Healthy Living DIY

The reason I'm talking about goes like this: "Because of some event from my personal history, I cannot fulfill my potential in life."

This goes back to the "story" we spoke about a couple of days ago. The "story" that Lisa Nichols said she didn't want to hear "because that story is what's keeping you stuck where you are." That story is very, very common. One way or another, I hear it nearly every single day.

Please understand. Ms. Nichols and I do not mean to suggest that whatever the event was didn't occur. We know it did. We do not mean to suggest that it wasn't troubling to you. We know it was. We do not mean to suggest that it was ok that it happened. In many cases, it was most definitely not ok.

But it happened. It's over. And now you're doing the rest of your life. An event from your ancient history will only control the part your life from today forward if you allow it to.

[Ms. Nichols, if you're out there, I've paraphrased your comments. If I've misrepresented you, I apologize. If that's the case, please let me know so I can inform my readers.]

Now just to make sure that you clearly understand the type of event I'm talking about, I'm going to list some of the stories I've heard over the years. I don't want anyone out there thinking, "well surely she couldn't be talking about the bad thing that happened to me! It was so much badder than anything that ever happened to anybody else."

I am indeed talking about your thing. Trust me on this.

• One parent died when I was young.
• Both parents died when I was young.
• I was told a parent had died, but really he just abandoned Mom and me and started a new family with someone else.
• We were dirt poor and my basic needs were not met.
• I was physically abused by a relative.
• When I told that I was physically abused by a relative, I became the "bad" one for causing a rift in the family.
• My dad threw me and all my things out of the house when I was 7.
• My parents got divorced.
• I got pregnant in high school and had the baby.
• I got pregnant in high school, had an abortion, and never told my parents.
• My girlfriend got pregnant while we were in high school.
• My girlfriend told me she was pregnant while we were in high school, but it was a lie.
• I was emotionally abused by a relative. I thought it was my fault.
• I was bullied at school.
• I was ridiculed for being different.
• I thought being different made me deserving of the ridicule.
• One or both of my parents was an alcoholic.
• One or both of my parents was mentally ill.
• The breadwinner in our family lost his/her job.
• I had an undiagnosed learning disability and was labelled dumb.
• I underwent extensive medical treatment for a serious illness.
• I had to wear a temporarily disfiguring appliance.
• My mother didn't know how to cook.
• We were of a religion that my friends thought was weird.
• My mom insisted I eat healthy and sent embarrassing things to school in my lunch.
• A parent was sent to prison.
• A child was sent to prison.
• A sibling was sent to prison.
• A close family member committed suicide.
• I was/am gay.
• My mom or dad was/is gay.
• My dad was a workaholic and never attended any of my events.
• My parents forced me to participate in activites I wasn't good at, which was humiliating.
• My parents insisted I wear frumpy clothing or glasses to school.
• My wife cheated on me with another man.
• My wife and children were killed by a drunk driver.
• My uninsured home was destroyed by an avalanche, causing bankruptcy.
• My grandchild was murdered.
• I was adopted.
• I was unwanted.
• My control-freak parents had anger managment issues.
• We had a sick relative living with us and I couldn't invite anyone over.
• The house was embarrassing (poorly kept up, decorated differently from my friends') and I couldn't invite anyone over.
• We were homeless.
• My parents were overly permissive.
• My parents were too strict.
• We moved a lot.
• A sibling accidentally died in a home accident.
• My brother was hit by a car and it was my fault.
• My brother killed our parents and then committed suicide.
• We weren't allowed any pets.
• I had 10 siblings.
• I was an only child.
• I had to milk the cows before school in the morning.
• No one was willing to help me with my homework.
• I had to drop out of school to work.
• I only have a high school education.
• I snuck out of the house to visit my girlfriend. While I was gone, the house caught fire and the whole family was killed.
• I was driving drunk and accidentally killed someone.
• I have a history of substance abuse.
• My parents set a poor example for me in the area of ________ (fill in the blank).

These are the stories of real people. Most are the stories of people I have personally met. I'm sure there are others that don't come to mind at the moment.

My point in listing so many stories is simple. Something happens to just about everyone.

Some of the people who belong to these stories have gone on to lead powerful, productive, successful lives. Others have remained stuck.

Ultimately, it's a choice. It's never too late to learn how to make that choice. The Word Cures Starter Kit, which can help you, is on sale -- now through April 3rd.