Celebrating The Little Victories
Hey everyone ❤️
I said I’d post this yesterday, so oops sorry for the delay ❤️ I got triggered in school yesterday and didn’t manage to finish this post when I said I would. I decided to take a break instead of forcing myself to finish it - finally took my own advice on self-care!
Speaking of which, have you guys taken any small steps lately? Recovery isn’t a straight path, but when we do make a good choice or practice a good habit - that’s worth celebrating!
In fact, did you know that celebrating the little milestones you hit makes you feel more motivated to keep going? Your brain learns to associate the healing work with the little flutters of pride and happiness, so it gets easier and easier to move those recovery muscles! The milestone doesn’t ever need to be big - little victories are just as helpful and just as worthy of celebrating ❤️
So give yourself some credit for all the effort it’s taken to get to where you are today ❤️ You deserve it!
Prompt:
Take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come ❤️ Doesn’t matter if it’s small or silly - you can be honest about your story here
I’ll start:
Yesterday, I walked up to a classmate and said hi to her, even though I’ve been feeling really socially anxious lately. I also wrote about how I felt about my trauma after being triggered in school. I’ve been doing gratitude journaling, even if I don’t feel like it. Most importantly, I’m learning to talk about my s*xual abuse, and be honest about the effect it’s had on me. It hurt a lot, but now when I look back I can see how it’s really taken a heavy burden off my heart ❤️
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@hopebeyondpain
Thank you so much for sharing hope! This is really inspiring to read!
Definitely
@spreadgoodvibesonly
hi everyone glad we are here and thanks for having a place to check in to
@hopebeyondpain
Thank you for inspiring us all. ❤
I have taken small steps in the form of self-care breaks and mindful exercises. I have been working a lot these days due to my offline commitments and need to balance my work life, self-care breaks, and rest. I think I am on the right track. Thank you for the reminder though. 💜
How have you been lately?
@lyricalAngel70
That's awesome to hear! Self-care breaks and mindfulness exercises are a lot more helpful than they seem at first. Did you know that researchers have found that people who spend time meditating every day show visible changes in their brains? These steps are literally rewiring your brain, so I'd say that yes, you are indeed on the right track ❤️
I have been good ❤️ I've had some setbacks lately that were really discouraging, but I tried some healthy coping mechanisms like thought challenging and found the motivation to keep working on it and improving on myself ❤️
Thank you for sharing your progress with us, Angel ❤️ Take care, and I hope you'll have a great weekend ahead
@hopebeyondpain
Hey, thanks a lot for taking out time to write me back. ❤
I have been so busy lately that I was not able to exercise for the last two days. I am looking to start my second job remotely but it seems like there's a long way to go as I haven't heard back from any interviewers.
I am glad to hear that you were able to indulge in a healthy coping mechanism. Cheers to you! 💜 Thank you for reading
@hopebeyondpain
lovely post indeed and so uplifting.
Thanks
I’ve made some pretty big milestones for myself over the years… 5 years ago I never would’ve imagined I would do what I’ve done in the past 5 years. (TW: I’m a survivor of childhood domestic abuse, alcoholism in the family, sexual abuse, and domestic physical and verbal and psychological abuse by my last ex who I lived with)… I traveled abroad to be a teacher in Latin America. I traveled across country all by myself (with my cat) by car. I traveled across country twice to see the man I’m in love with, first time moving out there. I continue to reach out to my loved ones and maintain my connections. When I was able to afford it a few years ago, I got therapy for C-PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I’ve fought really hard for myself to get the support I needed then, and get a prescription for an emotional support animal so my cat can’t be taken from me when I live in an apartment or travel. This is just a handful of things. I made some huge strides for myself I never imagined I would’ve done. I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone, but I’ve also been prioritizing self care lately. Long baths, long naps, gentle exercise, meditation music, allowing myself to eat the chocolate ice cream without feeling bad about it, aromatherapy, and diving deeper into my spiritual practice have all really helped me to relax and find balance. I recently got into CBD / CBN to help me get to sleep at night. That’s been a really welcome change. I don’t say any of this to brag, but I hope it shines a light. We are not here to compete with each other but show each other the way, sometimes people need to remind me how to relax for my own good. I hope that anyone here who sees this feels comforted that if it’s possible for me after all I’ve been through and the nightmares and traumas and difficulties it’s caused… if it’s possible for me to make strides and go after what I love, then it’s possible for you too!
I’m so proud of your accomplishments! It is important to acknowledge them and use them as motivation! We are so proud of you
Thank you! 😊
Of course! You deserve all the praise
That’s sweet 😊 I don’t know if I’d word it quite that way, but I do respect the appreciation 🙏
@Njorun1338
Hey there ❤️ Those are some huge steps, and I'm so so proud of you for continuing to fight for yourself and take care of yourself ❤️ Challenging yourself to go step out of your comfort zone but also taking care of your emotional welbeing at the same time can be a tough balance to strike, but it sounds like you've done a really good job of it!
