June had been raised to be her parents’ servant. They beat into her that her role was the Right Way. They chose even a husband for her and told her she couldn’t protest. It was her duty to honor her parents and to make the marriage work. Or else!
June had been her husband’s slave for thirty years.
Her husband had only worked sporadically when he wanted to; had only helped with the children and the chores around the house when he wanted to; and had demanded she wait on him and his friends when he wanted her to.
During that time, June had raised the kids and worked to have enough money for groceries. The children were now grown and gone.
The way he treated her made no sense to her. It wasn’t nice and it wasn’t fair.
June’s Spirit rebelled.
Finally, June really heard him say, for the thousandth time, her job in life was to honor him and to serve him. This time her Spirit rebelled. No matter what he said, no matter what her parents said, no matter what her community said; they were wrong. She wasn’t going to stand for that any more.
In an instant, she quenched that fire. How could she disagree with everything she’d been told? How could she be right and all of them be wrong? How could she try to get away when she’d be all alone? She should feel shame and guilt for feeling those thoughts and for feeling so angry. She wasn’t understanding and forgiving.
Something in June snapped; never again!
But the damage to June’s old patterns had been done. Her Spirit was stronger than their opinions. She simply didn’t care about those questions and ideas. She had to follow the demand that rose up from inside her.
To keep herself on track, June replayed an image she’d made of her life’s journey. She saw herself as her parents’ slave. They’d made her do everything; they’d beat her physically and verbally whenever she resisted or whenever they were upset for any reason, not only when she did anything wrong; and they told her she had to like it. It was her role in life.
June saw herself as her husband’s slave. He did what he wanted and her task was to make his life as easy as possible. She was supposed to do all the work; she was supposed to endure his verbal beatings, whenever he felt like it even though there seemed to be no reason; and she was supposed to like it. Whenever he wanted to kick the dog, she was the dog.
All their behavior now made sense. It fit a pattern. That’s what Masters did to slaves. June could never understand why a person would chose to treat other people that way, it wasn’t right. But she could see the power they all loved being Masters. They felt good being waited on; they felt good being powerful and in control; and, sometimes, they felt good torturing something helpless.
The demands of June’s Spirit were more powerful than her previous brainwashing.
Many people run from their Spirit’s demand. They choose the path they’d been trained for. But not June. Her inner force was stronger than her fear, and her low self-confidence and low self-esteem.
Replaying that image of her slavery gave June power. She motivated herself and gave herself strength, courage and determination. She’d never again be anyone’s slave. She’d never put up with bullying and abuse. Her life was hers and she’d never give anyone control. She gave her life to her Spirit’s demand.
It was hard for June to break away from a life-time’s training and to find people who supported her determination to make a new life for herself. But June persisted.
Of course, there are many complications depending on your situation. The best way to learn how to take power in your life and to be the person you want to be is to hire Dr. Ben for personalized coaching and counseling so you can:
- Develop the strength, courage, will and determination to be and to act your best resolutely, diligently and effectively.
- Develop a plan and master the skills necessary to create the life your spirit has always hungered for.
Since all tactics depend on the situation, call me at 1-877-8Bullies for expert counseling and coaching by phone or Skype.