Abusive personalities, it's not a subject I've touched on much here before. At the moment however I'm feeling compelled to share some things at the urging of spirit. Thoughts inspired from conversations with friends and family that happened during the summer of 2013.
First, a little background though.
I was raised by a controlling personality, one whom I would say is abusive at times. I watched the father I love mentally and physically abuse my mother. She found the wisdom and courage to leave him when I was ten years old. To this day, as many wonderful and positive things there are to be said about my father, he still wishes to control every inch of my 39 years here of living. It's just who he is and he doesn't want to change. With my own age and experience has come wisdom. Wisdom to see him for who he is and understanding to know that those insecurities aren't a reflection of me or any of the people in his life whom he tries to control.
I've learned so much from observing and being around controlling and abusive people in general. I spent a few decades loving a controlling personality and at one point marrying him and saving his daughter from the depths of her mother's hell. I settled and subjugated in this relationship. I tried so hard to be a light in a dark world that I lost some of my own luster. I sacrificed the unsacrificeable. I learned what not to be and do. In the end though I woke up. I remembered who I was before the darkness of his world. I left and I am better for all of it, for now knowing what I did not know then. I learned that I don't have to repeat the past to heal it, that I can create a new direction and make different choices.
So, now that you understand my background on the subject, here is what I wanted to share.
Don't Use Each Other
I've learned that people do not have to be in relationships to "use each other." My father tries to say otherwise, that everyone uses everyone. No one should ever be in a relationship based on need. Each of us should learn how to be self sufficient. Is it easy to keep up with an acre property and modest home by myself on an income that isn't what is used to be prior to the recession and layoffs? No. Are those reasons to date someone, look to be in a relationship, or move someone in? Hell no.
When I worked in domestic relations law, I saw it all too often, people married and getting divorced because everything they built the relationship on was need versus want. They needed a roof over their head. They needed a baby mommy or daddy. They needed to feel secure in themselves. They needed a checkbook to live off of. Each couple that came together out of need didn't last because eventually one person or the other realized that the need wasn't going to be filled by the other half, that the need actually required self care and fulfillment. Don't get me wrong though, most of them left pointing fingers at each other verses looking within to realize the problem was inside all along, that they came into the relationship based on need versus want to begin with exited based on need as well.
Don't Get Jealous
I've learned that jealousy is fruitless and that those who accuse others of misconduct are often the ones misconducting their behaviors. When you're with someone, you either trust them or you don't. If you can't trust them, you have zero business sharing a life with them. Don't even think about trying to cohabitate in a home where you raise children together. Your children after all are learning everything you're doing and not just saying. Mommy and daddy can't really love each other in a healthy way if they're reading each other's emails and text messages behind each others backs now can they? What does that teach your kids? It teaches them that it's okay to settle and to be with someone you don't trust. It teaches them anxiety and how to manage bad choices too.
Start With Truth
I've learned that respect starts with truth. If you can't share a space with someone or have a friendship that's rooted in truth, what's the point? Does one have to be a mean or brutal with the truth? No, you can be truthful and tactful. You can be truthful and loving. That's what true love is anyway, the ability to be one's self 100% honestly and openly and be appreciated and respected.
Be Respected
I've learned that anyone who would ever try and separate you from those who love you and from whom you love is simply trying to dominate a larger presence in your life. That's not healthy either and it's simply another form of control. Often controlling abusive personalities try to manipulate you into believing their way, urge you to question your own and do things rooted in a lack of security versus an abundance of belief. The sooner you see those manipulations for what they are, the sooner life can get better and you can be free.
Choose You
Most of all, I've learned that in the end we make the choices. We decide when enough is enough and we are the ones who must make the effort to turn the page. Life is too damn short, precious and fleeting to waste time on things that aren't serving our higher good. Cut the cord. Live. You may just find that all the hell was worth it in the end because it makes the here and now of making healthy choices that much sweeter.
In closing, to every woman and man I've ever loved who has had the courage to make healthy choices, I commend you. It isn't always easy but you are proof that it can be done. Namaste.
