Emotional Support is for Everyone
A few years ago, when I was on vacation, I couldn't resist snapping a picture by the words 'INSPIRE.' It represents my passionate pursuit to inspire people and to lift them higher.
To be the voice that awakens courage in others. To come alongside each one as I help them to realize how much value and purpose they have in our world.
I am very grateful for having the incredible opportunity to emotionally support trauma survivors. To encourage them, to see them, and to hear them. I am going to be transparent and say it like it is. I've had strangers reach out to me to ask how I feel about LGBTQ people. They inquired if I work with the gay community. I immediately sensed they were judging me. I had no doubt about it, they had a very different belief system than me. Of course, this is fine. Even though they judged me, I will not judge them. That's not how I roll.
After sharing my thoughts about the LGBTQ community, I never heard back from them. Over the past two years, I have worked with some clients who are gay, some who are heterosexual, and some that are somewhere in between. As I mentioned up above, I offer emotional support to everyone. As for anyone who judges, condemns, ostracizes, shames, or despises the LBGTQ community, where is your compassion? Where is your grace and mercy, especially for your own children, family, and friends who may be gay? Rather than look down on those who are different than you, doesn't it make logical sense to treat other people the way you'd expect to be treated? (The Golden Rule.)
As for myself, hate is too big of a burden to bear. Today, I choose love. Tomorrow, I choose love. In the future, I choose love.
Love can move mountains. Genuine love is the highest vibration, frequency, and energy. Love can mend broken hearts. Love calms our central nervous system. Love transforms our lives for the better. Love heals. Our world needs more unconditional love. It starts with you and with me. Today, I joyfully embrace unconditional, divine love.
"Unconditional love is tuning yourself to the frequency of love, not looking for conditions to change." ~ Abraham Hicks
Here's what is important to me: As a trauma-informed mental health professional, I work with all walks of life. Every color and race. Every gender. Every culture. From a very versatile range of religions, spiritualities, and all over the world.
This means that regardless of a person's lifestyle choices, race, culture, religion or lack of organized religion, education, financial status, sexual preferences, and belief systems, in my coaching business I meet a wide range of people. To whoever reads this blog: It doesn't matter what other people say or think about you. At the end of the day, here's what matters most. YOU. It's your life. It is your body. It's your health. It is your choice. You matter to me.
My clients work with me for many different reasons. Most of them work with me because they like me as a human being. They enjoy my bubbly personality. They resonate with my true stories that are shared in my books, blogs, and on my YouTube channel. For all professional healthcare and mental health services, there is a code of ethics. This goes for me as a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach. It's essential to be open and willing to work with a wide range of people from all walks of life. It's simple. Gay people are human beings who deserve the same rights as everyone else. They deserve to be treated with respect. They deserve kindness, compassion, and politeness. They deserve to receive the same opportunities and services as heterosexuals. Otherwise, it's discrimination to exempt them.
My clients chose to coach with me because they know that I've suffered childhood neglect and abuse, narcissistic abuse and flying monkey siblings, sexual assaults, and Complex PTSD. My clients have very similar experiences as myself. They know that I understand their pain, trauma, and challenges.
My clients discover they are not alone. I am here for them and cheering them on. I provide them sacred space, which gives them strength to keep moving forward to a brighter future. No matter what you've been through, there is hope for healing.
I take my career seriously, including my ethics and policies. Emotional support for each of my clients includes:
Being present
Actively listening
Seeing them
Offering safe space
Respecting their boundaries
Asking good questions
Acknowledging their feelings
Validating their point-of-view
Expressing understanding
Compassion & empathy
Nonjudgmental coaching
Giving them voice & choice
"Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water - it will make ripples throughout the entire pond." ~ Jessy & Bryan Matteo
Over ten years ago, when I wrote my 50 Day devotional, Harvest of Hope, I wrote a chapter on treating others how we want to be treated. My devotional was about many times when I've crossed paths with homeless people, and I had offered to pay for their meal. In some cases, I gave them money. For those interested in my Harvest of Hope Devotional, here's the link on Amazon. It is available in print and an eBook. https://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Hope-Victoriously-Adversity-Devotional/dp/0991076826/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Long story short, a relative of mine criticized me for helping the "needy." She attacked me for practicing the "Golden Rule." The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated. The Golden Rule is also the idea of what you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself. Despite her rude judgments of me and of homeless people, I did what I felt was right. I saw two men outside of Whole Foods store with their dog. Instantly, my gut instinct led me to approach them. After briefly chatting with them, I went into WholeFoods with the one young man. He picked out food and beverages for him and the other guy, and dog food for his furry friend. They were appreciative and they graciously thanked me.
The truth is that we may have "divine appointments" with random strangers. They cross our paths for a higher purpose. How we treat the homeless, the hungry, the gay community, and anyone who is hurting actually speaks volumes about ourselves.
On that sunny day after I paid for meals for two homeless guys and their dog, I felt powerfully touched in a positive way. I gave thanks to God for my own home, my food, and having a roof over my head. I walked away feeling lifted up. I had sensed that I did something beautiful because I have a loving heart. I may have given my time, my money, and my energy to random strangers, but ultimately, I was the one to receiving a blessing. When we give in a selfless way, the universe/God/Spirit has a divine way to bless us a double-fold. When I place myself in their shoes, I realize that I'd hope for someone to give me food, money, a safe place to sleep, or words of encouragement if I were hurting, if I were homeless, or if I were in the midst of a rock bottom moment. About five years ago, it caught me by surprise when the LGBTQ community started sharing my inspiring quote on Twitter. My quote states, "Our job on earth isn't to criticize, reject, or judge. Our purpose is to offer a helping hand, compassion, and mercy. We are to do unto others as we hope they would do unto us."
Today, I may not have ever met you before. You might be straight, gay, bisexual, homeless, hungry, lost, black, yellow, red, white, or struggling with uncertainties. No matter who you are or what you are currently going through, I am here for you. I sincerely care about you. If you need emotional support, feel free to send me a private message on my website.