If you have not already read Part 1 of this article, please do my friend. Part 2 of this article is a continuation of Part 1 of the article. To read Part 1 of the article, please click on this link. Thank you. Is the Group that You are In Hurting You? — Are you being Bullied? Part 1
In the process, individuals may give up parts of themselves which make them uniquely qualified to be themselves.
Until pieces of the puzzle started to come together – that gave me the understanding that I shared in Part 1 of this article – I had no idea who I was as an individual. Instead, I found myself baffled and confused in my attempts to understand and anticipate what was expected of me. In the process of trying to make sense of my uncertainty, I experienced ongoing stress and anxiety. In my experience, when the pain and anxiety of going along to get along to avoid alienation, was superseded by the pain of alienating myself from myself I knew that I needed to make changes.
Although it took me a very long time to connect the dots – so to say – I now realize when compliant conditioning is being used – by any group, in any social environment — to control and manipulate its members, the members of the group are being bullied. The packaging of the bullying may be subtle and refined, but the impact of being bullied, by the individual or the group; is the same as when it occurred on the “playground”.
Anecdote
Like frogs that are slowly cooked in a large pot of water — as the temperature of the water is gradually raised — if we do not pay attention to the dynamics of the group that we are a part of, we may find ourselves being “cooked” or duped into believing that our identity is in a group and not in ourselves. In the process, we may find that we have forfeited our birth right — to be uniquely ourselves. In the process, we may discover that we never took the risk to learn how to use the gifts, talents and abilities – that have been given to us — in ways that will work for us.
In my awareness, I came to realize that I had no idea who I was as an individual. With my awareness, I realized that I needed to make some changes. With my awareness, I began to embrace the parts of myself that I had readily discarded in my attempts to hold onto an illusion. With my awareness, I started to discover who a loving God created me to become in this life. With my awareness, I discovered that a loving God never intended me to be bullied by any group or individual. With my awareness, I discovered that I could happily own my own life and discover how to be fully me.
To read the conclusion of this article in Part 3, please click on the following link. Thank you. Is the Group that You are In Hurting You? — Are you being Bullied? Part 3
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