No, that isn’t a typo. It is referring to living a full life with the power you have, over what you have power over. You have no power over what others do. The only power they have over your life, is what you allow them to have. Once you understand that, and accept it, you can live a full life peacefully with others, as well as yourself.
I had to learn that the hard way. I had no power over any of the people who hurt me. Then I realized, I had no power over the people who helped me afterwards. Each one of us has the power to do harm or help.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
Those who seek to harm, will have to live with themselves afterwards and most of the time, they become more evil, feeding of the power they think they have. They never notice it eroding their souls. Those who seek to do good, to help others, end up doing it more and good feeds their souls.
What power do you have? You have total power over what you do, how you think, what you learn, when to push yourself and when to rest. You have no power over anyone else. The key here is, they don’t really have power over you unless you decide to give it to them. How many times has someone done something wrong to you and you just had to try to figure out why they did it? Maybe you tried to get them to regret what they did by getting revenge. None of that type of response does you any good. As a matter of fact, it gives them even more power to hurt you. Most of the time they have forgotten all about you, long before you forget them and what they did.
It can also work in reverse when what they do doesn’t matter to you, because they don’t matter enough to give them power in the first place. About 20 years after I graduated high school, I bumped into a man I recognized and he said “hello” so I responded. We talked for a few minutes and as I was walking away, he told me he was sorry for the way he treated me in high school. I had no idea what he was talking about because I didn’t care enough to pay attention to him, or what he thought he did to me. Still all those years later, he remembered it and what he did, along with, apparently regretting it.
The only people able to hurt me, were in my life and mattered to me at one point or another. On the flip side, the only people able to help me, were also the ones I allowed to use their power to do good for my sake.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8
When you use the power you have with the gifts you have been given, and understand you cannot do everything, you reach bliss. Don’t give up on being true to yourself and what you believe for the sake of fitting in with people who will never accept you as you are. Ask yourself why you would want to be a part of a group like that instead of finding one you can be yourself in it.
Life is hard enough, but when you have PTSD, you need people who will understand you, support you and give you strength. People who will not make you feel as if you have something to be ashamed of, or make you feel as if you have to hide your pain. After all, they opened up a long time ago and used their power to help others heal too.
Remember, it’s your life…get in and drive it!
#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife from #PTSD
