ADVOCATE

Date: November 9, 2020 | Danielle Damrell

Full transparency: I had a harder time than usual writing this post… Please be kind.

As many of you know, I am currently in a season of healing and am learning SO MANY incredible things on this journey. Creating plays a huge part in how I process. In recent months I have created many graphics all of which stem from revelations I am experiencing…

Full transparency: I had a harder time than usual writing this post… Please be kind.

As many of you know, I am currently in a season of healing and am learning SO MANY incredible things on this journey. Creating plays a huge part in how I process. In recent months I have created many graphics all of which stem from revelations I am experiencing. Last week, during a session with my incredible therapist, I started intensely focusing on inner child work. If you are unfamiliar with inner child work, I’ll sum it up as this: learning to love, empathize, and speak to the younger version of yourself so that you are no longer entangled with the pain/triggers associated with your childhood (mind you, I am NOT a professional so I am sure there are much better explanations). To be honest, this has probably been the hardest part of trauma therapy so far… and I’ve been in it for MANY years. I can empathize with pretty much any person on this planet, but when it comes to having compassion for myself, that’s a completely different ball game. Regardless of the fact that “I was just a child” I still carry an immense amount of shame for all kinds of decisions and experiences. The little girl feelings of wanting someone to defend and protect me comes up at the most unexpected and weirdest times in my adult life. I’ve been limited by the thoughts and beliefs of wanting someone to “rescue” me. The realization that I AM MY BIGGEST ADVOCATE is a hard pill for me to swallow, but it’s also strangely empowering. Hear me out, there is not a single person who can do the heart work for me. There is no person who can protect me in the ways the little girl inside me has desperately longed for…  BUT I CAN. I can stand up for that little girl. I can create a safe space for her emotions to be released and NOT suppressed. I can choose to see her, hold space for her, and love her when she starts to surface through triggers and flashbacks. I can slow down and acknowledge that she still exists and needs attention. And I can support to so that she can grow and heal. I can advocate for her just like I advocate for my own daughter. And one day (hopefully soon) that little girl will become ONE with the strong woman I am already becoming.

Just to be clear, the kind of advocacy I’m talking about is not about convincing others of our worthiness, pushing our own agendas, or fighting for an outside cause or policy. That kind of advocacy has unwavering value at certain times, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about internal advocacy. Advocating for yourself in ways that empower you to confidently step into the joy, faith, life, etc. that you were created for and are completely capable of having. For me, that starts with inner child work for now. For you, that starts with whatever limiting thoughts and beliefs you have about yourself.

Advocate for yourself… because you’re worth it.

Leave a comment