“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ―Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
Out of all my children, I worry most about my boys. They’ve both experienced hardships growing up and have dealt with the sufferings in ways that were self harming. Whether it was drugs, alcohol, or just being reckless, they’ve encountered a painful past and as a mom, it’s hard to have witnessed their self destruction.
My hope is that they can move ahead to making better choices than that of their past. That as parents, we can continue to ask questions, listen, and love them unconditionally. As much as we want them to grow up and lead a successful life without difficulty, challenges will always be apart of growth – without these barriers, lives would be meaningless.
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… Love dies only when growth stops.”
As for years, I’ve made it a daily ritual to get up early and find something new to learn. Whether it be about parenting, self-help, spiritual, paying it forward, genuine knowledge or simply entertainment fulfillment, without this daily feed, I don’t think my intellect would be as positive. I’m truly driven by what I absorb.
Therefore, I think we all are driven by what we choose to consume. And in order to get on the right path of restoration, we must first have self-love and compassion for ourselves.
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
― Louise L. Hay, You Can Heal Your Life
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/quieting_your_inner_critic
1,000 Ways To Be A Warrior! 