling in your everyday reality. That is truly what sparks a ripple effect in those around you, in those who come across you, even online in your content.

Your perception is life-changing.

So if you want to start changing your life, start changing your perception.”

—Daniela West

Start changing the lens through which you're seeing your life. Are you choosing to see your life through a lens of fear and worry and doubt and future forecasting? Are you getting stuck in things that could happen? Are you getting stuck in fearful possibilities?

Think about the impact that's having on you. That's like building a home in quick sand. That is like trying to swim out of quicksand. You're never going to get out of that on your own if you keep choosing that perception and those thoughts every day. Why not start shifting your thoughts? Why not start shifting the lens through which you are choosing to see the world?

Because yes, it is a choice. And yes, it requires discipline. It requires intention to tell yourself, “I actually have the power to choose my thoughts at any given moment.” How powerful is that? Because you do—you have that power.

Society has just wanted to trick you into believing that you don't.

And that's what creates a world of victims.

But everybody has the power to change their thoughts and choose a different thought and replace your routine thoughts with new ones that are more supportive and more empowering.

So start there. Start with one daily action of kindness and see how that makes you feel.

I'm so grateful to be able to share this message with you and I'm so grateful that this is resonating with you. If you want to choose a kind action for today, I'd really appreciate your support in in supporting my GoFundMe. I've started a GoFundMe to support me in changing my life—in breaking away from an abusive toxic family system that I just can I can no longer remain in. I am the one that is saying no more in my own family system. I am walking away from toxicity. I am restarting my life and rebuilding from the ground up after enduring 38 years of narcissistic abuse within my own family. After being sexually abused by multiple members in my family as a child. I am the one refusing to tolerate that sickness in my own family system, and I would be so grateful for your support in my GoFundMe.

Once we hit $5,000 in donations, I will donate 20% of the proceeds to RAINN, which is the largest antisexual violence organization in the U.S. So your support is not only helping me, it's helping other survivors along this journey and everybody who joins this movement. We are creating a ripple effect. This is a chain reaction. We are spreading awareness. We are spreading kindness. We are spreading unconditional love. And we are spending light in a in a world that has become so dark.

This is the only way to combat it.

This is the only way—to shine brighter, to remind humanity that there is still there's still light. There's still goodness in this world. There are still people who genuinely care about other human beings. There are still people in this world with empathy. There are. A lot of us have just been made to believe we have to keep quiet.

So, if you want to take a kind action today, support my GoFundMe, support my journey in continuing to create content like this and having enough financial support and emotional support behind me to do this—to keep going, to keep spreading these messages, and to keep giving back.

You're not powerless. Every single day you can decide to take an action of genuine kindness to spread light in this world to do something loving instead of fearful. Do something loving. Do something to raise the vibration of this world and let other people witness you doing that. Do something to inspire other people and yourself along the way. Do something that just feels good from the heart.

“Give. Give because you can. Give because we have been raised in a society that does nothing but take. Give because this is how we change the tides.

This is how we start to change the course of humanity—by refusing to live in fear. By choosing an opposite action.”

When we live in fear, we are paralyzed and we do nothing. Then we become passive, helpless, frustrated, scared victims. Choose the opposite. Choose to stand in your power. Choose to take a stand against something, anything that you believe in, anything that feels unjust.

Choose to give from the heart, because that is what opens up the hearts of others in return.

That is how we really start to create change.

Don't forget to subscribe to my channel if this message moved you and you would like more content like this. And honestly, any action creates bigger waves than you can see. But every action to support me is incredibly appreciated and it's creating a ripple effect—the butterfly effect.

Like, share, comment, let me know the journey you're on.

And remember, your presence is a present. So give it wisely—to those who value it.

Subscribe, like, and comment. Thanks for watching and reading.

---

DISCLAIMER: THE CONTENT SHARED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, NOR SHOULD IT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL, LEGAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR FINANCIAL COUNSEL. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES NARCISSISTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN GENERAL. THE ARTICLE DOES NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON, AS HAVING NARCISSISM OR BEING GULTY OF ANY FORM OF ABUSE. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS VIDEO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION THAT THE MAKERS OF THIS ARTICLE BELIEVE, OR SUPPORT A CLAIM, THAT A SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSISTIC AND/OR A SEXUAL ABUSER. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE ARTICLE AND THE INFORMATION FEATURED IN IT. BY READING AND/OR VIEWING THIS CONTENT, YOU AGREE THAT YOU ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. THIS BRAND (DANIELA WEST) MAKES NO GUARANTEES ABOUT OUTCOMES AND MAY NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ACTIONS TAKEN BASED ON THIS CONTENT.

---

About Daniela West

Daniela West is a heart-led thought leader, storyteller, entrepreneur, survivor, personal brand expert and designer, intuitive artist, singer-songwriter, poet, coach, creative director, educator, emerging author, and host of The Sacred Style Podcast.

With an international master's degree in Nonprofit Management & Organizational Leadership, her work sits at the intersection of identity, artistry, healing, and systemic transformation—guiding individuals and communities to reclaim their power, transform trauma into purpose, and become more whole, healed, and human along the way.

❤︎ LET'S CONNECT ❤︎

• ✨Website: https://danielawest.com/

• ✨YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsDanielaWest

• ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdanielawest

• ✨Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bydanielawest/

• ✨Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/itsdanielawest/

• ✨LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-west/

To work with me 1-1, I offer semi-custom web design in under one week with my signature service, The Soul Site Service.

I also offer 1:1 brand blueprint coaching harnessing the power of astrology to clarify how to brand and market yourself using your unique natural blueprint.

On my Substack, you’ll find all the raw, vulnerable, emotional content that I don’t share anywhere else. Poetry, personal essays, channeled messages, diary letters and musings on spirituality, shadow work, transformation. I write about self, soul, & society to help you rewrite your script on being human.

---