Whether it is an abusive significant other or parent, a condescending sibling, a disrespectful co worker, or a friend that doesn’t really consider our feelings…when is it ok to step away and really…who is the one that needs the healing? When do the cords that bind us become the chains that bound us? Are we obligated to keep people in our lives because of their relationship to us, or because our society or cultures say so? When is it ok to put ourselves first, and let the chips fall where they may? Most importantly, when do we start listening to the voice in our gut that is always right, rather than the one in our head that is mostly wrong? What are these voices and what do they mean to us?
Here are a lot of questions to answer, many things to consider. Now instead of being impulsive with our responses…let’s really think about this for a moment. Our first response when we are being treated badly, can generally be one of two things. We make excuses for the ones that hurts us and internalize the reasons as if there is something wrong with us and/or make excuses for them…or…we get angry and protective because we have had enough and that reaction generally leads to confrontations that get nowhere or we shut down because the one that is hurting you seems to have many reasons why it is ok to have little or no disregard for you.
I say “we” and “our” because I have been on the receiving end of this my whole life…I have learned to forgive, feel compassion and change my behaviour to step away from potentially bad situations. I have spent years healing and forgiving those that have wronged me…but there are those relationships in my life that continue to degrade me and I have learned what I must do to bring balance to my soul and to my energy Healthy Body when these situations occur. Those individuals will not change until they feel they need to…the only control I have is over me.
