It can feel weird to talk to yourself, but sometimes it can be pretty helpful. And, even if we don’t say thinks deliberately and out loud, we truly do have scripts that we tell ourselves and repeat over and over again.
For example, think about running a red light and you see a police officer sitting nearby. My message is “Why did I do that?” or, a little less positive, “I am so stupid.”
Sometimes these messages get us through very brief and simple situations, but sometimes they are messages that we tell ourselves many, many times in situations that occur for us time and time again. It can actually be helpful to choose what those messages will be. By doing this, we can set ourselves up to be successful in situations that may be more complicated.
Think about a situation where someone has experienced abuse on numerous occasions by someone who they continue to encounter repeatedly. While it may be possible, and even best, to sever some relationships, the reality is that there are times that this simply isn’t an option. And, if there is hope for healing, a safe distance with opportunity for restoration may also be a healthy alternative. When a person who has been harmed mentally, physically, emotionally, or sexually encounters a person, situation, or circumstance that brings back memories, feelings, and emotions of past challenges, they are confronted with a host of thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
The hope is that the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that may seem to capture and take hold of us, don’t actually have the power! We can choose, through our faith, our values, and our strength to hold tightly to a different belief.
For some, the script, “I Choose To Be Free,” has been a powerful and freeing statement. Although we can never change the behavior of another person or alter the past, we can choose to be free of whatever their decisions and actions have attempted to place upon us.
If you need to experience freedom from… the past, abuse, hurts, unhealthy habits, bad choices, entangled relationships, etc., etc., etc. …just try it. Say to yourself, “I Choose To Be Free,” throughout the day, during good times, and bad. Just see if this might help you when you’re face-to-face with something that might have felt entrapping in the past.
So… Do You Choose To Be Free?
Filed under: Abuse, Anxiety, Bad Choices, Bad Habits, Depression, Emotional Abuse, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Loss, Mental Abuse, Physical Abuse, Relationships, Separation, Sexual Abuse
