#WhenIBecameFree is when I stopped comparing myself to others

We sabotage ourselves when we compare our lives, our healing - ourselves, to others.

Remember that while many of us may have survived through trauma and we can bond over that fact, the road leading up to that pivotal time in our lives was uniquely our own, as is the path and interactions we have on our healing journey. Do not compare the rate you are healing with another person's journey - when you do, that is your lack of self-esteem trying to control you.

I truly believe the path to healing is a lifelong endeavor, and that is okay. If you can welcome and embrace that concept, you will make strides. Do not place expectations on what you think being healed from trauma means. I once did that and when I was unable to achieve what I assumed being healed meant, I tumbled down a rut that I had to claw my way out of, again.

Healing is knowing you are worth the effort to grow beyond your past.
Healing is an action, meaning you are taking care of yourself.
Healing means you are respecting your wounds and caring for them, providing nurturing you once lacked.
Healing means you are living, not just existing.
Healing is a path to be walked with your eyes open, ears listening, and heart ready to feel all those emotions, especially love.
Healing takes time, it takes patience, and it takes awareness.
Healing is being active in your life, your present day, even if it means you must reflect back - don't let others tell you that you're living in the past when you're piecing together the puzzle of you on your healing journey.
Healing is honoring your past, respecting your journey, and having goals for your future.

Your healing is unique to you - No one can tell you how to heal, but they can support you in the process.

So, please, stop comparing your journey to another's -

Keep growing, evolving, healing ....take the beauty of the experience and express it however you were meant to - write, draw, speak, dance, build...create and then share. Share with others your journey as you live it, be an inspiration, not a template.

One foot in front of the other, keep stepping forward..

You're worth it!

This song means a lot to me - back when my life was in shatters my friend, Steve, made me a cd and this was the first song. Whenever I feel like I am in a rut, I listen to it and it inspires me -it reminds me that there is so much out there and to keep reaching, searching and not give up.

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