I accept how they made me feel. Like with mother, my sisters and their hatred, it crushed me. I had to face that and accept the fact that it crushed me. As I went through that, I remember episodes where their behavior reinforced their angry hatred.

Would you like to know what I experienced by doing that? That problem stopped nagging me because I validated my feelings. I validated and addressed my wounds. That started them to heal. And now, after plenty of time and any additional work I did on that problem is that it doesn't stop me dead in my tracks like it used to. Plus, I can talk about it. I might tear up but it no longer cripples me.

Another thing I want to tell you is now when something painful starts to bubble up, I tell myself that I am embracing my hurt little girl to heal her. I embrace my wounded feelings to help them heal. So, I heal and I learn. Doesn't get much healthier mentally than that, in my opinion.