your stunning power

​I’m conflicted about how I feel about the idea of manifesting.  I think there is something to the notion that positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes, and I greatly believe in the power of focusing on gratitude.  In the darkest periods of my life, I always had something to be grateful for, and my small sliver of gratitude pulled me through some bleak times because not everything was terrible at the same time.
 
But, here’s my concern.  Some people are truly innocent victims, and their thoughts had nothing to do with something bad that happened to them. I fear that the idea of manifesting makes people who were victimized in some way feel blamed for something that wasn’t their fault.
 
For example, I think about victims of genocide or terrorist attacks and how their thoughts could not have possibly brought such terror upon them.  Even if you think you don’t deserve good things, it does not give anybody the right to hurt you. 
 
Right now, this quote from Wayne Dyer makes a lot of sense to me, “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
 
When people are victimized in some way, it doesn’t mean they are victimized in every way.  Those of us who were victimized in some regard have to find a way not to see every part of our life though that lens, and we have to find where our power is because nobody can take away all our power in every single way.
 
If you are reading this, it means you have survived what you have survived and that those who tried to destroy you did not succeed. If you are reading this, I hope you appreciate the immense strength and beauty that’s inside you right now because you are here.  You made it this far.  Keep going!
 
I hope you remember that if someone hurt you, your thoughts didn’t cause it.  Your voice didn’t cause it.  Your beauty didn’t cause it.  You didn’t cause anybody to hurt you, and you didn’t deserve it.  May you find and know your stunning power.