What is your rock bottom? Most people associate this term with those who are plundering in a downward spiral of drugs or alcohol. However, we all have a rock bottom. It exists in any area of our life that does not serve us. And that includes being victimized by abuse.
People become comfortable with what they know. People also innately resist change. You don’t know what you don’t know. The reality you were born in and dwell in is usually all you know that prevails. It becomes your norm. Often, the abused victim has no idea someone is abusing them, and a better life exists.
Cave Dwellers
I once heard a story about a community that lived for generations as cave dwellers. They spent their entire lives deep within the dark caverns of these caves. Never venturing out, they have adapted to the darkness. The pupils of their eyes have permanently enlarged, aiding them in seeing in the persistent darkness. Their skin paled to an almost iridescent hue because they had never had sunlight exposure.
Then, one day, a traveler ventured into this cave and discovered this isolated community. He learned that none of these cave dwellers had ever seen the sun, green grass, or a tree, nor had they breathed fresh air into their lungs. This shocked traveler tried to explain what the outside world looked like. No matter how many details he provided in his description, the cave dwellers could not comprehend the outside life this traveler attempted to relay to them. They could not understand because they had no reality base to rely on.
Cave Dwellers Among Us
This story may sound like a fable, yet versions of it play out continuously. People who have only known a privileged life have no idea what it is like to struggle with lack. Those blessed with good health cannot comprehend the suffering someone with a chronic illness deals with every day. Those who grew up in homes with loving parents and married a spouse who cherishes them cannot fathom existing in an abusive environment.
This lack of understanding is why the abused often receive misguided counsel from well-meaning friends to “just move out” or “just get away.” Those who have never known a life dominated by abuse cannot conceive the fact that escaping a life of abuse is not as easy as they think.
My Story
I experienced many of those challenges. Being raised in isolation, I believed my parents when they told me that I was born into a privileged, godly family. I thought I was better off than those around me. I had no idea that their treatment of me qualified as abuse. Isolated from the outside world, I existed in my cave. Having never seen the sunshine, I could not comprehend its soothing warmth upon my pale skin. Bit by bit, a small piece of the outside world found its way into my cavernous existence. Even still, the brunt of this ignorant lifestyle carried me into my adult years and dictated who I committed to as the father of my children.
The Comfort Zone
After fourteen years in this so-called marriage, I had ventured close enough to the entrance of my cave to see thin streams of sunlight that began to enlighten the truth of my existence. But change is not an easy task for anyone. People, in general, become comfortable with what they know. They tend to want to remain in their comfort zone unless and until the pricks of reality increase to a level that pushes them out.
I remember, around the year 2000, riding in a car on a main road while gazing out the window. The saddened thought struck me that true love only exists in fairy tales. Another day around that same timeframe, I walked around my, then, house. I took in every detail, considering this existence would be the best I would ever know, so I had better make the most of it. Even though a few sunlight streams seeped into my cave opening, I had still not ventured out to discover a new existence. I also remained comfortable with what I knew.
I remained in my dysfunctional comfort zone for another ten years, slowly tiptoeing closer toward the entrance of my cave. By 2009, I could see the beauty outside this sunlit world and began to desire it. As my desire for this better life grew, which I now knew existed, my comfort zone became prickly. In time, that prickliness became unbearable, forcing me to act. In early February of 2012, I received my final shove into this open world. To read more about this topic, go to https://crystalmmhuntley.com/2024/05/nine-steps-to-follow-if-youre-being-abused/.
Rock Bottom
That final shove became my rock bottom. Without that push, I would have settled with what I knew, never knowing true happiness and genuine love. Human beings cannot move into a way of life outside of their comfort zone without the proper catalyst. This reality goes back to the concept of hitting rock bottom. What is your rock bottom? In what areas of your life are you settling? Be brave. Step closer to the entrance of your cave and into the shining light. You are worthy of a better life absent of abuse. You are worthy of being surrounded by people who cherish you.
To see more Crystalisms, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1360983917796761.
Note To My Readers
Hopefully, you have gained value from this blog post. If you have, I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase my books. You can buy The Hidden Diamond and Robin’s Gift at BUY-the-BOOK https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-. Two additional sites where you can find my books are https://bkbookshoppe.com and https://bizybookstore.com.
Each purchase of my books supports my mission to help those trapped in abuse break those chains and find their way to freedom while drawing closer to their Maker. Once you have read either of my books, feel free to leave a review on the site you purchased from. Your review will encourage others also to seek out the path of healing.
Alexandra All souls are priceless no matter their past. A personal reason to testify. Assure myself with a pep talk. Boundaries Breaking Out Breathe into the space of peace. Complex CPTSD Continue to write for God. Difficult people can become a catalyst for growth. Discover My Newest Post Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Forgiveness Free Giveaway From Robin’s Gift God chooses. Grace Enters Hope How I got out of the wheelchair. Installing Healthy Boundaries Invite Keep up the good work. Master New Skills My Mission My Story No meaningful journey exists without pitfalls. Note To My Readers Resources Robin’s Gift Robin’s Gift – A Sneak Peak Share my healing journey. Taboo topics have infiltrated people. Take the Challenge Thank you. The Behind Story The Hidden Diamond Transcend into healthy boundaries. Upcoming Posts We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know. Why I Write Writing Is My Passion Writing Mirrors Life You Are Worthy! Your Gain “When I am weak then I am strong.”
