To thine own self, be true...

Once upon a time, there lived an ordinary wonderful person. He was truly a remarkably unremarkable and truly unique person at the same time but because he did not believe as other "more important persons", he was shunned, labeled and name called. He felt as though he was invisible and did not feel "heard", but journeyed through life seeking to understand the discrimination and hatred that others had toward those who are different from them. He was astounded to find the answer within himself. Authenticity did not allow such delusion to exist. He was happy; though sometimes alone, but he loved himself and lived happily all the days of his life.

Ok, that isn't a real story but it could be. Delusion. Illusion. Myth. These are all "beliefs" that anyone can hold for whatever reason. I believe that abuse is founded upon not only "wrong thinking" but "wrong believing". I have actually run upon this "epiphany" quite accidentally while studying the reasons for WHY we believe what we believe and hold to be true; hold so tightly to it so that we will FIGHT to keep that belief, no matter what with no matter whom. It all started by questioning HOW we find ourselves...how do we know WHEN we find ourselves, and the all important question "WHAT DO WE DO WHEN we find ourselves?". I ran across a wonderful quote from a book written by a research psychologist and professor at Columbia University, Arthur T. Jersild's book "In search of self". 

"Compassion 

is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. 

It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak 

and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment."

~ Arthur Jersild ~ 

(In Search of Self: 1952) 

As abuse survivors (and who hasn't felt abused by someone in their lives??? so I speak about and to everyone), we have learned how to treat ourselves because and in the manner that we have been treated. Because of this fact, we have shunned our selves. We may have been "harder on ourselves" than we have on others and this usually "boils down" to FORGIVENESS...forgiving ourselves is important. Self-compassion is important. Self-fulfillment is our goal and I believe that we only reach our goal by "finding ourselves, healing from abuse and learning to dream again".

When we SAY NO to self-delusion, we are saying NO to abuse. We deserve to know ourselves, love ourselves and accept ourselves.

We are worth it!!!