The Powerless Victim

Being so close to the situation at Sandy Hook Elementary School and seeing the faces of the victims and their families … well, my definition of victim has changed. Witness tragedy and your perspective changes on many things. After witnessing this, holding this community and being in service to them I will forever and always be changed. And one of these changes will be whom I view to be a victim. I work with many different people who come from too many different backgrounds for me to begin to describe. Everyone has a past, a story, or a wound to share. I have worked with many people who view themselves as victims. But a true victim has no say or choice in their circumstances. A true victim has lost their personal power and is being held in full control by someone else.

So the next time you feel you are being victimized or wish to portray yourself as a victim, stop and think…where is your power? Are you doing it to yourself by allowing outside circumstances or people to hold power over you? We do not always have control over what happens to us, but we do have power over how we respond. Our power remains with us as we hold complete responsibility of our thoughts, feelings and of our reactions to the situation. As long as you have this power within, you are not a victim!

We met the people, or at the least heard of them, that have gone through incredible life challenges and yet they remain optimistic, they are positive, they live in the moment and most importantly, they are not looking for someone to blame for their life circumstances. They will not be victimized and give their personal power away. Steven Biko states, “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

So I challenge you, especially in those times when you feel challenged by someone or something else, watch your thoughts, your reactions, your word choice. Are you really a victim? Or are you making yourself one? Check in with your power, it will reveal it all and you will quickly see who is in control.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade