The danger of self-imprisonment

Traumatic shocks including incidents of domestic violence, relationship issues or the death of a love one are just of some of the many influencers of self-imprisonment.

Victims of these unfortunate circumstances often accept the imprisoned situation as normal, and in so doing deny themselves of a healthy and fulfilling life; they also revert to silence and secrecy thinking that no-one cares for them. Because they avoid rational analysis of the situation, they often blame themselves for all that went wrong, when in fact, they may have been used as collateral damage.

As women, we were all bestowed with wisdom and freedom by the Almighty and these gifts must be fully embraced.

Words such as shame, humiliation and rejection should at all times be excluded from our vocabulary as these are the words that encase us into our prison walls.

I have said repeatedly in this column that life does not always offer to us all that we expect, and therefore, we must always be prepared to effectively address untoward occurrences particularly those that negatively impact our emotions.

As women, we have a responsibility to develop personal social cushions strong enough to weather any emotional storms; many of our clients have expressed self-anger at their oversight in not dealing with these critical issues.

Committing yourself to reclusive confinement when your emotions are disturbed is usually accompanied by abandonment and extreme levels of guilt which, if left unattended, can even lead to suicidal thoughts. Another impediment which some women invite into their lives is secondary validation on how to navigate their lives, and from the reports that come in to the IWRN, this is indeed a killer.

Again, I repeat to all the women out there to cease and desist from seeking validation from others on how to live your life… that is the biggest deterrent ever known; continuously attempting to satisfy the demands of others is a recipe for stress which also leads to lifestyle diseases.

Releasing yourself from self-imprisonment starts with understanding who you are, setting some realistic goals and remaining focused and on course as you steer your life’s ship.

For more info on the upcoming sessions on Excellence in Intonation, contact the IWRN.

Sandrine Rattan is a communications/ branding consultant, author and president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@gmail.com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com or 283-0318.