Am I Broken? Of Course Not… Right?
I discovered this by accident, just talking out loud to myself one day. But since I turned it into a habit, my entire self-perception has shifted. I’ve realized that I am not broken; but off track.
The Stranger’s Perspective
You’ve felt this struggle. Just by reading the title, you likely relate to it right now or have at some point in your life. If that’s you, keep reading.
We tend to judge ourselves with a ferocity we’d never turn on anyone else. You’ve heard the cliché that you are your own worst critic. As basic or “campy” as that sounds, it’s a fundamental truth we have to remind ourselves of constantly.
The Art of Stepping Away
I’ve started using a specific mental trick: the perspective of a stranger.
When I’m spiraling, I take whatever is upsetting me and pretend I’m hearing about a stranger with that exact problem. For some reason, removing my own ego from the equation allows me to give “the other person” much better advice.
I discovered this by accident, just talking out loud to myself one day. But since I turned it into a habit, my entire self-perception has shifted. I’ve realized that I am not broken; I was just off track.
What I thought was the end of my rope was actually the key to finding my wife and starting our family.
Beauty in the Broken
What I thought was “broken” in me actually saved me. For years, I tried to hide certain parts of myself, pushing them deeper inside.
As it turns out, those were the exact traits my wife fell in love with.
I’m not just here to gush about her (though she is incredibly cool). I’m here to tell you that there is hope in the hurt.
The Compassion Finding You
It can be a brutal world. The sooner you open your heart and start believing in that hope, the sooner it will find you.
That starts with compassion; not just for the people around you, but for the person looking back at you in the mirror.
There is a unique kind of beauty that only comes from being broken and putting the pieces back together.
Tighten your grip on that hope. It’s well worth the effort.