altered perception

I'm sure that if you are human, you have been through some kind of painful trial. In the midst of it all, you feel helpless, hopeless, and insignificant. Please realize you're not alone. I'm writing this for you.

I want to write about how my perception of life was forever altered.
When I was young, my parents underwent a divorce. Except it wasn't just a divorce, I will spare details and say it amounted to lots more, eventually a custody change. Let me tell you... I have never gone through something so painful. It was like rubbing salt in an open wound.

There was a part of me that wanted to seal the pain with numbing remedies. Things that would help me avoid and stuff my problems deep inside, where no one would see them (we all have to be perfect-looking these days, it seems). Kids who think that way often turn to numbing "solutions" to their stress such as cutting, drug abuse, sexual involvement, stealing, etc.

Luckily, I was spared of involvement in such things that would have sucked me into an endless, unyielding downward spiral. This was only because I sought for truth and light in the middle of resentment and darkness thrown at me. I feel the need to share the way I found to discover healing processes that bring strength and true contentment:

1) Notice your body's reaction to your problem. (Notice thoughts you are having, emotions you are feeling, etc. If you find you want to hurt yourself or someone else, consciously realize that those feelings are not healthy for you.)

2) Find something positive you enjoy, and focus relentlessly on it. (This could be anything, no matter how silly the hobby or activity may seem, and no matter how inexperienced you are at it. You want to drive out the negative feelings with positive).

3) Don't be so hard on yourself. (If you know you are trying your best to eliminate the negativity in your mind//life, assure yourself that you are a good person. No one is perfect, but it is all too easy to fall into the simple yet powerfully destructive trap of low confidence.)

I'm not going to speak too much on the gospel side of my healing process for sake of privacy, but I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the gospel standards did have a great influence on my change of attitude. It gave me a firm ground to build upon and nourish myself, rather then fending for myself.

The world is too amazing--and you, too precious--to live a lonesome life. Even if you feel like you have a hard time identifying with other people, there is a God who loves you very much. Sharing the beauty in this earth is much more enjoyable with another person by your side.

You are all beautiful people. Even if only one person every reads this, it is all about the one individual who is touched. I hope I helped someone out there in the world.
Stay happy,

Brittany