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Healing Generational Trauma

You are welcome to share Dr. Gloria Lee’s article:

three signs on a fence with inspirational quotes. owning our story: a personal reflection

Owning Our Story: A Personal Reflection

One of my favourite quotes is from Dr. Brené Brown: 

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy–the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

These words resonate deeply with me, especially this week as we approach World Mental Health Day. 

They remind us that embracing our full selves – including our struggles, our pain, and our journey towards healing – is an act of immense courage. It’s about acknowledging where we’ve been, accepting who we are, and nurturing who we’re becoming.

Growing up, I never heard the term “mental health.” It was a concept as foreign to me as the idea that my feelings and experiences mattered. Yet, I felt its absence every day. 

Unknowingly, I was grappling with depression and anxiety during my childhood, as a result of childhood trauma that went unacknowledged and untreated.

In my family and culture, these struggles were met with silence. We didn’t have the language to describe what was happening, let alone the tools to address it. 

Mental health was not just overlooked – it was a taboo topic, shrouded in shame and misunderstanding.

But here’s the thing about unspoken pain: it doesn’t go away just because we don’t talk about it. It persists, shaping our relationships, our self-perception, and our ability to connect with others and ourselves.

 

From Silence to Sharing: The Power of Owning Our Story

Today, I stand before you not just as an expert in relationships, but as someone who has walked the path of healing. I’ve learned that owning my story – all of it – is the key to not just surviving, but thriving.

That’s why I’ve become such a passionate advocate for mental health, especially within the immigrant community. By sharing my journey, I hope to break down the walls of silence and shame that keep so many of us from seeking help and finding healing.

 

Owning Your Story: A Path to Healing

I encourage you to own all of your story too. Here’s how you can start:

  1. Acknowledge Your Experiences: Recognize that your struggles are valid, regardless of what you’ve been told.
  1. Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the kindness that you wish you had as a kid.
  1. Seek Support: Whether it’s therapy, support groups, or confiding in trusted friends, you don’t have to walk this path alone.
  1. Share Your Story: When you’re ready, sharing can be incredibly liberating and can help others feel less alone.
  1. Embrace Imperfection: Let go of the “perfect” narrative. Your worth isn’t determined by meeting others’ expectations.

 

The Ripple Effect: Healing for Generations

When we own our stories and prioritize our mental health, we create ripples that extend far beyond ourselves. 

We break generational cycles of trauma and silence. We pave the way for our children, our families, and our communities to approach mental health with openness and compassion.

Imagine a world where seeking help for mental health is as normal as going to the doctor for a physical ailment. 

Imagine the next generation growing up with the emotional vocabulary and resources we never had. This is the world we can create, one brave story at a time.

 

An Invitation to Share

This World Mental Health Day, I invite you to take a step towards owning your story, your whole story. 

Your story matters and it has the power to inspire and heal.

Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. We’re in this together, breaking silences, owning our stories, and creating new narratives of healing and connection.

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