Copyright ©2014 Nita Clewis All rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercial use without permission of the author is not allowed. Sharing with friends and family is warmly welcomed.
First, a little background though.
I was raised by a controlling personality, one whom I would say is abusive at times. I watched the father I love mentally and physically abuse my mother. She found the wisdom and courage to leave him when I was ten years old. To this day, as many wonderful and positive things there are to be said about my father, he still wishes to control every inch of my 39 years here of living. It's just who he is and he doesn't want to change. With my own age and experience has come wisdom. Wisdom to see him for who he is and understanding to know that those insecurities aren't a reflection of me or any of the people in his life whom he tries to control.
I've learned so much from observing and being around controlling and abusive people in general. I spent a few decades loving a controlling personality and at one point marrying him and saving his daughter from the depths of her mother's hell. I settled and subjugated in this relationship. I tried so hard to be a light in a dark world that I lost some of my own luster. I sacrificed the unsacrificeable. I learned what not to be and do. In the end though I woke up. I remembered who I was before the darkness of his world. I left and I am better for all of it, for now knowing what I did not know then. I learned that I don't have to repeat the past to heal it, that I can create a new direction and make different choices.
So, now that you understand my background on the subject, here is what I wanted to share.
Don't Use Each Other
I've learned that people do not have to be in relationships to "use each other." My father tries to say otherwise, that everyone uses everyone. No one should ever be in a relationship based on need. Each of us should learn how to be self sufficient. Is it easy to keep up with an acre property and modest home by myself on an income that isn't what is used to be prior to the recession and layoffs? No. Are those reasons to date someone, look to be in a relationship, or move someone in? Hell no.
When I worked in domestic relations law, I saw it all too often, people married and getting divorced because everything they built the relationship on was need versus want. They needed a roof over their head. They needed a baby mommy or daddy. They needed to feel secure in themselves. They needed a checkbook to live off of. Each couple that came together out of need didn't last because eventually one person or the other realized that the need wasn't going to be filled by the other half, that the need actually required self care and fulfillment. Don't get me wrong though, most of them left pointing fingers at each other verses looking within to realize the problem was inside all along, that they came into the relationship based on need versus want to begin with exited based on need as well.
Don't Get Jealous
I've learned that jealousy is fruitless and that those who accuse others of misconduct are often the ones misconducting their behaviors. When you're with someone, you either trust them or you don't. If you can't trust them, you have zero business sharing a life with them. Don't even think about trying to cohabitate in a home where you raise children together. Your children after all are learning everything you're doing and not just saying. Mommy and daddy can't really love each other in a healthy way if they're reading each other's emails and text messages behind each others backs now can they? What does that teach your kids? It teaches them that it's okay to settle and to be with someone you don't trust. It teaches them anxiety and how to manage bad choices too.
Start With Truth
I've learned that respect starts with truth. If you can't share a space with someone or have a friendship that's rooted in truth, what's the point? Does one have to be a mean or brutal with the truth? No, you can be truthful and tactful. You can be truthful and loving. That's what true love is anyway, the ability to be one's self 100% honestly and openly and be appreciated and respected.
Be Respected
I've learned that anyone who would ever try and separate you from those who love you and from whom you love is simply trying to dominate a larger presence in your life. That's not healthy either and it's simply another form of control. Often controlling abusive personalities try to manipulate you into believing their way, urge you to question your own and do things rooted in a lack of security versus an abundance of belief. The sooner you see those manipulations for what they are, the sooner life can get better and you can be free.
Choose You
Most of all, I've learned that in the end we make the choices. We decide when enough is enough and we are the ones who must make the effort to turn the page. Life is too damn short, precious and fleeting to waste time on things that aren't serving our higher good. Cut the cord. Live. You may just find that all the hell was worth it in the end because it makes the here and now of making healthy choices that much sweeter.
In closing, to every woman and man I've ever loved who has had the courage to make healthy choices, I commend you. It isn't always easy but you are proof that it can be done. Namaste.
Copyright ©2014 Nita Clewis All rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercial use without permission of the author is not allowed. Sharing with friends and family is warmly welcomed.