This quote really resonated with me. ” Your life only gets better when you get better,” by Brian Tracy. It says the very thing I am working on.

I struggle with comparing my story and painful experiences I survived, and I have recognized that when I hear other people’s stories, I tend to embellish my truth for the sake of importance and validation.

It is taking immense strength to even admit this to others, in fear of rejection and blame. The reason I am writing this out is for myself. To validate myself and not need it from others.

My therapist says, ” Pain is pain. It can’t be measured because we all are different individuals. The way we experience pain is just that, our experience.”

My dad always said, “You don’t know the meaning of pain compared to…” and he would proceed to name other people who had painful experiences.

He set the stage for me to have to compare my story to others. However, when I focus on comparison, I walk off the path to healing, to get better, and that is my ultimate goal.

I don’t want to be stuck in this place in five or ten years from now. I want to gain real peace, happiness, and move on with my life. I don’t want the rest of my life be stuck in the past. I want to heal, to get better.

I am 46 years old and I have spent practically half my life living in the past.

I have dreams and hopes for my life. I have what I feel God has called me to do, but I can’t make those dreams come true, or pursue God’s calling for my life if I am stuck in the past.

I don’t want to have regrets when I die. I don’t want to feel like I wasted my life, and if I continue not to speak my truth, I will have regrets.

My dream is to be an inspiration to others through writing, and I can’t be an inspiration to others until I am an inspiration to myself.

It’s tough not to feel I have to compare my story, but doing so requires considerable strength and self-awareness.

I have made significant progress in my healing by telling my truth as it is. My story is important and valid just the way it is. My therapist is right, the ultimate goal should be healing, not getting stuck in the past.

I desire that life of freedom and happiness, and the only way to obtain that is to focus on the ultimate goal. So this quote needs to be something I tell myself every day, and hopefully soon rather than later, I will get there.

Here’s a quote from my Gratitude app to inspire you today 💫 https://gratefulness.page.link/ivos