The Gift of Choice.

Within all of us is the same personal attribute; it was given to each of us at birth… it is the gift of Choice. You don’t have to leave the house or go “on line” to acquire it. It is a gift we give ourselves, but often we are afraid to unwrap it.  Often, it lies unused and unopened. Today, is the day to choose a better life for yourself. 

If there is any dysfunction within your immediate living situation… be it with yourself or a loved one…it is time to remove yourself from that dysfunction.  If you are a minor, then find a trusted relative, pastor, or teacher/coach that you can talk with and give you the help you need.  If you are an adult and are being abused… in any fashion… then it is not healthy and destructive to your being. It can no longer be kept a “secret.”  In the mere admission that you “need help,”  you have made a positive choice.  If you are the one causing the dysfunction to either yourself or to others…today, it stops.  It’s a matter of choice and available to all of us…anywhere.

No more excuses, no more alibis, no more whining.  Choose a better life for yourself or a loved one.  This will be your favorite gift.  Ever.

ELIMINATING NEGATIVITY IN LIFE, FAMILY, AND THE WORKPLACE for 2017

The whole reason for any experience in our lives, is to call forth a remembrance of who we really are as an object of infinite potential. We are created as… All That Is and All That Is Not.

If we stop trying to control, move past, go beyond, cast out, go above, or run from the possibilities of “negative’ experiences” … then there is no reason for them to control us anymore.  It’s usually the negative experiences that we dwell on the most.

In other words, the instant we realize and accept that everything in our life is equal, then we recognize that we cannot go beyond or move past negative situations. They are part of our life!        I have to work really hard at this. The negative situations are equal to us, since we are infinitely everything.  However, if we let it, that’s an empowering thought.

Hence, we need to become accepting to just let go, (OR, “Let Go; Let God),  as many believe and allow the idea that the possibility of a “negative’ situation” has the potential to happen at anytime! You can become perfectly content with that idea, since you soon realize that every “negative”  situation is created, even sometimes by ourselves, and allows us to grow! Now, that idea I really like.

Magicians often use mirrors to perform their illusions because mirrors reflect a clear image of life making the illusion seem very real; you are unaware of the mirror that the magician is using. When you are the “magician” in real life situations… then there are no illusions…  you see the mirror and you use the mirror as a tool. I like to think it’s the mirror to our soul.

Think of reality as a mirror, then we must change ourselves in order to see the change in the mirror.  For example, if you desire for your hair to change color or style… then you must dye, comb or brush the hair on your head in order to see the change in the mirror. More times than not, people will try to change what they see by changing the mirrored reflection. A famous quote says, “Be the change you want to see in the world” this is exactly what that quote means. When you take responsibility for all of your reality, then you give yourself the power to change anything within your reality. Cool, huh?

We can adopt this perspective into reality, by first looking around at everything we see and hear in our reality right now. Next, close your eyes. When you close your eyes in the moment, you are telling your mind to refresh your viewpoint. Now, open your eyes and look around you again, except this time see everything as if we are looking into a mirror. Everything you are now seeing or hearing is a reflection of the mirror within you.

Everything starts from within and is reflected outwardly. If we don’t like what we see… in any aspect of our life… the reality and negative situation is ours to alter. I’m a believer!

Life is Good!

     Today, I challenge everyone to look not at the negatives of their individual lives, but rather focus on a positive.

It is virtually impossible not to find one good thing in even the most challenging of situations.   I keep thinking about a Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital radio telethon on a local station, last year.  It was impossible not to detect  thankfulness in parents’ voices for the care their child had received while at St. Jude.   For those who do not know, this is a hospital that treats children with life threatening diseases and never, I repeat NEVER, turns away a child whose family is unable to afford the cost of the treatment.  It is one of my personal favorite organizations for many reasons.  But what hit me particularly hard was a parent, on air, who was saying that each and everytime they bring their young daughter there for Chemotherapy, when the treatment is over… she wants to stay and play… “because they are so nice there.”    The child may or may not survive her ordeal, but both she and the parents seem to get that there is always a positive in even the toughest of circumstances. I admire them.

Look at your own life.  Find the celebration.    Sue

The Power of Positive CHOICE!

       It is virtually impossible not to find something good in even the most challenging of situations. 

      It’s difficult to see sometimes, but it’s always there. My own personal belief is that we can not control what is done to us, our individual tests and challenges by others, Nature, and our God, but we always have a choice in how we react to those tests and challenges. It appears as basic as acceptance of the things we can not change and a quiet determination to rise above our adversities as a stronger and wiser person.  It is also our opportunity to act both honorably and responsibly not only for ourselves but for others while we find our way.  Very simply, it’s Integrity or doing the right thing regardless of the outcome.  Sometimes it is difficult, but we can accomplish it. 

      Choice is what separates humans from other mammals; that’s empowering.        sue

WHY ME?

