notes on freedom
A weekly email series containing easily digestible morsels of info on relational trauma and how to find freedom from it.
THIS WEEK IT’S A NOTE ON…self worth
Developmental, childhood trauma and low-self worth go hand in hand. If you’re mistreated, ignored, emotionally or physically abused, bullied, controlled by those who are supposed to care for you, you will develop a core belief that you aren’t good enough.
You will believe that you don’t deserve love and good things… in other words, that you don’t deserve positive change and success.
These core beliefs carry through into adulthood and direct the way we live. We derail our own success today as adults because deep down we don’t believe we deserve it, because we don’t actually believe we can succeed and because we’re afraid we’ll be exposed as a fraud.
Freedom is found as acknowledge the part of ourselves that believes we don’t deserve happiness, rather than pushing it into the shadows.
First, see and hear this part of you. Bring as much of this part of you into the light as possible. Approach their fears and unmet needs with curiosity. This achieves so many things. Importantly it helps you (you today, your true self) separate from this wounded part of you.
Learn to see this part of you with compassion and you’ll slowly move into acceptance. And acceptance is the sweet spot. It’s where the magic happens.
Low self-worth is painful for so many reasons. Freedom comes as we see it, acknowledge it, love it and gradually accept this part of ourselves. This is how we move through it and stop it from directing our lives.
This is healing.
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Sarah Woodhouse is a trauma expert, research psychologist and writer who delivers people the knowledge and tools to recognise and overcome self-defeating cycles, to achieve personal freedom and success. Please follow her on Instagram, Facebook or X for all the latest updates.
