Are You Surviving or Thriving?

I'm back from the Co-counseling Retreat that I went to this weekend facilitated by Lundy Bancroft. It was an amazing, powerful weekend.

Two Questions
Are you surviving or thriving?
A good friend of mine who survived a violent relationship talks about how she wants to thrive in life - not just survive. To move beyond survival, I believe we have to work on healing our wounds. Healing is a way to create space in our minds and hearts. The new space provides the opportunity for fresh, new, healthy ideas and feelings. For me, it's the place where hope springs up again. Hope for new relationships, new connections, and a renewal of inner power, courage, and strength.

Do you have space?
To get to thriving or living life fully, it means that some junk and clutter has to be moved out. If you have survived a battering relationship, the clutter can be any number of forms.
It might be the tape recorder of the abuser's voice telling you how awful you are.
It might be immense anger and rage about past hurts. (This is not a judgment about anger. It's about looking at what role the anger is playing in your life - is it useful or is it clutter? Has it served it's purpose and it's time to say goodbye to the anger associated with specific events?)
It might be loss of trust that new and good relationships are possible and probable.
I'm sure you can think of others.

Healing is a way to make space for new and good to come into your life. Healing is making way for the thriver in you.