Thank you for sharing this with us - it makes me feel hopeful that one day when I'm financially independent I'll be able to do all of these things for myself and build a healthier life. This comforts me and gives me hope to stay strong until then ❤️ Take care, and I hope you'll have a good weekend ahead ❤️
Thank you so much, I hope you have a good weekend too! 😊 I lost much of my financial independence since the pandemic hit and moved back in with my family. Believe me I know can be hard to feel like you’re not “making it” out on your own, and having that experience of independence and then losing it is also hard for me sometimes. But if it’s possible to do it once it’s possible to do it again, and I’m confident that you, me, and everyone else hear trying to gain or regain some independence, be it financial or in terms of being self-sufficient in self-care, I know we can all do it! 😊😁 I believe in us 👍
@Njorun1338
Njorun, you have done some amazingly well things in so many ways and come very far from all you have been through. It is inspiring to know that you have actually, really been able to do all of this! I have never heard or known anyone who has come so far and also in the time it took you to do this. I am just in awe!!! 
It blows my mind how you've managed all this!! I'm very happy for you--that you are in a much better place in so many ways now. 
Aw, thank you so much 💜
@hopebeyondpain I’m so glad you found the courage to speak to someone you want to have a connection with! That seems so small but it’s actually a huge skill to develop, so many people live their life regretting the relationships they could’ve had and the chances they could’ve taken if only they found the courage to speak up. It’s such a BIG step for you, not just a little one! I’m really proud of you 😊 that’s awesome! Self-care is also so important, and it’s great you’re taking that into consideration. Also, kudos for taking the initiative and starting this post! It’s a really good idea and it really shows you’re growing in confidence!
@Njorun1338
I know, right! Thank you for recognising that it's a really big thing to me - it does seem like a small step to people who don't struggle with this, but we all have our unique struggles and they're each just as valid. I'm really grateful that you're celebrating this with me because it just means so much ❤️
I actually struggle a lot with posting these things and hosting events in this community - I just don't feel qualified to say things like this sometimes. To hear that people like you are benefiting from my effort and enjoying it really encourages me and motivates me to keep going ❤️ Thank you for all the kind words you shared ❤️
I’m so glad the encouragement is helping, and I really look forward to your next post 💙
@hopebeyondpain you've taken lots of good steps it seems, you deserve to be proud!! i'm glad that you were able to pick yourself back up after being triggered and you took your own advice on self care, that's wonderful to hear :) i hope you're feeling better and opening up about your sexual abuse is very brave and we're all so excited for you to continue your journey! it's good to see journaling taking a really great effect on both of us ❤️
@mobteru
Ahh, thank you so much ❤️ This really means a lot to me! I thought I was content to keep all of my milestones and victories to myself - but celebrating them with people like you really makes it so much more special ❤️ I'm doing better now and actually feeling really happy after reading your post here - I always prepare myself for the worst when posting an event or check-in, but your responses end up helping me 100 times more than I expected my words to help you ❤️ Keep up the journaling too! Take care, and I hope you'll have a great weekend ahead
@hopebeyondpain of course!! i agree lots, celebrating with others who are happy for you and proud of you makes things feel a lot bigger and more important and they're always worth celebrating!! it's not an easy path that we take to heal, but every single step made down it is something to be proud of as well as continuing every day with the intention of making it as best as it possible can be. sharing and speaking up can be scary, especially when it's so personal, but you'll always find uplifting people and voices here and it makes me happy to hear that it makes you happy too ❤️ i sure will! i hope you take care and keep up the journaling and continue coping in healthy ways! i wish you a great and kind weekend as well my friend ❤️
i've made a lot of progress this year in terms of my mental health. i got triggered back in april, where it was my first really big meltdown about my trauma that i had and it was really difficult. i felt like i was thrown back into the past and suddenly i was unsafe and i pushed everyone away from me and i stopped being open and affectionate with people because i was really scared. i stopped doing what i loved and it was a really difficult few months trying to relearn and take little steps. it was this year in june when i decided to be braver after having a talk with my girlfriend. i started journaling and meditation back up again. i started doing my own research and trying to reach out to make more friends and surround myself with loving people. i started to learn how to really care for myself and being more open and vulnerable and relearning that i'm safe and i can let go of it all and it's been really beneficial for me. others have noticed that i'm happier. others are proud of me and are cheering me on and i know how to cope and i've been feeling more like myself these days. i'm really happy for the push i was given and i'm proud of my strength and resilience and my strive for happiness and a good life. i feel that i've made very very good progress and i feel like i know how to handle things much easier and how to identify my feelings more and how to calm myself down and knowing when i need to stop. i've been able to be more affectionate, giving hugs and kisses and letting myself be held and protected and letting others know i love them and i'm here for them and i'm just overall very very happy with the work i've done :) ❤️❤️❤️
@mobteru
I'm so so so proud of you for all the effort you put into taking care of yourself and getting better ❤️ It wasn't easy but you kept going and you've come so far! Thank you so much for sharing all of your progress with us - it makes me so happy to hear about how much happier you are now ❤️ Keep it up and keep being the awesome person you are! ❤️
@hopebeyondpain thank you so much for your wonderful response!! it makes me very happy to read this and thank you for listening to my progress! i'll be sure to keep doing my best and doing whatever i can go help myself along on my path and i wish you luck as well!! ❤️❤️❤️
@mobteru
mobteru, you've really pulled yourself together well from having that big meltdown. I know how your first, big meltdown does lots to you. You mentioned many things that you've improved on since then. It is lots!! It is very nice how much you are feeling better with your great success.
