Jul 31, 2017
Welcome to the Courageous Entrepreneur Show. This is the show that shares information and inspiration to help you break free from self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and disempowering patterns and break through to create the thriving, successful business you dream of and deserve.
I interview entrepreneurs who’ve overcome amazing challenges to
create success on their terms and experts who share insight and
practical information that can help you get past your blocks and
move forward with courage, confidence, and clarity.
The show is available in both video and audio format on a variety of platforms including Apple Podcasts – formerly iTunes – on You Tube, and on my website
In 1984 or 1985 I finally admitted to myself that what I experienced growing up was abuse.
I thought that naming it was enough. That I was mature and smart
and that I hadn’t let the abuse hurt me as an adult.
Boy was I wrong.
I had just stuffed it into a closet and thought if I didn’t dwell on it but just kept moving forward I’d be fine.
But it wasn’t until about 2010 when I realized that the strategies I had developed to deal with the abuse had become habits and personality traits that while they contributed to my success as a corporate professional were now actively holding me back. I was struggling to create the independent success I dreamed of and the wounds left by the abuse were incredibly deep.
Once I faced that I was apparently still struggling to overcome the emotional trauma I suffered as a child but that also continued through adulthood, I knew it was time to face it, heal from it, and move forward to create the new life I wanted.
As I started my healing journey, I threw myself into studying abuse and its impact on adults. I learned there are more of us out there then I thought.
And the impact of abuse is far reaching including physical, mental, and emotional health issues.
The effects can be deep and can last a lifetime.
Part of the struggle to heal can be attributed to the feelings
of shame we victims experience and the dismissive admonishment to
just get over it.
In this episode, I talk with my friend and colleague Becky Norwood,
who decided to courageously tell her story and in doing so has
freed others to tell theirs too. She also discovered a business
hidden in the process.
First a disclaimer. None of the information shared in this or any other episode of the Courageous Entrepreneur is meant to take the place of help from a skilled professional. If you’re an adult survivor of child abuse, first of all don’t let anyone minimize what you went through or tell you that it wasn’t so bad and you should be over it.
I encourage you to get help in facing and fully recovering from your abuse by contacting a trained professional therapist or counselor. The resources shared in the show notes are not to be taken as specific endorsements. Some are recourses I used and that helped me. Your situation is your situation and they may not be helpful to you.
I do want you to know that help is out there and it is possible to come out from the long shadow cast by your abuse experience and into the warm and bright light of joyful living.
So in this episode you’ll hear Becky share:
- Why she decided to tell her story
- How she handled the family reaction to publishing her book and what she did to protect the identity of those still alive
- The benefits she’s experienced since coming clean with her story
- How she’s using her suffering to empower others and turned her “mess” into a mission
As always, listen all the way to the end where I’ll share your reflection exercise and action step for this episode.
Guest Contact Information:
Becky's author page on Amazon listing all her books
Past Episodes That Relate to or are Mentioned in This One:
Mark Baker, From Abused to Abundant
Resources:
RAINN - The Rape and Incest National Network
The Morris Center - Adult Survivors of Child Abuse: Site includes a variety of resources and a workbook
TED talk on the health impact of childhood trauma (not just abuse)
Article about the neurological impact of child abuse