Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 5 for context. Thank you.
In my experience, I had to hurt enough mentally, emotionally and spiritually before I was able to begin to consider that I needed to question my denial, the denial of my family and the denial of friends. My pain motivated me to seek answers — because I had become sick and tired of being sick and tired. In my awareness I became willing to do do the work to learn from my pain.
In my pain I had a spiritual awakening. I realized that I needed to grieve the reality of my invisible disability before I could move forward with my life. Through doing the necessary work I learned valuable lessons — one of which radically changed my life. By applying what I learned I was able to stop using my energy to defend and sustain the various denial systems that kept me in bondage.
When I stopped buying into the denial systems –that depleted my energy — I was able to experience a new freedom. I discovered that I could begin to accept myself — regardless of whether anyone else “gets it” or “is buying it”. I discovered that I could stop apologizing for being a traumatic brain injury survivor living with an invisible disability.
I discovered that I could take advantage of the opportunities.
By learning how to accept myself — as a traumatic brain injury survivor living with an invisible disability — I discovered that I could use my energy to create with my being. In so doing, I discovered that I no longer needed to focus my energy on what I could not accomplish — because of my residual deficits and limitations. I discovered that I could instead focus my energy on learning how to use my gifts, talents and abilities.
I discovered that I could learn how to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for me — for people who want what I have to give — and so came the creation of Second Chance to Live.
Please read Part 5 for context. Thank you.
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