In light of all that is going on in the modern world: The earthquake in Haiti and death of thousands, Civil War and genocide in a number of countries, starvation in many others, acts of Nature with grand scale destruction and loss of home and lives right here in America, and the never ending issue of AIDS and other life threatening illness…all over the world…we still find time to ask, “Why me?” in regard to our individual Child Abuse. 

I’m pretty sure I know an answer that might make the abused look at his own abuse in a new light.   It is important to remember that during each of our stays here on Earth, we are constantly tested and challenged.  Abuse, of any type, is a test or challenge even though unwelcome.   Childhood abuse is not a disease for which there is no cure.  Rather, it calls for recognition and active participation in healing. 

 If we continue our own lives in any sort of dysfunction: excessive eating/ drinking or drug abuse, anxiety or depression, abuse of others, in any form…we continue the abuse and our abuser(s) win!   Instead think: “Why not me?”  We are still whole and alive, we are capable of healing and moving forward, we give ourselves honor and integrity, and most importantly… we are not defined by what has been done to us.  The dysfunction need not be perpetuated to another generation in any form.  I believe it was meant to stop with us.   

 Sue

Spirit Unbroken by Sue Brown

                                                                     

       My book,  addresses one of America’s darkest secrets,  the topic of Childhood Abuse.  

     The statistics are astounding: one in four girls and one in six boys in America are abused before their eighteenth birthday! 

      Each person who has been abused: friend, colleague, neighbor, or family member becomes an active and integral member of our society.  Their unresolved issue with past abuse becomes our abuse issues.  Healing and moving forward to a healthy future is more than possible.  The story “Patricia” shares, although shocking, is not unusual for someone who has been abused.  Hers is a story of hope, survival, and beating the odds.  In fact, it can be anyone’s story. 

     Spirit Unbroken is not only a testament to the human spirit, but it also offers suggestions and proven methods of healing and moving forward. It is now released by http://www. PublishAmerica. com  you may visit their website to read more.   

     Spirit Unbroken has received praise for its positive healing suggestions and optimistic outlook of moving past the abuse.  It can be used with all types of abuse: physical, emotional, and sexual as all are equally damaging to its recipient(s).  I am a  high school teacher and instructor in English on the college level; I am also a survivor of Childhood Abuse. I have worked with boys/men, girls/ women for twenty years, vocationally, to help them heal and move forward.  Repeatedly, I had been told that I should write my simple ideas and philosophies down for everyone.  Finally, I have done that.  My book is personal testament to healing and positive choices that we can make to move beyond our abuse. 

     Please read more at: www.suebrownauthor.com  Or place your order on-line with many retailers:  Barnes and Noble. com, Amazon.com, Borders. com, or Target.com. and others.  Proceeds from sales are donated to National Child Abuse organizations.

sue brown

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Hurt…

     Many things hurt us as individuals.  Some of these hurts we can control…but often some are beyond our reach. God often deals us tests and challenges as does Nature. Understandably, we are hurt, dismayed, and feel “lost.”  These hurts are part of life and are for the most part uncontrollable.  Hopefully, we weather them with dignity.  I try to control how much I am hurt by others…if only in the way I react to their injuries.  It is better for me to turn the other cheek when I am hurt or offended, but I am not always successful; however, each and every time, I do try. 

 The statistics of those who have been abused themselves, now going on to be dysfunctional in some fashion… is astounding.  However, what is more astounding is that many who have been abused, now CHOOSE to hurt others. The dysfunction is perpetuated if they now, as an adult, abuse alcohol or drugs; this affects their loved ones.  Likewise, the abuse is perpetuated if the sexually abused child, now a full grown adult, tries to verbally or emotionally abuse others; this affects their families, friends, co-workers and neighbors.  Because they were hurt as a child…they somehow feel it is ok to hurt others… now!   The irony here is that not only do they not feel better, but now the abuse is being perpetuated by them…even if thinly disguised.  They have bought into the statistical odds of being an ABUSER themselves. 

 Making someone else hurt: physically, emotionally, or verbally, rather than healing yourself from the inside out, is similar in my mind to putting a gauze bangage around a cut that really needs twenty plus stitiches.  It will sort of look like it’s healed, in time…but there will always be a constant reminder of the event(s) that brought the injury to light in the first place.  We, as children who were abused, need to make a decision that the abuse stops with us.  It need not and can not be passed along to yet another generation.   sue

Finding the time…

     We all feel overwhelmed this time of year; it goes hand-in-hand with the term “holidays.”  Today, I am going to actively,  “remember to remember” the reason we celebrate this time of year. 

     In honor of Jesus’  Birthday on Thursday, I am going to be more joyful, kinder intentioned towards others, and  relentlessly patient; AND this last one is not always easy for me.  I will smile more, excuse others, and forgive generously…even when my patience is sorely tested.  But, most importantly, I will remind myself that this is not just behavior I want to exhibit only for this week…but continuously.

     May we all be better humans in celebration of the Life of Christ  not only December 25th, but for all days in our future life.

     Merry Christmas and joy to all.    sue