This Ain't A Perfect World

We read a lot about schoolyard bullies, but the biggest bullies are often people that want to lord over others or cause constant conflict-but bullying is never okay period!  There is no liberty on earth that gives someone the right to assault who you are as a person.  Sadly, some people just won’t be happy until they’ve pushed your ego into the ground and stomped on it.  What you have to do is have the nerve to stand up for yourself and don’t give them leeway.  Nobody has the power to make you feel small unless you give them that power.  It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but just as much, if not more, to stand up to your family and friends.  Sometimes bullying comes from the most unlikely places.  Recognize how the people closest to you treat you, and look out for the subtle jabs they throw.  When necessary, confront them and do whatever it takes to give yourself the opportunity to grow into who you really are.

When trust is broken because of bullying it’s necessary to understand that trust can be repaired, provided both people are willing to do the hard work of self-growth.  In fact, it’s at this time, when it feels like the solid foundation of any relationship has crumbled into dust, that you’re being given an opportunity to shed the paradigms with that person that haven’t been working.  It’s painful work and a painful time, and the first  impulse will be to walk away, especially if you believe that broken trust cannot be repaired.  But if you understand that trust levels rise and fall over the course of a lifetime you’ll be more likely to find the strength to hang in, hang on, and grow together.  But it does take two because you can’t do it alone.

Remember, this is your life.  You may not be able to control all the things others do to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them in the long run.  You can decide not to let their actions and opinions continuously invade your heart and mind.  And above all, you can decide whom to walk beside into tomorrow, and whom to leave behind today.  In a perfect world we would always be able to fix our relationships, but as you know the world isn’t perfect.  Put in the effort and do what you can to keep friendships intact, but don’t be afraid to let go and do what’s right for you when you must.