Staying Strong after Family Violence - Inspiration for Mothers

This hub is for mothers who have separated from a violent partner, and who are trying to start a new life for themselves and their children but are still having to live with the ongoing trauma associated with attending family court, applying for restraining orders, ongoing stalking/harassment from their ex, lack of empathy from family and friends, and the struggle to help their traumatized kids to heal and move on. I have included some inspirational poems (my own and others) and famous quotations. Over the next few weeks I will also add links to other helpful sites etc...

Love should not hurt!

It's not about "justice"
Or "the principle of it",
So I will not react.
To do so wouldn't serve my purpose.
I've done what I had to and
I'll do what I must,
Because they asked me
To keep them safe and
I promised I would.
It was never for revenge against him.
It's not all about him;
It never was & never will be.
Nor is it about me.
It's about them & always will be.
Because Love should not hurt!

Never forget the quantum physics behind it all.

Do not live in the Darkness of the past,

Or let fear stop you from creating your own destiny.

You have the knowledge to liberate yourself from those fears,

And the Light of your brilliance can shine once again.

So take responsibility for your own happiness,

And be the author of your own destiny.

There is no choice between Darkness & Light,

Darkness is but the absence of Light.

And how boring would the nothingness of Darkness be,

Compared to the Light of Creation,

In a Universe of infinite possibilities?

You have the Power, now use it!

By Dorothy Law Nolte, PhD

If a child lives with criticism,
The child learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
The child learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
The child learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
The child learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
The child learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
The child learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
The child learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
The child learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
The child learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
The child learns self-esteem.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He or she learns to find love in the world.

Sometimes,

I wish I did not understand the quantum physics behind certain things;
It makes me fear other things even more...
On the other hand, knowledge is power.
Enlightened, I can liberate myself and mine from those fears,
And with that freedom, the brilliance that lies within us shall manifest.
As our gifts of intelligence, empathy, creativity, compassion,

Adaptability, passion and wisdom start to show,
Our light will shine more and more brightly,
And our love for each other will be all we need

To ensure our light never dims again,
But only grows brighter.
How bright will their light shine...

If I do this right?
May our light then become a beacon

To others who are lost in the darkness,
And may it help them find there own light.
There is no choice between darkness & light.
Darkness is but the absence of light.
My light will never again be dimmed,
I will prevail!

(Inspired by "Our Deepest Fear", written by Marianne Williamson and spoken by Nelson Mandela in 1994, during his Presidential Inauguration)

by Marianne Williamson

from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves,

Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

"Our presence automatically liberates others.”

My Journey, My Way

I will not forget the purpose
Of embarking on this journey,
Lest I lose direction and
Fail to reach my destination.
And though the path I follow
Is fraught with danger,
I am not afraid.
Fear and anger
Have ever been your tools;
I no longer use them as my compass,
For experience has made me wise.
My courage comes from having faith
In the morality of my purpose, and
I trust instead my own tools
Of love, intelligence and empathy,
To show me the way.

No matter what - hang in there! Never panic! The trick is to remain calm in any situation, not matter how alarming it may be or how helpless you may feel. With a calm mind, one can choose the best way to solve a problem, whilst remaining focused, patient, cautious AND assertive. Of course, there are some situations that leave you with no choice... In such situations, the best thing to do is just sit back and relax...

Please Note:

_{All names in this article have been changed for legal purposes and to protect the privacy of the Author. Except where otherwise credited, or where text forms part of an external link, this article is under the following copyright:}

_{Copyright © 2010 Mel Stewart, "safe-at-last", of Perth, Western Australia. All rights reserved.}

_{All persons, places and objects shown in the images in this hub are are shown for illustrative purposes only. They bear no relation to any real person or event. All persons shown are paid models. Unless otherwise credited, all images are under the following copyright:}

_{Copyright © 2010 Mel Stewart, "safe-at-last" and Licensors Nodtronics Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.}