With bullying rife both in schools and workplaces, and in some families, it's time to talk about how you can take your power back. You don't have to put up with being treated badly. You deserve better, of course you do; but more than that, you have choices.
"Many people are too quick to pass judgment and too slow to self-reflect."
Sometimes it's a fine line. It might be the odd remark, subtle undertones or it could be more blatant, like a direct criticism or judgement. Either way, when being around certain people starts to feel very uncomfortable and very unpleasant, it's time to make a change. It's time to take your power back. Often when we are younger we don't even realise we have choices. And, sadly, we are often so embroiled in the dynamics of the group we are part of (whether family, church, friends or other), we are not able to see the reality of what is going on. I know this was certainly the case for me. Being treated a certain way in relationships was something I thought I had to accept, until I started to learn about assertiveness and self-awareness. This was in the very early days of my personal development journey and really was the beginning of a whole new life. When I reflect on the unhealthy situations I have been in, there were always red flags. Over time, as I've become more in-tune with myself, I've been able to identify what does not feel right. And, what I have noticed, is that every single time I have moved on from one of these situations, I have felt at peace.
When It's Time to Let Go Along the way I've learned a lot, so I thought I'd share a few things that have worked for me.
Follow Your Gut. Always follow your intuition when it comes to taking your power back. If you find yourself feeling emotionally upset, physically uneasy or anxious about a situation, it's probably not helpful for you. Over time, take notice of your feelings when you're in that situation again and again; if you continue to feel uncomfortable, it's more than likely you need to make a change.
Making the Change. It can be really tough making hard decisions, but it gets easier over time. You may or may not notice an immediate sense of relief when you move on, but you will more than likely feel more peaceful. There's no denying that it may be emotional and painful, but that grief will pass if you allow yourself to feel it.
Stick To Your Guns. You may be tempted to back track or you may find people try to lure you back into the situation. This is the time when you need to be strong.
Remind Yourself Often. Remembering why you moved on is going to be what helps you over time. The situation or people you chose to leave will not have changed; real change takes a very long time and it takes deep personal work, which many people are not prepared to do.
Know You're A Good Person. Just because you made a difficult decision that many will not understand, does not mean that you're a bad person. Keep your focus on what you do have in your life and know that it is your absolute right to make whatever choice you want to make.
Let Go With Love. There is no need to be angry or bitter when we decide that something is not for us. Many times throughout life we will be faced with circumstances that are not right, and it's okay. Simply let go with love and move on.
Appreciate The Good. Reflect on what you have let go of and be grateful for what the relationship, situation or circumstance brought you.
Taking your power back will be good for you. Becoming who you truely are and living the life you want to live, is after all why we are here. With love,
