Dammaged: self worth.

It is the loss of faith in one's self.
And it is a loss...
People that feel they have lost their self esteem are fighting a battle.
Often unseen, and always painful.

When we see someone who is showing all the signs of struggling, sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to help.

If you are lucky enough to have made it through world events up until now with strong sense of self worth...
If you find it sad to watch good people struggle with a poor self image...

Do something.

Fully listen to the person when they make self defeating comments.
Ask them how they came to believe that story about themselves.

Acknowledge that you have noticed.
And when you acknowledge show empathy. Do not sympathize.
Sympathizing means you know exactly how they feel and since no two people are the same, you don't know.

Saying: "you are crazy, you know you are great" or "don't listen to those jerks" while smiling and laughing it off does not help a person who truly struggles with this issue.
I understand the approach...
It just doesn't change anything for them.

If you really care ask if they would like to learn how to believe in themselves again if they could.
It's okay if you don't know how that process goes.
Just start the process by asking.
If they say "yes" there are plenty of resources, it is their willingness to do the hard work of trying they need help with...

"If there is a will there is a way."
People who fight this battle struggle with mustering up the will.
Especially children.
The damage has been done and it has to be talked through.
Simply stopping the negative actions they have experienced is not enough.

You can be part of rebuilding another person.
You can be part of their support system.
But you must be accepting of the fact that you can't fix it.
They will ultimately have to do the hard work of rewriting their inner voice.

It is personal to get involved.
It will require you to be very gentle and patient.
If you can not be those things then you are not the one to help.
Sorry.

But if you are the one...
It may still be uncomfortable to show this much emotion.
It also may change someone's life.

This is a truth that most people chose to ignore: We can all change the world. You don't have to START with collecting all victims. You can start with helping one person.

Helping one child may not heal the world of bullying.
But it may heal one child's future chance at healthy self esteem.



#StrikeAmatch