@Amelia2324 thank you so much!! i agree, and even though i struggled to get up for a while after my first big meltdown, i'm very proud of how i was able to pull myself up too and i've learned a lot since then. thank you so much for your support ❤️
Very awesome check-in.
It is so easy to get caught up in our past traumas and not recognize the progress that we have accomplished. When I really look back and see that I am not quite where I started and yet not where I would like to be and yet every day I have that fire burning inside to give me a bit more hope that each day brings, I have to say Thank you, God. When my head tells me I will never get better then I am able to say every step I take and every effort I make makes me a winner no matter how small or great. When I look around and see that those who abused me and assaulted me, raped me and violated me, ripping away who I was and taking away who or what I might have been gives me the courage to show the world that I am not just a survivor but an overcome I will climb every mountain and tunnel through the low places to obtain my self-satisfaction within me. I have hit many milestones and I have to pat myself on the back sometimes and say well.done.
This goes for each one of us here today and the ones that will have to travel this course in the future. Being able to hold our heads up high as we nurse our wounds. Our battle is already WON. rather big or small We just have to hang in there as tight as we can. "WE GOT THIS"
@scarletPear1945
Very well said! These are all thoughts that have crossed my mind in some form over my journey so far ❤️ Sometimes we feel as though we need some concrete improvements to consider it as a win, but, just as you said, that's not true at all! We're not where we used to be and we still have that will to keep going and keep getting better - that is a major victory ❤️
Wherever you're at in your journey, you've come a very long way and you'll continue to move forward ❤️ Keep going, we're all rooting for you! You got this!
Thank you for sharing with us today ❤️ Take care, and I hope you'll have a wonderful weekend!
@scarletPear1945 ❤
@scarletPear1945
You have a great survivor's attitude about yourself!!!!
You have also been through many abuse/traumas and many diff kinds of abuse/trauma. All that is even more challenging to deal with, make progress from, and move forward. From all that, you have come so far scarletPear!!! I know too well how it is coming from having all the many abuse/traumas like that. I think so much of you for being able to get where you are at this point in your life scarletPear. You truly are quite amazing!!!!!
@Amelia2324
Thank you so much, I have only gotten this far by a few very encouraging people right here on 7cups.
Wow scarletPear, that is also amazing in and of itself!!! You have been doing real well with support from here then. So glad things here work very well for you!!!
@Amelia2324
You are amazing to my dear friend, and I know it is so hard to lose those that we care so dearly about.
We both have something in common as with all of the people here. 7cups is still a life preserver for me.
I wish that I had the strength or courage to be able to reach out and encourage others as they have stood by my side.
Hang in there
I have been reaching out for support more recently, it's not been easy to talk to so many new people and sometimes it feels more triggering than helpful but maybe when I get used to them it might be ok.
@LifeIsMyCanvas
Heya ❤️ That's awesome to hear! Yes, reaching out can be really scary and overwhelming, but you chose to do the difficult thing because you felt it might help, and I'm so proud of you for that ❤️ Keep going, take care, and I hope you'll have a good day ahead ❤️
@LifeIsMyCanvas
Glad you've been working on reaching out for more support. I agree, it is very hard to get used to this. I have great difficulities with this also. I hope that it keeps getting easier and easier for you--and also even more helpful.
I look back at how I would barely leave the house after my abuser was arrested. I couldn't breath and was triggered every time I turned around. I sit here as I write this I have been in a hotel for the last 2 months. I look back at when I first started this journey and I was terrified of even staying alone any where else. To where I am at right now. I know I have a long way to go, but I am confident that I will get there and of the good work I am doing.
I’m so happy you’re getting away from the abuse! I’m so sorry you went through all that. If you’re in the US, this hotline’s website ( https://www.thehotline.org/ ) and phone number 1.800.799.7233 can help you find further resources and possibly another place to stay if the hotel gets too expensive. I’m wishing you the best of luck. You are SO strong for getting out of there!!