Being Believed
Gloria Masters Gloria Masters

Being Believed

One of the hallmarks of being a survivor can come with the experience of not being believed. This appears in many forms but usually begins with Are you Sure? He or She

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Silence
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Silence

Although this is well known to us as survivors and has been used against us in destructive and manipulative ways, were you aware, silence is available to you as a

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Justifying
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Justifying

As survivors if we are sharing what happened to us, some of us have this habit of justifying the truth when discussing with others. This has to stop. We need to

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Power and Suvivors
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Power and Suvivors

For some of us, feeling confident when dealing with powerful people just doesn’t happen. The fear, the paralysis can be so strong that even finding words is a struggle. This also has

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Having your own back
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Having your own back

Having your own back as a survivor is not without its challenges. WE are conditioned from the time our abuse began, to put our needs last and not value what our

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Self-Sabotage
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Self-Sabotage

What does it even mean, and where does it stem from? It sounds quite intellectual, but it’s not. It’s basically when we do things that block our success and prevent good things

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Feeling Proud
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Feeling Proud

If you talk to the average person about proud moments in their lives, chances are they could probably list a few. Part of being human you would have thought, the…

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Gratitude
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Gratitude

Is both humbling and inspiring, and not just for the person feeling it. When respectfully done, it feels significant and quite powerful. It comes highly recommended, has the X factor, and I

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Invisible
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Invisible

It’s almost impossible to be visible when a key part of our existence has been hiding in the dark. Being a survivor of child sexual abuse means that we become as unwelcome as the truth and when the words finally emerge, the reaction to it ensures we move further back into the shadows.

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Disappointment
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Disappointment

Feeling disappointed and then accepting it is one of life’s many challenges.

Commonly appearing as a person letting us down, or something we hadn’t anticipated, disappointment is part of who we are…

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Doubt
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Doubt

Is common to survivors and grew exponentially from the very first time we were abused.

We had no choice you see but to doubt ourselves, because we couldn’t afford to doubt the abuser. Why? Because we needed them.

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Grace
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Grace

I love everything about this: The words itself, thought of it, and the impact it has.I know when I’ve been in the company of it, because I feel humbled somehow and very blessed.

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Self Love
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Self Love

Self-love takes commitment and determination. It is challenging, misunderstood and completely underestimated in its power to change lives. Sounds like a massive statement – but one I stand by it.

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Staying Positive
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Staying Positive

I was asked recently how to stay positive when everything indicates feeling the opposite. When life feels like it’s just negative and certain people in it just don’t get you.

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Surviving Christmas
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Surviving Christmas

Sometimes for survivors, Xmas can feel traumatic, anxiety provoking and a sense of dread can descend. I know that for some of us, the worst of experiences occurred over this

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The Inner Critic
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

The Inner Critic

Have you met yours yet? That voice inside your head that is never quite happy or satisfied with what you do? That endless monologue about how you should just do one

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The Choice
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

The Choice

I recently read a book by Edith Eger called The Choice. It is inspirational, powerful and well worth reading. It got me to thinking that when you break it down

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Grief
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Grief

Although grief is largely associated with death, it is not only defined by that. It can also be found during the end of a relationship, a serious health issue, losing

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Broken Pieces
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Broken Pieces

Sometimes as survivors we feel like we are made of broken pieces. Seeing a glass fall to the floor and shatter, noticing the shards lying on the floor.

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Beginnings
Dylan Paul Dylan Paul

Beginnings

Love or hate them they're part of life. Rumour has it we think about new beginnings the most in springtime, probably due to cute little lambs frolicking amidst the gorgeous

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