Guest Author - Kelli Deister
The Courage To Be Yourself, by Sue Patton Thoele, is a book that will encourage the survivor of child abuse. Many times, survivors of child abuse feel as though they are defined by the abuse they endured. They may feel as though everything their abuser has told them, over the years, is the truth. They may find it extremely difficult to be themselves due to the fact that their abuser has forced them to live according to his or her own beliefs. The survivor may even feel as though they are forever under the control, emotionally, of their abuser.
How does a survivor of child abuse begin to find themselves? How does the victim go about finding that inner person that has been forced to remain hidden for years? The survivor may feel as though they don’t have a right to find themselves and be themselves. Quite honestly, they might believe that they do not have an individual personality. The Courage to Be Yourself, is a book that will help the survivor of child abuse to find that courage deep within that helps them to take that first step in finding themselves and becoming emotionally independent. .
The biggest hurdle, according to this book, is fear. That fear is the stumbling block for the survivor and keeps the survivor bound in the past. They might wonder if they have courage within themselves. They may not believe that they can find themselves. How does a survivor find who they are? Thoele writes that one of the first steps is to join a support group. She states that being around others that have experienced the same difficulties will help the individual to begin finding who they are. She also recommends that the individual not isolate themselves from others. It is my understanding that Thoele believes in the power of group healing.
Throughout the pages of this book, Thoele writes of recognizing the right to be yourself and applying those rights on a personal level. She details what fear is and how it pertains to the person seeking to find themselves, as well as overcoming that fear. She writes of being true to yourself and giving yourself permission to release the fear and grab hold of individuality through courage. According to Thoele, there is power in the area of thought. She recommends practicing positive affirmations and claiming the rights that each person is entitled to.
This book is an excellent source of encouragement!
