Winifred Ling 🐦‍🔥 (M.Couns, GDAPP, CMEMIP-1)’s Post

Celebrating Women: Courage and Fortitude Are you a #cyclebreaker? This is a relatively newer term that came into our vocabulary to describe individuals who are self-aware and they seek to disrupt the negative cycle that has been passed down from one generation to the next. They have experienced the negative patterns and impact of dysfunctional relationships, and courageously tell themselves that "this stops with me." They strive to become a good ancestor instead by learning new skills to create healthier patterns of interaction and relationships and role-modelling them to their children. I am a cycle breaker and that's the key motivation for the work that I do professionally and personally. My parents were product of their generation and they didn't have the knowledge that I do today, as such this is not a criticism of them. This doesn't mean that the way they had parented didn't leave any detrimental impact. As a self-aware child, I knew that I wouldn't want to raise my children the way I had been parented. And with my knowledge in Psychology and my work as a Psychologist and then Couples Therapist, I am fortunate to have the knowledge and skills to break the cycle. I take a lot of pride in my work in teaching and empowering others to be cycle breakers as well. I've met many cycle breakers in my work and most of them are mothers. They are determined to create a different relationship with their children and not pass down what they perceive to be dysfunctional and unhealthy way of interactions from their family of origin. This is not a journey for the faint-hearted. It requires a whole lot of fortitude, perseverance, hope and self-confidence. It can be a lonely journey where those around you may not understand your quest and effort. They may discourage and belittle your effort. For this IWD, I like to acknowledge the cycle-breakers that I've met either professionally or in my personal life. Being a cycle breaker is a calling, a tough one at that. It's important to build a strong support system where you can lean and encourage one another when the journey is tough. I am thankful that I have found like-minded friends who are cycle-breakers. It makes the journey less alone and we inspire one another in our pursuit in living an authentic life. These are mostly my classmates whom I've gotten to know at The School of Positive Psychology. Are you a cycle-breaker? Comment or like if you are! Let's affirm and celebrate the courage in taking on the responsibility to create a better world for the next generation and thus becoming a "good ancestor". Kudos to you! Tag those whom you know are cycle breakers and affirm their effort. I like to clarify that there are certainly men who are cycle breakers but the focus of this post is to celebrate women 😃 #IWD #womensupportingwomen #cyclebreaker #intergenerationaltrauma #resilience #bethechange #action #courage #fortitude #parenting #disruptors #motivation #ikigai #relationshipcoach