Gratitude, growth and redirection

I always learn from every situation. I have taught myself to do my best to remain in gratitude no matter how upset, hurt or angry I feel. That is after I yell, cry, scream and channel the anger out of me. It's not easy. It's humbling. The way I react or respond to any given situation is where I really see my character. My growth. My constitution. I have come a long way from blaming everyone else for my problems and have come a long way from constantly beating myself up too. For me, the best place to go is inward. 

I don't play games (ug, how people love their games, and most often, unconsciously) or get caught up in other people's drama but that doesn't mean I don't see them hurting or scared. I have been there too many times in my life not to empathize. I grew up in total chaos and only knew this way of life until my mid 30s. If I am capable, full and strong, I will do my best to extend help (if asked for), stand up with or for them, but if someone isn't willing to receive the help or isn't willing to do the work to face their fears and unravel and forgive the truth staring them in the face, it's not a good use of my time to try and keep helping them. I will listen and do my best to see their point of view but a true friend or mentor won't enable. It's a fine line. 

We all go through this. Every one of us. I hear this kind of stuff from my friends and clients almost daily.

It's astonishing to me how many people will say that what they feel "isn't theirs" or how their dis-ease or illness is not theirs... My perspective, and I speak only from my own experience here, is that when I don't own or at least look at what is showing up for me, I will forever be dealing with it. When I own it or look closely at it, I can then control my choices around it. I can dive deep into the unconscious triggers around it, I can release the ghosts from my past...

We can all be free from addiction, we can be free to choose a new story, a new perspective on life... A happy and purposeful ending.