Walking Forward With Purpose

I have been leading a moral injury program for female veterans for a couple of years now. These veterans have seen the worst in people unfortunately. Each carries their own testimony of how someone they should have been safe with performed an act of transgression against their moral compass. Feeling shame, guilt, developing maladaptive behaviors, at times mentally detached from themselves. Yet each has gotten to the point or reached the path to the point where they realize... the past does not define them or control them anymore.

The program is a beautiful balance of the clinical world and the faith & spirituality world. They can in fact live together quite effectively and harmoniously.

“Accept your light and let it shine to create your own lighthouse on a stormy night.” – Pauline Duncan-Thrasher

Faith teaches, the world will bring pain and suffering, but we don't belong to this world; We belong to God (or whoever is your higher power), so we shouldn't try to "fit in" or conform to the comfort level of others. Don't allow the world to distract you or dim your light. Therapy (especially Trauma therapy) helps you build your strengths, gives you tools so you can move through life's shenanigans and chaos without loosing your sense of self or control. You can begin to see the overlap.

Both models guide us to move forward toward who we are to become. 'forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead' (Philippians). Make no mistakes, you should not suppress memories, but work through past disturbances so you don't carry them with you in life. No matter what your spiritual practice is, the message is this: The world for centuries has brought periods of uncertainty, fear, pain, and suffering. And it will continue to do so. There will always be people who seem to get comfort from your discomfort or try to distract you from your greatness. You can easily find yourself just living day to day, making your non-negotiables negotiable for the comfort of others, questioning your self. Pause! Here are some questions to reflect on:

• What do I stand for?

• What do I feel the future has in store for me?

• What environments motivate me or make me feel the most confident?

• Where do I find peace or strength when things get rough?

• What are things you love or are passionate about; how often do you make space for those things are nourish those things?

• What are some of your fears or environments that make you feel less confident? If you tend to avoid things that trigger the above, what opportunities have you missed because of it?

• What are unhealthy patterns of behavior I tend to repeat? (Think relationships, maybe you tend to over compromise, or people please, etc.)?

Be honest about who you are now (we listen, we don't judge)and what you want to become. You have a gift and light the world needs, that only you can carry. Hone into and strengthen that...then walk forward with purpose!