Have you ever been trapped in a job, living situation, or a relationship? How long did it take to get out, and why did it take so long? Maybe you are still there.
Everyone has patterns of behavior and beliefs formed by earlier experiences. Perhaps there is a little voice that says things like, "I will never make it on my own," "the next thing could be worse," or "no one else will want me." There is comfort in accepting less than we deserve because we've grown accustomed to feeling powerless and unappreciated. The familiarity of a shitty life feels like home.
Yikes. Right?
This came up again for me recently. I heard powerless internal messages, paused, and replied, "Dude, I am not stuck in this situation. I can leave anytime I want." Then I realized how extremely easy leaving would actually be. A woosh of peaceful empowerment flowed through me as I escaped from another mental trap I'd set for myself.
I am not the child hiding and reading books in the attic anymore. I don't need to re-enact that part of my life in every situation to remember how I felt when I was small. I can honor all parts of my story while embracing the better life I deserve.
And if I can do it, so can you.
Image courtesy of the Canva pro media library.
Wisdom! 💯
Well said! It's so freeing to be able to leave or do something else..... My mother always said 'No one can make you do anything you don't want to do'. Great belief and truth in that.