Mind Tattoos.
http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Mind-Tattoos
A strange concept, to be sure. There is most likely a better term for this condition out there, I'm sure. However, this strikes a chord with me because at the age of 50 I was made aware of how my entire life and being was built around one of these very things. Mind Tattoos.
Doubtless there are some of you out there reading this, that can identify a mind tattoo of your own. These, as the Wiki-How article I reference points out, are Negative things. Negative in the regard that we construct our behavior based on these. We may become defensive, or withdrawn, or even violent or anti-social in some way.
In my particular case, I bacame withdrawn with very low self-esteem. The worst part for me was how this attitude caused unnecessary pain to my immediate family, my children. By that I mean that my low self-esteem allowed me to let others misuse and abuse me in my work and even in social settings. This sometimes caused me to be paid less for equal or better work, to accept inferior dwellings or vehicles in my business transactions, etc.
Mainly this was caused in me by an abusive upbringing. I was raised as a child and young man constantly being told I was not only ugly, but stupid as well. I was 50 when I realized neither of these were true.
It all came to a head after my divorce, ending a 25 year marriage. My ex became non-communicative (even more so than during our failed marriage), and my children indifferent or even antagonistic toward me. All painful things during a time of stress.
During my post-divoree "recovery" friends described me as "aloof", "snobby", and uncommonly sedate and unphased by my surroundings both physical and human.
What was all this a symptom of, and how would I recover? This took much pondering, but after several years I finally was able to figure it out. This took a very long time because as all the divorced men out there will affirm, post-divorce men do not have the same support as women do. By that I mean, no sympathy. Women are all told it was not their fault. He is a "bum". He "insn't worth it" or He "never deserved someone as great as you".
Instead, men are told to "buckle up", "Be a man", or "quit your whining and don't be a baby". Well, I'm here to tell you that men are people, too. Men can sometimes be the victim in a relationship gone bad. Not all men deserve the bad things that happen to them. Due to a lack of support, this realization can take years to come to the surface. Maybe never. Most men are ashamed and blame themselves for these things. I, too, blamed myself for years before I realized none of this was true, or even my fault.
Now for the positive part. As this article will show, there are simple, easy, and positive steps you can take to snap out of your funk and become the positive, friendly, even smart and contributing member of your community. I am today fully recovered, confident and an owner of my life and destiny. I wish I had this article ten years ago. Or 30 years ago!
Check it out. There might be something here you can use as well.
