Are you focused on the positive?

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. 

Around the world, survivors are telling others around us our stories of hope, faith, and the pain we live with as suicide survivors.  Make no mistake; there are plenty of people who do not understand why people take their lives, and they see it as a selfish act meant to hurt others.

I'm here to tell you that this is not always the case.  When I mentor teens on depression and suicide, I always tell them to focus on the positive and work hard to refuse to acknowledge the negative.  There are so many things that can bring a person down, and often, we're not taught how to cope with the stress of let downs, disappointments, and setbacks.  When the pain is unbearable, when you no longer have the wherewithal to keep up the fake smile, and the tears seem to stream down your face, you really wish you had someone to talk to, someone to comfort you, and someone to let you know that all is well, and that it will get better.

If you're suffering right now, and you feel like your lows outweigh your highs, please know I am here.  I understand.  I have been there, and sometimes, travel back there.  If I had one piece of advice for you today, it would be to this: focus on the positive.  Focus on even the smallest things - the ability to see, hear, smell, feel, and touch.  Fpcus on the little bit of good around you.  Focus on all of the things that have at one point, brought you joy.  If you need someone to talk to, please call 1-800-273-8255.  This is the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US.  If you are a teen, and you need to reach out to me, I offer FREE SKYPE SESSIONS for teens who are living with depression - notice I don't say, "struggling" - it's not always a struggle, and we don't want to keep giving it that title and power.

Please know you are not alone.  If you need me, I am here.

I love you, and there's absolutely, positively, nothin' you can do about it.

XOXO

Associate with like-minded individuals at all times

I DON'T LIVE IN A WORLD OF MAKE BELIEVE.

Sometimes, I get tired.
I help several (over 20) people per month, and take in their energy, while giving out my own.  I'm looking for a better way to serve more people, but for now, it's all me, all the time.  Not complaining, just explaining.  I'm also a full-time mother of twins, so I spend the bulk of my not-so-free time with them, teaching them colors and numbers and alphabets.  At some point, I lost balance.  In the midst of taking on the issues of others, something happened that rocked me - I found out one of my clients had been lying to me the whole time we worked together.  I felt like a bad coach; all of the milestones I thought we had reached together were all lies.  I think that was my breaking point.

WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, ARE THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING YOU?

At this same time, in my personal life, I found that I was giving too much of me out to some people who were giving me nothing but negativity.  When you have a giving spirit, you want to help everyone, and even I tell people that's impossible yet, here I am trying to do just that.  What are you looking for in your relationships?  Are you looking for loyal friends, people who are going to check on your in a consistent manner, or are you looking for someone who is distant but still there when you need them?  When you are giving and not receiving, either the other person doesn't know, or they don't care. 
Don't lie to yourself - only you know which is truly is.

I ALSO REALIZED THAT I'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF MY PASSION - WRITING.

I love to write, but had not made time for that in my schedule.  No matter how good my time management was, I didn't budget this in.  While I'm helping others live their passion, I'm not living my own.  I know things have to change, and now, I'm working with like-minded people to make these changes.  I've gotten more personal work done in the last two days than I have in the last month, all because I have an awesome friend who sits on Skype with me and challenges me to move forward.  We don't do, "stagnant".

DO THE WORK,  NO ONE CAN DENY THE WORK.

I love being around people who are similar to me.  These are people I don't have to tell how to be around me, because they know how to be around me.  I love that I don't have to deal with inconsistencies, and when I allow people who are pulling me down into my life, I'm grateful I have the gift of discernment to know when to back up or walk away.  I am back to doing my internal work, because I know that my life's purpose is to serve others and in order to serve others, I have to get back to serving myself.

More to come.  Have a great weekend.

XOXO

SEQ

Overcoming the voices

My name is Dawn.  I used to be a self-mutilater.  You know me as the self-esteem queen.  Every single day, I have to re-earn that title.  I also teach people how they can reach their own levels of being self-esteem queens and self-esteem kings.

There's too much smoke, and lots of mirrors.  No one talks about the real issues anymore.  No one is looking to help others anymore; it's all about building a "brand" that looks good and altruistic, but is really set up under false motives.  Healing others while going through things yourself is not a branding technique, and yes, even us, 'healers" have things we are healing from which is why we take the time to help others through their pain.

On a bad day, my legs used to take a beating.  I was in a very abusive relationship - with myself.  There are no career heights, no amounts of money earned, and no amount of "followers", that can ever mute the voices of depression.  They come in the deadest of silence, and they make sure that no one is there to interrupt them from freely speaking.

Those of us who are able to maneuver around the voices of depression have stories to tell.  One day, I will tell my story.

Today, I just want to remind those of you out there who have those voices that tell you you're not worthy, you're not enough, you're not ever going to get past where you are now.... Please, continue to prove them wrong.  I know it's a daily, and sometimes moment to moment battle, but I want you sincerely to come out on the living end.

I do understand.  Sometimes, when the voices get too loud, I used to cut.  Now, I pray.

XOXO
SEQ