When you think about yourself, how do you feel? Are you happy? Sad? Do you put yourself down? Are you self-confident or are you angry at yourself for the problems that you’ve encountered in life due to growing up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional family?

Self-esteem and self-love are often big challenges for those of us who grew up with dysfunction. Instability and a laundry list of problems ranging from abuse (sexual, physical or emotional) to neglect plague many of us who grew up in a dysfunctional family.

We carry those scars with us, and often the wounds never heal.

But that doesn’t have to be your fate. Just because you suffered and experienced trauma doesn’t mean that defines you.

The challenge is: What do we believe?

Are we stuck in the mindset of how we grew up or are we wiling to do the hard work to overcome our past. The work we need to do is to incorporate our past and embrace it so that we can heal and grow.

That is easier said than done.

When under stress, it’s not easy to stay firm and remain confident in ourselves.

And that’s where some vulnerability can be so helpful and energizing.

When we admit our fears and own them, we can take the steps to overcome them. Denial and avoidance or numbing through overcompensating with working too hard, drinking, or other chemicals will not solve our problems.

For today, I ask you to take a step forward. We are imperfect beings, and I take solace in that. If I made a mistake yesterday, I can take time today to make amends. And sometimes, the first step is making amends with myself.

When we forgive ourselves for our faults, it allows us the freedom to grow.

What others think of you might seem important, but in the end, it’s what you think of yourself that matters most.

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.