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Day 1: Beginning the Journey
Welcome! Hello there! Let me welcome you, first of all, to this incredible journey. If you follow the plan I am offering you, your life will never be the same. Healing anxiety, depression, poor self esteem, childhood abuse and other dysfunctional family issues can often take a lifetime, but after working with survivors of dysfunctional families for the past twenty-five years, I know that I can make it much quicker and easier for you. I've broken down the steps of emotional healing into bite-sized chunks, so that anyone, including you, can understand it and do what it takes. So hang on to your seats! This roller coaster ride is taking off. Don't worry; it's going to be an exciting adventure! Dysfunctional Families If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you may have sometimes wondered why you are different from everyone else and why your life doesn't work the way it's supposed to. You may have felt like you're just “not good enough” in some way, like maybe you were born with the sign “Damaged Goods” on your forehead. Maybe you have had relationships that failed, or maybe you tried to accomplish things that were always just out of reach. Maybe your friends have rejected you again and again, or maybe you continually find yourself at the point of wanting to give up and crawl into a little hole somewhere. Relax! You're not alone. People who grew up in dysfunctional families often feel that way. Growing up in a dysfunctional family can greatly affect your life as an adult. People who grew up in dysfunctional families often feel worthless and depressed. They wonder why other people are happy and successful when they just can't seem to get there. What's Not Working in Your Life? If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you probably have life patterns and symptoms that you'd love to change. I know how you feel. I wrote this course because I once felt the same way. I wanted to laugh and be happy and light-hearted like other people. I wanted to feel good about who I was as a person. I wanted a different kind of life with different kinds of people in it. Thank God I somehow found my way to light-heartedness, and thank God, I know how to help you get there now so much faster and easier than it was for me. So let's stop for a minute right now and focus on what's working or not working in your life and what you'd want to change if you had the chance.
2. Now, write a paragraph about your present symptoms and how they are affecting you as an adult. Write about your anxiety, your depression, your poor self-esteem, your failures, your unhealthy relationships or anything else that really bothers you today. 3. Write a few paragraphs on how you would like your life to be. If your life could take a dramatic change for the better, how would you want it to change? What do you think would help you feel more happy and lighthearted? Would you want material things, like a new house and a new car, and maybe a job that pays for all of that? Would you want a healthier, happier marriage? Would you want better self-esteem or self worth? Would you want a happy, healthy family, or deep, meaningful friendships? Take your time. Be sure you’ve really outlined the life you want clearly and in detail! 4. Now write a few paragraphs in your journal about how you feel today after doing today’s homework. Use the hot-pen technique, where you just write, write, write. In other words, just let your stream of consciousness flow. Don’t censor anything! Focus on what you’re feeling as much as you can, because getting in touch with your feelings is what will help you heal emotionally. This journal is just for you, and the best way to get to know yourself deeply is just to let yourself write anything and everything that comes to your mind.
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