How would your life be different if you stopped allowing others to dilute or poison your day with their word or opinions?
As a clinician, one of the first principles that I like to establish with my clients is Authenticity. We simply cannot make progress with our emotions, trauma, relationships and with ourselves without being completely real about what we are feeling and what we believe. Although it may be painful and even shameful, we cannot effectively navigate the healing process without first becoming completely real with ourselves and others. When you are honest with yourself and others about who you really are at the core, what opinions you hold, what emotions you are grappling with and what traumas you are still holding onto, you can identify which hurdles need to be worked on, which people and environments are toxic for you and which people and environments are healthy and growth-oriented. Showing other people your true self will bring about greater connection and respect for who you are, leading to more fulfilling relationships in your life. What do you think it means to be authentic?
Stop telling women not to give up hope. Sometimes, acceptance is the most peaceful place to be in.
Before I had children, people would tell me not to give up hope. And I didn’t.
Eventually, I was blessed with healthy twin daughters.
But when I tried to have more children, it wasn’t so easy. Failed cycle after failed cycle left me physically and emotionally exhausted, sick, depleted and feeling hopeless.
People kept asking what was happening and telling me not to give up hope!
But all that did was create an environment of pressure, disappointment and emotional unrest.
Eventually, my husband and I realized that while we always wanted more children, I was becoming so drained and depleted that I hardly had any strength or energy to give to the children we already had, who desperately needed their mother!
We came to the realization, that perhaps our dream of having a larger family wasn’t meant to be. As devastating as this was, I was overcome with a sense of relief and peace when I finally laid down my fertility warrior sword.
Sometimes, life will present us with battles that we need to fight, and other times, we must know when to surrender.
The idea of “not giving up hope,” can be motivating and inspiring for those who are still fighting their battle; and it’s great to hold onto hope as a way of keeping you going. But for those who need to surrender and find peace in their place of acceptance, giving up hope can be the best thing we can do for ourselves.