Kathryn J. Raths, LLC photo
I know what it feels like to find yourself cornered in a
situation where you’ve somehow played a part, and it seems like it has stolen
your spirit. I remember looking into the eyes of my two little boys while
feeling the heartache of my unhealthy marriage and wondering how I got there. I
knew I would turn over the earth if I had to give my kids a
healthier life, and in the aftermath, it felt like I did have to do this. I went
into primal mode for several years. My gut instinct led me to rise out from the ashes and transform myself and life into a brighter future; my kids motivated me to persevere. However, it was exhausting. I sacrificed much
of myself, but in hindsight, I think all my hard work and sleepless nights paid off.
Most of us have a hopeful spirit, but sometimes when this hopeful spirit is drained by the shortcomings of others and poor judgments we've made, we can feel lost and confused. We more easily start living in our fantasies as a form of escapism instead of accepting the reality of
life in the present moment. When you are in this vicious cycle, days, weeks, months,
and years can go on, and as time passes, it layers more and more pain and suffering. Suddenly, thoughts arise, “How did I get here, and how did I let this
happen?” It is ugly and requires much work to unwind the tangled mess. But
it isn’t the world's end; today's decisions can shape and fix the tomorrows of the future.
My primal self surfaced and led me for several years. What does this mean? I pushed forward in survival mode (it
was all I had left to give), and eventually, after a few years, I could
accomplish enough to become a triumphant survivor, which meant I began to do more than just survive.
I will always persevere. I know this because I believe in a higher power, and this source keeps me moving through and
overcoming anything needed to find my way. My higher power fuels my self-advocacy actions. While I may be a victim at times, it is only in the moment of hardship before my survival
mode kicks in and keeps me in transition until I find my way through triumphantly.
This power is in all of us; all we have to do
is tap into it! What are you waiting for? Isn’t it time for you to persevere?
Learn about self-advocacy for ways to improve your belief in yourself!
