I wanted to share something I believe to be very significant for me moving upward again in my life (sorry, I just detest the corporate-speak "Moving forward....'uggggh, sorry just too many bad experiences with inexperienced young people who think they know what they are doing but don't have much life experience to back it up).
A few years back I found a forum similar to this. It covered a range of topics and invited people to comment where they could - kind of a safe space for people who needed advice or just the comfort of knowing they were not dealing with things alone. I was working away in remote locations much of the time, and so it was very helpful to me. I made some online friends from it who later became Facebook friends when the site was disbanded. I also formed my own Facebook page with the same idea, and I believe it helped people based on the comments.
As I have mentioned in other posts, I am facing some pretty significant challenges at the moment. But I have always viewed myself as someone who can find answers, because ultimately we all have way more power inside us that we believe or even realise. You just have to be able to tap it. The problem is when you are going through personal hell of some kind, your 'light' gets dimmed and your 'world' gets smaller. In other words, you lose faith and confidence in yourself and you forget all the good things that make you...you. You forget all the ways you have been strong in the past, the people who you helped because you were strong for them and the meaning you were able to bring to their lives.
I believe we all have certain strengths that we can use to help others. We all have things we need to develop too - none of us are perfect. The whole point of life is to evolve into better versions of ourselves. AND, none of us are an island. I don't care how tough you think you might be, we are hard-wired for connection as humans and benefit enormously from people who care. On the same point, we also need to actively stay away from those who try to keep us confused, stuck, isolated or controlled. Get away from anyone like that - they are poison.
While I don't know everything - far from it - I do know a lot and I love to help people. Just finding this forum and website today has done more for me than I could have imagined. It made me realise that if I can help some other soul on here with an insight, a friendly compliment or piece of advice, or just simple compassion and kindness, then it has empowered both of us. It has brought my confidence back again - who knew? This wonderful site and forum has made me come out of my shell again and realise who I am at my core. How I feel tonight as I write this is 180 degrees different to this morning when I woke up depressed, stressed and wondering what the hell I was going to do.
Your voice matters. Your input matters. You never know the burden another person might be going through and just one kind thing you said might have just made their day or helped them in ways you have no idea about. I know in my own life, how powerful this is. You might even save a life (how many of us say we are fine when inside we feel like just giving up? We don't want to be a burden to others or feel we are worthless - nasty little lies depression tells us when we are down).
My point here is that each and every one of us has the power to reach out to another and lift them up in some way. All it takes is just noticing them, making them feel valued (you are valuable just for being alive and being you because someone loves you , even if you don't think anyone does - I guarantee it). If you are a bit shy, don't worry about it - you have the safety of the screen and a keyboard, so you can feel more confident without irrational fears of being embarrassed. That is the power of this, do you see?
Never believe the lie that being a bit vulnerable and sharing your truth is weak. It isn't. Weakness is not having the guts to admit when you are wrong, not saying sorry if you hurt someone, being emotinally unavailable or playing mind games with others. Weakness is gaslighting and manipulating, trying to control others. In reality, those types are weak but pretend to be strong. Never believe the lie, because you are better than that. Period.
Just being there for someone, knowing there are other decent people who want you to feel better is a prize worth more than gold bars. It is the gift of life that we learn deeply once we come out the other side of painful times. Be the inspiration, not the problem. And, like I said before, you never really know the power of what you say to another - so make it your best, every time.
I am very grateful to be a part of this wonderful forum and to share on here and have the benefit of other like-minded souls offering their support to me when I badly needed it. So, thank you SANE!
