What's good about you?
I think that a large factor in our recovery is how we perceive ourselves, since that perception also taints how we think others perceive us. In other words, we were made to feel like trash, so we think we're trash, so we think others think we're trash.
Something that helped me overcome that false perception of myself during therapy, was my therapist pointing out a lot of the positive things in my life that are a result of me. Basically, showing me how to see the worth in myself.
So, with that said, I think it's helpful to emphasize the positive things about ourselves, both now and during our past. So here's some of mine, and I'd like to ask everyone who wants to, to please add yours here as well. Even if it's just one, which would be that you've begun to look at the abuse to start to understand it. That's an enormous one in itself.
* After 31 years of suppression, finally told someone (my wife) about the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse I grew up in.
* Realized I could not defeat this on my own and that I needed professional help, and sought out a therapist to begin dealing with it.
* I broke the cycle of abuse. I did not abuse others, like I had been.
* After I moved out of my father's house at 18, I never asked my parents for anything ever again. I was hungry a lot of the time, but I made it.
* I succeeded in my career and made my own way, putting myself through college.
* I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters, and I tell them I love them every day, several times a day.
I hope others will post here as well, there's so many GOOD things about us, men. So, so many. So step up to the soapbox, and tell us: what's good about you?
Something that helped me overcome that false perception of myself during therapy, was my therapist pointing out a lot of the positive things in my life that are a result of me. Basically, showing me how to see the worth in myself.
So, with that said, I think it's helpful to emphasize the positive things about ourselves, both now and during our past. So here's some of mine, and I'd like to ask everyone who wants to, to please add yours here as well. Even if it's just one, which would be that you've begun to look at the abuse to start to understand it. That's an enormous one in itself.
* After 31 years of suppression, finally told someone (my wife) about the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse I grew up in.
* Realized I could not defeat this on my own and that I needed professional help, and sought out a therapist to begin dealing with it.
* I broke the cycle of abuse. I did not abuse others, like I had been.
* After I moved out of my father's house at 18, I never asked my parents for anything ever again. I was hungry a lot of the time, but I made it.
* I succeeded in my career and made my own way, putting myself through college.
* I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters, and I tell them I love them every day, several times a day.
I hope others will post here as well, there's so many GOOD things about us, men. So, so many. So step up to the soapbox, and tell us: what's good about you?
It took me 33 years before I began to work on my issues.)
Thank goodness for the Edit button!