Are you traveling through life as a victim? While most of us would probably answer ‘no’ to that question, if we go deeper we may reveal a hidden truth. We can be playing the victim at many levels. Until we look honestly at ourselves, it can be difficult to see where believing we are the victim is at play. It’s not just those walking around as “woe is me” that qualify for victimhood.
Society for example would have us believe we are all victims to something. If you have persistent health issues for example, you may have been told you’re just a victim of your genes. If you’re stuck in a dead-end job, it’s because you weren’t given the opportunity. If others take advantage of you, it’s because you were born with a soft heart. If you live in poverty, it’s because of your upbringing. The list could go on. The point is that believing yourself victimized can show up in a variety of ways. Even those who seem to ‘have it made’ may find themselves blaming someone or something for their troubles.
When we function in the role of victim, we inadvertently signal to others that we are vulnerable. You may as well hang a sign around your neck declaring you are a victim. With your sign then, we end up attracting more of what we blame and reinforce our pain. Remember as a child when someone would plaster a paper on your back that said ‘kick me’ and you wondered why folks were picking on you. Well believing yourself to be a victim in some way is no different except the sign on your back is replaced by your attitude and energy.
I’ve known people who are seemingly healthy, have good jobs, family, and all the trappings of what should be a happy life, yet they seem to always attract ‘bad luck’. If this is you in any way, the place to look is within. It’s not your circumstances or upbringing that is causing you pain. Instead, it’s your perspective and how you interpret things. We often use negative situations to reinforce false beliefs instead of embracing them as life lessons.
When Harold Kushner wrote his book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”, he was trying to call attention to the reality that we all face challenges in our lives. It’s only when we choose to rise above them that we grow. It’s not God’s punishment or some way to hold you down. It’s also not personal insofar as the world isn’t picking on you. We all have imperfections that make us susceptible to certain failings. It’s in those imperfections however that we find our true selves. Trying to blame someone else for your situation only serves to keep you stuck there.
One final thing. So much of what we see in our world today is specifically designed to feed on and reinforce victimhood. When we choose to give others a hand-out instead of a hand-up, we make them into a victim. When we choose politicians because of what they will give us, we are choosing to be a victim. When we blame management for failing to promote us, we fall into the same trap. As a community, we are called to lift up any and all regardless of how we may personally feel about them. When we put others down, we only serve to enslave them.
So as you think about all those great New Year’s resolutions, let me suggest a simple one. Stop being a victim and instead be an elevator of love and humanity. Recognize the good in every person particularly those you dislike. If you can’t personally lift them up in affirmation or encouragement, then lift them in prayer and call forth the good in them. If we all simply took the time to be like a syringe drawing out toxin in our world, we could banish victimhood and find humanity in a much better place.
I believe in the transformative power of human connection to elevate joy, restore balance, and support inner healing as you seek your highest purpose. My purpose in life is to be a guide, to share the wisdom of the Universe I’ve been gifted with, and to see others succeed. Nothing brings me greater joy than to see others step into their purpose in a vibrant and highly energetic way.
Searching for deeper insight into your highest life purpose? Trying to find your true path and discover how to step into your gifts and be aligned with your own truth? I offer a range of services focused on offering you insight and support on your life’s path. Check out www.connect2action.com for more insight and services.