Determination from trauma

In this article we continue exploring the gifts you made out of your trauma.

Soul Warrior: Someone who has transformed their trauma into powerful qualities making themselves, others and the world a better place.

The Quality of Determination

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

Mahatma Gandhi

 It takes a lot to turn up for therapy. It takes even more to stick at it.

Many who have suffered never find the strength to begin therapy or the will to keep going. Many people visit a psychotherapist of some type once or twice, but quickly find out there is no quick fix. We need a strong will to persist through the highs and lows (mostly lows at the start).

Our healing journey requires great determination, because it is painful unpacking our pain. We would rather avoid it.

Anyone who turns up for therapy, and stays after facing some challenging parts, has proven not only their strength and courage, but also their willpower to face difficulties head on and deal with them.

Any traumatic experiences, but especially those endured as a child, are powerful environments for developing will - the will to live, despite the overwhelming pain. Like a Samurai sword being tempered by the fire and hammer blows, a gift is being forged within us through the stress.

As a survivor of some sort of trauma - abuse, neglect, even just being on this messy planet - you will have developed certain attributes through the ordeals. Willpower and determination is a wonderful quality, and essential if we are to achieve anything.

If you have ever done a chunk of confronting inner work, persisting through the moments of cold sweat with your heart about to explode, then you have proven you possess at least something of a soul warrior’s determined will.

Exercise

• Do you recognise your determination?
• Beneath any unresolved wounding and trauma symptoms, can you see and appreciate your willpower?
• How do you notice your persistence showing up in your life?

Acknowledge your warrior will, claim it, be proud of it and know that you can use it with love whenever you need.

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.”

Vince Lombardi