Week Four: Denying and Defining Ourselves

       Statements that resonated with me 

       "Beth, you have always tried to heal yourself by helping others. It is so great that you are so outwardly focused and compassionate, but that isn't how you take care of yourself.You need to be hearing the things your mind has to say to you. You need to serve and nurture your own inner-being. You are not evil for putting yourself first."

       "It's normal to have a fear of failure. It's perfectly okay to sit there and wonder if you'll ever really accomplish the task at hand, or if you'll ever really become the person you want to be. What's rare is the ability to push past all of that, to walk the path you were always meant to walk. You are significant and talented. You've always known this, always felt it. Don't give up."

       "Sometimes we let people go, not because of their sins, but because of the worthy goals we could never have achieved with them."

      "A lot of people feel obligated to hold onto memories of events that have hurt them in the past, or to cling to fears of what could happen in the near future. They do this because they think these are integral parts of their identities, and because they're so accustomed to this kind of pain, that they're afraid if they give it up the new pain that will come will hurt worse, and they won't be prepared. You have to let go. You are tenacious, with or without the ___ and you are smart regardless of whether or not ___ happens, and if you ever experienced something truly awful ever again, you'd still be a strong, beautiful, talented, incredible woman who can do anything she wants to. "

       "Forgiveness is not saying 'Hey! Let me put my life in your hands after you've hurt me in ways I don't yet comprehend.' It's saying 'Let me take my life out of your clutches and start being myself'." 

     
       These are all quotes from my diary, entries created during this entire healing process. They are not word for word statements from my psychs, but the "aha!" moments my brain opened to. The fact that these were my thoughts made them even more meaningful to me. It was so nice to hear from other people that I strike them as the type of woman who makes things happen, and to realize that I'm the type of person some people look up to. Hearing it from myself, though....that was a welcome experience.

       This is a brief entry, because most everything I gained this week is deeply personal. I did want to share those particular statements with everyone though. It is my hope and prayer that all the people who are reading this can find positive, constructive thoughts like these on a daily basis. Truly, I hope my readers are all a lot more gentle with themselves, loving, accepting, and willing to break negative cycles and become the people they were meant to be.

       Spread love, everyone. Especially, give love to yourself.